Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB10/07/021

Address :
St Theresa's RC Church 145 Melmount Road Sion Mills Strabane Co. Tyrone BT82 9EX

Townland:
Liggartown

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Survey 2:
B+

Date of Listing:
15/04/1994 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Church

Former Use
Church

Conservation Area:
Yes

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
72-16

IG Ref:
H3391 9336

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Owner Category

Church - RC

Exterior Description And Setting

A triple-height modernist Roman Catholic Church, built 1962 to designs by Patrick Haughey, located on the west side of Melmount Road, Sion Mills. Rectangular on plan, aligned east-west, with single storey side chapel and vestry to north and south respectively, and set on a paved podium to east and north. Roof is shallow pitched copper with copper tympanum, fascia; timber sheeted soffits, cantilevered over a continuous recessed stained glass clerestorey (panels divided by steel uprights). Concealed gutters and internal downpipes contained behind slate strips to elevations. Copper-sheeted spire to west end. Walling is sand/lime brick over recessed slate plinth. Light is admitted by the clerestorey windows, and full height stained glass windows to west end of elevations. The principal elevation is dominated by a substantial slate frieze by Oisin Kelly, depicting the Last Supper; it is situated beneath the clerestorey, clasped between the side walls, which project forward slightly, (representing columns supporting a pediment). Entrance is recessed below the frieze and consists of a continuous stained glass screen wall with three stained hardwood doors (double doors to centre), each having vertical glazed strips and bronze pull handles. South elevation is blank beneath the clerestorey and is divided into brick panels separated by thin strips of slate, slightly recessed; full-height window to west end. Offset to left is a single-storey vestry with flat leaded roof; square-headed hardwood sheeted entrance door is located to south, upper glazed panel flanked by strip of horizontal stained glass windows, all in a slate panel; cheeks are blank. Rear elevation is blank. North elevation is as south, (reversed), with side chapel offset to right. Side chapel is accessed at east by door (detailed as before) set in stained glass screen wall; other faces are blank. The church is set back from the road with tarmac forecourt and carpark to north, all bounded by sand-lime brick boundary walls. There are grassed areas and a small grotto to south, and a churchyard bounded by hedging to north. Roof: Pitched copper sheeted Walling: Sand lime brick Windows: Leaded stained glass, timber frames. RWG: Concealed

Architects

Haughey, Patrick

Historical Information

The church was begun in 1962 and finished in 1966. The Conservation Statement for Sion Mills (1977) refers to its “successful integration…. This is an example of a major development in sympathy with its surroundings, where particular care has been taken to respect the vegetation on the site, and the local environmental quality, and at the same time introduce a modern but well integrated building into the landscape.” (Dept. of the Environment, p.17, de Breffny, p.184) Designed in 1960 before the decision of the Vatican II that the congregation should be more closely associated with the celebration of the mass, the church has the long elongated plan, resembling the early Christian basilica, associated with the former liturgy. (Evans, p.49). Walker (2000) writes that, “Patrick Haughey’s striking church of St. Theresa in Sion Mills…represents a crossroads in Ulster church architecture. It can claim to be the province’s first truly modern church, for it bears few if any of the restrictions of tradition. The church is a simple rectangle, but what is really important is its decoration with notable art works, mostly from Irish sources…On the façade is a large and inspiring depiction of the Last Supper. This is incised on slate, the full width of the front, and is an outstanding example of the work of Oisin Kelly…Irish talent is to be seen in the stained glass throughout the church, which is the handiwork of Patrick Pollen. A continuous clerestory runs along three sides of the church, terminating at the altar wall with windows the full height of the building. St Theresa of Lisieux is illustrated in the clerestory just above the gallery, while a chalice and a cross are worked into the glass at the altar end. In the porch the glass depicts Christ’s parents: Mary is seen spinning, while Joseph labours at his carpenter’s bench. Internal decoration is sparse, the walls being of grey brick and the ceiling sheeted. It is left to the liturgical furnishings, all the work of skilled artists and craftsmen, to inspire the worshipper. The altar furniture was designed by Werner Schurmann, and the original sanctuary cross, which has been replaced with a more traditional one, was the work of Patrick McIlroy. The carved stations are by Ray Carroll. Next to the altar is the circular font, carved with biblical images by Oisin Kelly. We are shown the Good Shepherd with his flock, the wise virgins, Noah in his ark, and an angel slaying a winged beast…[It] stands as an excellent example of the integration of art into modern ecclesiastical architecture, as well as making a very positive contribution to the streetscape of Sion Mills” (Walker). References: Primary Sources 1. PRONI OS/6/6/10/1 -First Edition OS Map (1832-33) 2. PRONI OS/6/6/10/2 -Second Edition OS Map (1855) 3. PRONI OS/6/6/10/3 -Third Edition OS Map (1905) 4. PRONI VAL/12/E/182/1 -Town Plan of Sion Mills (1866-1898) 5. PRONI VAL/12/B/42/1A-F -Valuation Revisions (1860-1923) 6. PRONI VAL/2A/6/9A -Griffith’s Valuation (1858) Secondary Sources 1. de Breffny, Brian and George Mott. “The Churches and Abbeys of Ireland.” London: Thames and Hudson, 1976. 2. Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland). “Sion Mills Conservation Area.” Belfast: H.M.S.O., 1977. 3. Evans, David. “An Introduction to Modern Ulster Architecture.” Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1977. 4. Rowan, Alistair. “North West Ulster: Londonderry, Donegal, Fermanagh, and Tyrone.” Buildings of Ireland Series. Dublin: Penguin Books, 1979. 5. Walker, Simon. “Historic Ulster Churches” Belfast: The Institute of Irish Studies, Queen’s University Belfast, 2000.

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style B. Proportion C. Ornamentation D. Plan Form I. Quality and survival of Interior J. Setting

Historic Interest

V. Authorship W. Northern Ireland/International Interest Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance

Evaluation

St Theresa’s Roman Catholic Church is a fine post-war church, built 1962 to designs by Patrick Haughey, and prominently located by the roadside at the north side of Sion Mills village. Externally, the church is simply detailed, with emphasis on proportion, and the complementary hues and textural qualities of the materials, including sand-lime brick, copper and slate. Windows are excluded from the main body of the walls, with light admitted by a continuous clerestorey and narrow full-height strips lighting the altar at west. The most dominant feature is a substantial early Celtic-style slate frieze by renowned Irish sculptor Oisin Kelly, depicting the Last Supper. The windows are also hand-crafted and are by Dublin stained glass artist Patrick Pollen. The church is set in open grounds with graveyard to rear and has, since its erection, played an important role in the social fabric of Sion Mills.

General Comments

Date of Survey

10 March 2009