Survey Data
Reg No
41401901
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic, Social
Previous Name
Saint Mary's Catholic Church
Original Use
Church/chapel
In Use As
Church/chapel
Date
1790 - 1900
Coordinates
272111, 324660
Date Recorded
20/05/2012
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Freestanding single-cell Roman Catholic Church, built c.1794 and renovated c.1897, with square-plan three-stage bell tower to north, pentagonal apse-end to south, single-storey late nineteenth-century sacristy to south-east corner, and single-bay porch to north-east corner. Pitched slate roof having limestone copings, gabled to north at junction with tower, and with cut-stone chimneystack at junction with sacristy. Decorative zinc-clad steeple to tower, with Gothic cusps to verges. Tooled limestone copings, cross finial to south gable, and cast-iron rainwater goods. Ruled-and-lined rendered walls, having rendered plinth and eaves courses. Rendered string course to bell tower with crenellated parapet having round-plan turrets to corners. Round-headed window openings with painted, moulded, stone reveals, and painted sills, four bays to east and west elevations, having stained-glass windows. Five stained-glass windows to apse end to south, depicting Our Lady and local saints. Basket-headed door opening to porch to east elevation, with single-leaf timber panelled door. Square-headed door opening to south elevation of sacristy having recent timber battened door with glazed section. Interior of church has exposed timber pointed-arch trusses supported on corbels, with gallery at first floor level to north, accessed via stone stairs in tower. Smooth rendered walls to nave, having moulded continuous impost course. Carved timber Stations of the Cross to walls. Free-standing varnished pine benches flanking central aisle to nave. Moulded render detailing to chancel arch to apse, supported on red marble round-plan Doric-style columns over render corbels. Confessional boxes to nave side of chancel arch. Carved round-arched balustrade to gallery, with carved timber pews. Carved marble altar on stepped marble dais on carpeted platform to apse. Situated in graveyard on hill, with former schoolhouse to east, latter now private residence.
Appraisal
This Catholic Church was built in 1794 and renovated in 1897, illustrating the longstanding social importance of the building locally. The pre-Emancipation church had a simple rectangular plan. During the late nineteenth century a tower was added to the north, a sacristy to the south-east and an apse to the south end. The building is an important local landmark and retains some interesting exterior features including the zinc-clad tower and cross finials to the roof of the main building. Of particular artistic interest are the stained-glass windows to the apse, which carry Celtic Revival filigree ornament, crafted thanks to a donation by Stephen Murphy of Cornanagh House. The church displays high levels of craftsmanship, the interior retains much of its decorative woodwork, including the gallery balustrade and the impressive exposed roof trusses.