Whitehouse Presbyterian Church, 143-145 Shore Road, Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, BT37 9SY

Double height Venetian Gothic brick Presbyterian church built c1865, largely rebuilt c2005, located on the east side of the Shore Road, Whitehouse. The church comprises original gabled west front flanked by lower two-storey wings and abutted by single-storey flat roofed vestibule; remainder of the church is of modern construction and is of no interest. Roof is pitched natural slate with lead ridges. Walling is Flemish bonded red brick with brick plinth to vestibule, square basalt plinth to wings. Wings have sandstone platbands to ground and first floor cill level and to window arch springing level, corners are stop-end chamfered with cusped gablets. Windows are cusped Gothic lancets with aluminium frames, chamfered brick reveals, sandstone ashlar cills. All have ashlar sandstone heads with black brick voussoirs (unless otherwise stated). Principal gable is framed by slightly projecting piers and has intricately detailed raking cornice and frieze over cogged polychrome brick banding. First floor has triple recessed pointed arched opening divided by brick pilasters with foliated capitals from supporting flush bead moulded sandstone ashlar heads; three cusped sandstone windows within; roundel inset to sandstone head of central window opening; all framed by partially engaged colonnettes with decorated foliated capitals. String course at springing arch level. Vestibule to ground floor has parapet with cornice and decorative frieze, central section breaks forward and contains paired pointed arched double-leaf diagonally timber-sheeted doors, contained beneath M-profile ashlar sandstone canopy with raking cornice and supported on limestone colonnettes with carved capitals on stepped chamfered pedestals. Gauged brick roundel to centre, single lancet (no voussoirs) at either side. Porch cheeks are blank; each has two circular drainage openings. Each wing comprises an opening at each floor to each face. Remainder of building is of modern construction Roof natural slate Walling Flemish bond red & yellow brick with sandstone detailing Windows aluminium RW goods metal