Hydepark Presbyterian Church Mallusk Road, Mallusk, Co Antrim

Hydepark Presbyterian Church is a free-standing gable-fronted double-height stone and brick Presbyterian church built in 1862, situated on a corner site at the junction of Hyde Park Road and Mallusk Road in Mallusk, County Antrim. The building faces north and is set within its own grounds.

The church is constructed of rock-faced coursed and snecked basalt walling with rusticated granite ashlar quoins at all corners. A granite ashlar plinth course runs along the base, with a yellow brick frieze below the eaves and a sandstone ashlar eaves course. The roof is natural slate with a hipped profile and raised central valley, now filled with flat torch-on felt roofing. A lower pitched roof extends from the north to the raised front gable. Black clay ridge tiles finish the roof throughout, with replacement metal guttering and plastic downpipes.

The front gabled vestibule features a raised moulded sandstone coping surmounted by a sandstone ashlar bellcote with an open round-headed arch and heavy corbelled cornice above. The front gable contains a central rose window to the upper stage with timber marigold pattern glazing set in courses of yellow and red brick with toothing detail. Yellow brick hood moulding also frames the front gable windows and door openings. A pair of replacement tongue and groove double-leaf hardwood doors provide central access, opening onto a concrete platform and front gravel area. Double-height round-headed window openings with replacement hardwood fixed-pane windows are arranged in yellow brick with sandstone sills; the side elevations of the vestibule section have blind window openings.

The interior retains box pews, a pulpit and unusual roof trusses which contribute to the church's special interest as a good example of its type. Replacement windows have compromised the character to some degree but not significantly.

A multi-bay two-storey church hall was attached to the southwest corner c.2000 via a glazed corridor.

The churchyard is mostly gravelled with some landscaping to the east elevation. The site is enclosed to the north and east by a low rock-faced rubble basalt wall with stacked coping. A pair of stone piers with replacement steel gates (c.1950) stands at the northeast corner. To the southeast, rendered piers and walls with steel pedestrian and vehicular gates provide access to the rear car park and church hall; this entrance formerly served the Hyde Park Manse, which was demolished c.1988.

The church was completed by the end of December 1862 at a cost of 1,140 pounds, with contractor John Courtney. Opening services were conducted on 4 January 1863 by Reverend John Hall of Dublin and Reverend John MacNaughton of Belfast, with Reverend Alan Bell serving as the first minister. The first Communion was observed on 28 September 1862 in the Brown Room of the Bleach Works while the church was still under construction.