First Presbyterian Church, High Street, Donaghadee, Co. Down

First Presbyterian Church, High Street, Donaghadee

A locally important classical Presbyterian church built in 1824 at a cost of £815, defrayed by subscription. The building replaced an earlier meeting house formerly sited further south-east of the town, near what is still called Meetinghouse Street. The church was originally designed to accommodate about 500 people.

The church is a restrained and dignified two-storey classical structure, set well back from the line of High Street. The south-east front facade is the most prominent feature, dominated by a central pediment containing a clock in its tympanum, supported on four Doric columns. Between the first and second columns and between the third and fourth columns are semicircular-headed arch recesses, each containing panelled double doors with a semicircular radial fanlight above. Between the second and third columns is a semicircular-headed window displaying stained glass with a Biblical scene. On the first floor, between each pair of columns is a window opening with a segmental arch head—three windows in total—all fitted with sash frames containing Georgian panes. The facade is topped with an eaves cornice and blocking course. The columns and the outline of the pediment are painted white or cream, while the remainder of the facade is painted dark brown.

The north-west facade has undergone extensive alteration in recent years. A large modern gabled building containing a church hall and offices has been attached to this side, obscuring the lower half of the original facade. Only one window opening on the first floor at the far right remains visible, matching the front facade design but with modern stained glass. The upper portion of the visible facade is finished in lined cement render and contains six recesses shaped as windows to the front; all are blocked except the second and third from the right, which have modern windows with Georgian panes. Within the hall section covering the original ground level, two further windows to the right are visible but now open into a corridor rather than lighting the church interior.

The south-east facade is finished in lined cement render with evidence of patching. The upper level contains six recesses similar to those on the north-west side. The three to the left are windows—the two outer having recent stained glass—with a window between them matching the north-west facade design. On the ground floor at the left are two similar windows with frames as on the first floor of the north-west facade. At the far left of the ground floor is a small flat-roofed projection connecting to church office extensions at the rear.

The rear facade contains two tall semicircular-headed windows with recent stained glass. Below these is a long lean-to boiler house extension, with taller modern flat-roofed church office extensions at each end. This facade is also finished in cement render. The roof is hipped and covered in Bangor blue slates, with PVC rainwater goods.

The church underwent major internal alterations in 1895 when a gallery was added, the walls replastered, and new pews installed. In 1926, six new windows were inserted (including windows on either side of the pulpit, subsequently blocked), the pulpit was altered, and a pipe organ was installed. The church hall was constructed to the north-west side in 1962-63, with further extensions and renovations carried out in 1980-81 and again in 1992.

The front of the church features a paved forecourt bounded by a low rendered wall with wrought iron spear-head railings and decorative late Victorian gates. A large tree stands near the railings. The church is now largely enclosed on all sides except the front, with only a very narrow laneway separating it from the south-east facade.

The building is listed as Grade B1 and is situated within a conservation area.