Ballygilbert Presbyterian Church, 376 Belfast Road, Bangor, Co Down, BT19 1UH

A double-height Presbyterian church in neo-Renaissance style, dated 1842, with front bay added in 1986, located off the A2 Bangor Road at Ballyrobert. The church is rectangular-on-plan with 1902 extension to rear, abutted by a further extension (of no interest). Roof is pitched natural slate with terracotta ridge tiles, pinnacles and stone kneelers. Decorative finial at centre of ridge on rear gabled roof. Ogee cast-iron rainwater goods on stone eaves. Walling is painted ashlar over masonry plinth with moulded details. Windows are round-headed with stained and leaded glazing set in modern PVC casements (unless otherwise stated); hood moulding with stops and central key blocks; chamfered bead moulded surrounds and painted stone sills. Decorative bracket moulding under cill at principal windows on north, east and west façades. The principal elevation dates from 1986 and faces south. It is three windows wide, with central window partially concealed by the projecting porch. It comprises pediment with central bell-cote, having semi-circular headed aperture (sans bell) over blind roundel with moulded surround and key-blocks at cardinal points; dated ‘1842’. Moulded architrave and four pilasters. The central porch (1986) is a dominant feature of the main facade. Accessed by five stone steps and one window deep, it echoes the classical detailing of the elevation, with moulded architrave and pilasters, here having Doric capitals. The door is mahogany, eight panelled double-leaf with simple stone architrave. It is framed by pilasters and a single window to either side. All windows are leaded glazed stained glass. The east elevation is four windows wide, each opening separated by a lesene. To the left there is an oculus to the first floor and a small window to the ground floor. The rear gable is completely abutted by a later hall extension slightly wider than the church, which in turn is completely abutted to the north by a modern kitchen and hall of no interest. The left section has blind door to south and two blind windows to gable. The right section has a projecting porch to south and to north three modern PVC windows in Serliana formation with diamond motif to centre of gable. Stepped barge to both gables. The west elevation has three windows to right and to left mahogany double-leaf eight panelled door with transom light; moulded architrave and pediment. Setting The church is set back from the main road on a slightly elevated site, enclosed by fencing and hedgerow with a section of lawn to front and to the left. Twin tarmacadam entrances are separated by a painted masonry boundary wall with coping stones and stone piers with pointed caps. There is a large car park to the east Roof: Natural Slate Walling: Painted ashlar Windows: leaded & stained/pvc frames RWG: Cast-iron