3rd Presbyterian Church, Newry Street, Rathfriland, Newry, Co Down, BT34 5PY

Third Presbyterian Church

A 19th-century Neo-classical church on Newry Street in Rathfriland, opened in 1836 on land purchased from General Meade. The building was extensively remodelled in the late 19th century but retains its original plan and a good interior. The church is graded B2, meaning it is of substantial architectural or historic interest.

The church sits on the north side of Newry Street with its graveyard, opposite which stands a lecture hall built in 1896 on the south side of the street.

The building has a hipped roof of artificial slate with a small pitched gable behind a pedimented front (south) elevation. Modern aluminium ogee rainwater goods are fitted throughout. A slender dashed chimney rises from the centre of the rear north wallhead. All walls are rendered in smooth lined cement, painted to the front elevation.

The front elevation is symmetrical and attractive, though slightly marred by the insertion of modern windows. It features a chamfered painted base course and shallow blocked stucco quoins in alternating pairs on either side. A broad slightly raised eaves cornice with blocking course sits above. The central pediment is granite coped with a blind oval oculus inset.

The entrance at ground floor centre comprises a pair of four-panelled raised and fielded modern painted timber doors within a dressed granite doorcase. The doorcase consists of plain unpainted pilasters supporting an entablature of plain frieze and moulded cornice, in turn supporting a plain shallow painted pediment. A modern light is attached to the pediment.

Flanking the entrance are tripartite windows on the ground floor. Each consists of three round-headed windows with the central one wider and taller. These have plain pilastered jambs supporting run-moulded heads, the central one featuring an advanced keystone. A shared painted granite cill runs beneath. Each opening contains a modern stained timber window: the central ones are reproduction 2/2 horizontally divided sashes with an additional round head, whilst the sidelights are 2/2 sashes with the top pane rounded.

At first floor are three windows. All are modern stained timber with semicircular heads, run-moulded architraves and advanced keystones. All have painted cills supported on foliated consoles. Flanking the central window are applied moulded roundels.

The left (west) elevation is three windows wide. All windows are large spoke-headed 15/20 sliding sashes with coloured glazing and exposed boxes, set on granite cills. At first floor right is a small modern 1/2 metal casement top-hung window with concrete cill. The right (east) elevation is identical to the left elevation but without plastic security glazing or the first floor casement.

The rear (north) elevation has a narrow advanced chimney breast to centre, flanked on either side by a large semicircular-headed stained glass window with rendered cill and modern security glazing over. Centre left of this elevation is a boiler room abutted at low level, featuring a flat asphalt roof and rendered walls, accessed by steps down to a timber and glass door on its east cheek, with a blank wall otherwise. A plastic oil storage tank stands to the right.

The churchyard is enclosed by a wall and railings to the street. The wall is high on the left and right sides; the left side contains an EIIR Royal Mail post box. The central section of wall is lower with an overhanging coping supporting plain wrought iron railings with foliated heads. Matching gates stand on slender granite posts.

The church was established as the "Seceder's Meeting House" and appears on the 1834 Valuation map in that guise, though it does not appear in the 1834 Ordnance Survey Memoir, suggesting it was probably under construction at that time.