Non-Subscribing Church, Downshire Road, Banbridge, Co Down, BT32 3JY

Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church, Downshire Road, Banbridge, County Down. Built circa 1844–1846 in the classical style, this stucco church is one of the last and finest examples of neo-classical Presbyterian church architecture in Ulster. It stands on the north side of Downshire Road, set back behind a gravel forecourt, and remains largely unaltered with its architectural fabric and interior detailing substantially intact.

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION

The building is arranged symmetrically around a prostyle tetrastyle Ionic portico, which projects forward from the main façade on a raised granite plinth accessed by five granite steps. The portico has pilaster responds and a pediment above. The main body of the church is a double-height rectangular hall with two-storey projecting bays at the southwest and northeast ends. The roof is pitched and covered in natural slate with blue-black angled ridge tiles. Rainwater goods throughout are cast iron: half-round guttering on projecting eaves, with cast-iron downpipes and hoppers.

All external walling is finished in stucco, with band rustication at ground-floor level on the principal elevation. A continuous string-course runs between floors on the southwest elevation. Windows are timber-framed sash in several forms depending on their position: six-over-six sashes with margin panes and projecting painted sills are used throughout; those at first-floor level on the main elevations are round-headed with hubs; ground-floor windows are segmental-headed; and the stair bays have square-headed windows at first-floor level and segmental-headed windows at ground-floor level.

The principal southwest elevation has corner pilasters. At ground-floor centre, the entrance consists of a double-leaf six-panelled timber door with a four-panelled timber transom, flanked by pilasters and surmounted by a plain entablature. To either side of the entrance are two round-headed recessed niches, and at the far left and right are blind openings with moulded architraves. The first floor above carries five evenly spaced box mouldings.

The northwest (side) elevation is four windows wide at each floor, set in double-height round-headed recesses. The projecting end bays have corner pilasters, one window at each floor, and are surmounted by a plain entablature, cornice, and parapet. The southeast elevation mirrors this arrangement.

The northeast (rear) elevation features a breakfront pedimented central bay with paired pilasters. At its centre is a three-over-three round-headed window set in a contrasting smooth rendered recess with springers at impost level, above a double-leaf three-panelled timber door flanked by pilasters and surmounted by a transom light with glazing bars. To the left and right of this central bay are decorative round-headed recesses with springers at impost level and a continuous sill.

INTERIOR

The interior is considered extremely fine and of the highest quality throughout. The entrance arrangement is typical of Presbyterian meeting houses: a vestibule with curved staircases leading up to a U-shaped gallery. A Walker organ — one of only three in Ireland — stands in the gallery. The church is heated by a hot-water system from a boiler in the basement and has electric lighting. A memorial inside the church, attributed to R. Love of Belfast, commemorates the Dunbar family, prominent local Unitarians and proprietors of Gilford spinning mill.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

The congregation originated in 1716, initially worshipping in a meeting house on the banks of the River Bann. Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of 1837 refers to a "large and handsome meeting house, recently completed for Presbyterians in connection with the Remonstrant Synod...in lieu of an old one erected in 1720," suggesting the present building may be slightly earlier than the commonly cited date of 1843–1846. The church is first shown on the second edition Ordnance Survey map of 1860, and is listed in Griffith's Valuation (1856–1864) as the First Unitarian Church, valued at £75.

The church was built under the ministry of the Reverend James Davis, installed at Banbridge in 1814. Davis opposed Dr Cooke in the subscription controversy and led a liberal faction. When Dr Cooke triumphed at the 1828 Synod, Davis was appointed to draw up a Remonstrance — the historic document that gave its name to the Remonstrant Synod of Ulster, or the Unitarians. Davis was one of seventeen ministers who separated from the Synod of Ulster in 1830, the first Remonstrant Synod taking place that year. He continued as minister until 1847, during which time the congregation relocated from the Old Meeting House Green to the present Downshire Road site.

Davis was succeeded by the Reverend John Montgomery, though the appointment caused dissension: a breakaway section of the congregation built a new church in the Square in 1849.

The Dunbar family — Hugh Dunbar, proprietor of Gilford spinning mill, and his sisters — lived at nearby Huntly House and were prominent members of the congregation. On the death of Isabella Dunbar in 1871, a considerable sum was left in trust for the upkeep of the church and for the establishment of a non-sectarian school under Unitarian oversight. The Dunbar Memorial School was built opposite the church in 1885. The Dunbar Memorial Hall, also opposite, is a separate neighbouring building.

The Trustees of Banbridge First Unitarian Church held the church and yard on lease from the Marquess of Downshire. By the time of the First General Revaluation in 1933–1934, the rateable value had risen to £135. At that point the seating capacity was recorded as 500, though attendance had fallen to approximately a dozen. The associated plan recorded the church, portico, staircases, gallery, minister's vestry, and session room at the rear — comprising two rooms on the ground floor and two on the upper floor. During the 1940s, two rooms at the rear were used as classrooms for Banbridge Academy.

ALTERATIONS AND REPAIRS

In July 1888, the Belfast architects Young and Mackenzie advertised for tenders for sundry repairs to the church. The building was listed in 1976 and re-roofed in 1979. External repairs and redecoration were carried out in 1980, and a thanksgiving service was held in March 1981 following two years of renovations. In 1991 the church windows were severely damaged by a bomb. A 275th anniversary service was held that same year, attended by David Trimble MP and his wife.

SETTING

The church is set back from the north side of Downshire Road behind a gravel forecourt. The boundary is defined by original cast-iron arrowhead gates and railings supported on polygonal stucco piers with panelled shafts, moulded cornices, and diminished polygonal pointed caps. The grounds are lawned with gravel pathways to the northwest and southeast, bounded on three sides by mature trees and a low rubble stone wall. To the west is a large tarmacadam car park serving a neighbouring leisure centre.

The church sits directly west of Banbridge Methodist Church — a gabled rubble stone Gothic Revival building — and opposite the Dunbar Memorial Hall. The neighbouring Edwardian Old Technical School stands to one side. Together these buildings form a significant part of the architectural character of Downshire Road and illustrate the development of this part of the town.