Cushendun Parish Church, Cushendun, Co.Antrim

Cushendun Parish Church is a Gothic-style former chapel of ease built around 1838 in local reddish sandstone. It stands on land that formed part of the grounds of Glenmona Lodge, within the Cushendun Conservation Area at the eastern edge of the village.

The church is rectangular on plan with projections to both the east and west, and is entered through a two-stage bell tower positioned to the west elevation. The principal elevation faces south-east. The building is surrounded by a sandstone boundary wall with two square sandstone pillars and wrought iron entrance gates to the south-east boundary.

The main elevations are constructed of rough coursed squared Devonian sandstone with local carboniferous sandstone dressings. A projecting ashlar plinth course runs along the base, with square floor ventilation grilles positioned below the windows and ashlar architrave detailing. The windows throughout are distinctive gothic-pointed Y tracery designs with diamond-paned lead lights with borders and opening lights at the arch spring. The principal south-east elevation contains a gothic-pointed doorcase at the base of the west tower, with sheeted timber double doors and a panel above, accessed by two steps from ground level.

The two-stage bell tower projects to the west and is topped with a projecting ashlar sandstone parapet supporting four hexagonal tapering ashlar sandstone finials at the corners. The upper stage of the tower contains a gothic-pointed painted timber louvered panel with Y tracery design set on a sandstone sill, above a continuous moulded sandstone string course.

A small vestry projects from the north-east, constructed of roughly squared and coursed sandstone with a matching plinth course and flat concrete roof. The vestry contains a small timber-framed Y tracery window with plain glass and a timber-sheeted door set two steps above ground level.

The chancel gable to the east is smooth rendered with a pitched slate roof. It features a striking gothic-arched triple lancet window with stained glass bearing the coat of arms of the O'Neill family of Rockport, flanked by single gothic-pointed lancet windows with diamond-paned lead lights. A small vestry at the base has roughly squared and coursed sandstone with a matching plinth course and flat concrete roof.

The pitched natural slate roof is finished with terracotta ridge tiles and gable parapets. A small chimney to the north-east gable terminates in a clay pot. Half-round aluminium guttering supported on rise and fall brackets at the projecting eaves discharges to circular aluminium downpipes throughout.

The church underwent general remedial work in 1993, was deconsecrated in 2003, and has remained vacant since the time of survey.