Tamlaght Finlagan Parish Church (C of I), Clooney Road, Ballykelly, Limavady, Co Londonderry BT49 9HS

Tamlaght Finlagan Parish Church (Church of Ireland), Ballykelly

A handsome late 18th-century church of striking architectural quality, built between 1760 and 1779 to replace an earlier 'Garrison' church at Walworth. The building exemplifies the simple plan form of the 'Planter's' church tradition and is excellently sited on a slight rise on the northern edge of Ballykelly village, set back some 100 metres from the main road to Limavady. It forms a magnificent focal point against the background of Lough Foyle and the Benevanagh cliffs.

The church was constructed to replace the earlier structure, with rector Harry Bruce installed in 1795. The building was funded largely through contributions from Bishop Harvey and John Beresford, with a Mr Mitchell as builder. The architect may have been Mr Shanahan, as evidenced by correspondence from the Bishop to Beresford regarding the provision of plans and elevations. Subsequent 19th-century additions have been handled with considerable sensitivity: the chancel, vestry, and gallery were added in 1851, and the north aisle in 1859, with architect Joseph Wellend overseeing these works. The interior underwent renovation in 1934.

The church is constructed of rubble stone faced with attractive rustic whinstone and comprises a three-bay nave with a western tower and spire, an east chancel in Neo-gothic style, and a later north aisle. The whinstone walls are strongly articulated with buttresses, including clasping corner types, and terminate in crenellations with simple sandstone pinnacles to each buttress. The pitched roofs are finished in natural slate.

Architectural detail is considerable throughout. Narrow lancets are trimmed with sandstone. The north aisle, added with a lean-to roof, features pointed piers. A vestry, also added to the north side against the chancel wall, has a shouldered door and a pair of pointed lancets set in gables. The south wall is punctuated by three tall lancets with Y-tracery, each adorned with pointed hood mouldings. The east gable of the chancel is lit by a large three-light window with interesting tracery and hood moulding. A pointed entrance door is placed in the south side of the tower, with tall pointed windows in other walls.

The three-stage tower is marked at the top of its lower stage by a string course and at the next stage by a deep band of pointed blank arcading. The belfry is marked by louvred oculi and ends in crenellations with simple pinnacles at each corner. From the belfry springs a plain but pleasing octagonal spire in sandstone. According to tradition, this spire was designed to greet the eye of the edifying Bishop, the Earl of Bristol (1730–1803), on his journeys to Downhill.

The interior contains several worthy memorials, including a Lady Jane Hamilton sculpture, which was likely repositioned when the north aisle was constructed, having probably originally been sited in the earlier 'Garrison' church. The church and graveyard are surrounded by a stone boundary wall of average height 1.5 metres, currently undergoing rebuilding where it separates the ecclesiastical site from Shackleton Barracks. Mature trees around the perimeter of the graveyard create a sylvan setting. The graveyard contains notable vaults, including a separately listed Gage vault.