2nd Presbyterian Church, William Street, Castlederg, Co. Tyrone, BT81 7BJ

2nd Presbyterian Church, William Street, Castlederg

A substantial but simply detailed mid-Victorian Presbyterian church in restrained Gothic style, constructed between 1858 and 1859. The building retains its overall composition, though windows, doors, ceiling and much of the interior have been replaced over the last century. These replacement elements, while not original, form an eclectic mix of architectural detailing that contribute to the church's character. The building is of particular interest for its contribution to the social history of Castlederg.

The church is a free-standing, gable-fronted structure of double height, rendered and painted, facing north onto William Street. It is set within its own grounds on the south side of the street. The main body is rectangular in plan and dates from 1858, as stated on a date plaque to the front gable reading 'Scots, Church, 1858'. A two-storey extension was added to the rear around 1950, connecting to a gable-fronted double-height hall to the east, which was built around 1930.

The roof is pitched with natural slate, fitted with roll-moulded black clay ridge tiles. Replacement steel rainwater goods are fixed to corbelled eaves, with lead-lined verges to both gables. A cut stone bell-cote to the front gable features a round-headed arch supporting a pinnacle, flanked by stepped piers.

The walls are of painted pebbledash render. Painted stone ashlar diagonal buttresses rise at the four outer corners, extending above eaves level and surmounted by pinnacles. Pointed-headed window openings have painted chamfered stone surrounds, stone sills and leaded coloured glazing throughout.

The front gable is three windows wide. A pair of buttresses flank the central bay. Pointed-arched window openings stand to either side of a central pointed-arched door opening, with a further pointed-arched window opening above the entrance. The central window opening has a painted chamfered stone surround with hood moulding, resting on a painted stone sill with corbels and spanning the space between both central buttresses. The front entrance features a painted stop-chamfered stone surround with hood moulding extending to the off-sets of the buttresses on either side. The entrance is fitted with replacement double-leaf hardwood doors with leaded coloured glazing to the pointed-arched fanlight.

The east side elevation is four windows wide and is abutted to the rear by a flat-roofed corridor. The rear elevation contains a pair of lancet window openings and is abutted by the two-storey flat-roofed extension. The west side elevation is also four windows wide.

The entire site has a bituminac finish. The sides and rear are enclosed by a pebbledash rendered wall, while the street frontage is enclosed by a low pebbledash rendered wall with stone coping and decorative cast-iron railing. A pair of matching cast-iron gates, mounted on octagonal cast-iron posts, provide access.

To the east stands a detached double-height gable-fronted hall, built around 1930. This is rectangular in plan with a flat-roofed canted entrance porch. It is connected to the church by a flat-roofed corridor along its west elevation. The hall has a natural slate roof and pebbledash rendered walls.

Historical Development

The Presbyterian congregation was founded around 1791. A previous church building, constructed 50 years before 1858, fell into disrepair, prompting the decision to build anew. The architect and contractor was Mr William Carlisle of Spamount, a former employee of Spamount Spinning Mill. During the autumn of 1858, while building work was in progress, a gable wall fell during a storm, but the damage was quickly made good. The church opened on 25th September 1859. The total construction cost was £800: £150 was supplied by the Church and Manse Fund of the General Assembly, £100 was subscribed by non-members of the congregation, and £250 was raised by members.

The church had a 40-foot frontage and accommodation for approximately 400 people. Early records indicate average congregations of around 100 in the mornings and 25 in the evenings.

Due to rising numbers, a gallery was constructed in 1870. In 1911, under the direction of architect John Crosbie, a new ceiling of pitch pine was installed and various repairs were carried out, including the removal of part of the front of the gallery. Further alterations, repairs and renovations were undertaken in 1951 and 1952 under architect Thomas T Houston. One of the staircases to the gallery was removed and the church layout was altered. New pews, choir stalls, panelling and a platform were installed. In 1953, Messrs W. F. Clokey & Co supplied two leaded light windows for the front of the church, which were placed in new window openings.