Trinity Church of Ireland Church, Soldierstown Road, Poobles, Aghalee, County Antrim

Free-standing rendered hall and tower Church of Ireland church, origianlly dating from the seventeenth century with alterations during the early 19th century, located on an elevated site on the north side of Soldierstown Road. Rectangular on plan on an east-west axis with square-plan three-stage rendered steeple to the west, chancel added to the east 1899 and single-storey over basement vestry and parish room abutting north nave elevation built c.1982. Pitched natural slate roof black clay ridge tiles and cement coping to slightly raised gables. Cast-iron guttering on decorative iron brackets to concave stone eaves course and cast-iron downpipes. Roughcast render walling with smooth render plinth course. Pointed-headed window openings with decorative hood mouldings, masonry sills, stone Y-tracery and leaded stained glass. Three-stage square-plan rendered entrance tower surmounted by octagonal plan copper-sheeted spire and weather vane set behind parapet wall with masonry coping and stone corner pinnacles having plastic hoppers and downpipes breaking through parapet wall. Pointed-headed entrance to the south elevation with replacement hardwood panelled doors and overpanel. Diminutive square-headed opening above the entrance and pointed-headed opening to the upper stage of all four elevations, each having decorative hood mouldings and foliate label stops. Timber louvres to the upper stage openings and modern stained glass to the lower stage opening to the west. South nave elevation is two windows wide. West gable abutted by tower. North nave elevation is abutted by single-storey over basement vestry wing leaving a single window opening exposed on this elevation. The vestry wing has a shallow pitched artificial slate roof with 2/2 timber sash windows. East gable abutted by shallow gabled chancel both finished in ruled and lined cement render. Chancel is narrower than the east gable with cement coping, stone finial to apex, natural slate roof to exposed rafter feet and decorative kneeler stones. Lateral buttresses to either side and a central pointed-headed east window with hood moulding, geometric stone tracery, masonry sill and stained glass with storm glazing. To each cheek of the chancel is a lancet opening with hood mouldings, splayed flush sills and leaded lattice windows. Setting: Set on an elevated site on the north side of Soldierstown Road laid out with many stone and marble grave markers dating from 1770 to the present. Bitmac path set perpendicular to the road opening via iron gate screen on rendered piers and splayed walls with decorative cement coping, continuing along the road frontage. Diminutive single-storey structure to the west of gate screen having natural slate roof and single hardwood door. Large community hall to the rear built c.1980. Roof Natural slate RWG Cast-iron Walling Roughcast render Windows Pointed-headed with stone Y-tracery & leaded stained glass