The Rectory, 39 Soldierstown Road, Aghalee, Craigavon, BT67 0ES

The Rectory is a symmetrical detached three-bay two-storey rectory with basement, built circa 1825, located on the west side of Soldierstown Road in an elevated rural setting near Aghalee. Despite some alterations to its front steps, timber sash windows and part of its doorcase, the building retains an overall intact impression and represents a well-proportioned example of a Board of First Fruits clergy house. It has group value with the nearby Trinity Church of Ireland and demonstrates the proportions and restrained ornamentation typical of late Georgian ecclesiastical architecture.

The building is rectangular on plan, facing east, set on elevated landscaped grounds accessed via two entrances forming a semi-circular avenue. The hipped roof is finished in natural slate with rolled lead ridges, lead platform and three rendered chimneystacks topped with octagonal clay pots. Cast-iron guttering on iron brackets runs to the projecting render eaves course, with cast-iron downpipes. The walls are wet-dash rendered over a granite plinth course above basement level; the basement level is smooth rendered. Rusticated render quoins mark the corners. Window openings are square-headed with convex moulded render surrounds, painted masonry sills and replacement timber sash windows with horns. The symmetrical east front elevation features a three-centred arch door opening with moulded surround and timber doorcase. A four-panelled timber door is flanked by original fixed-pane sidelights with two pairs of replacement console brackets to the lintel cornice and an original spoked timber fanlight above. The door opens onto a replacement granite paved platform and replacement granite nosed steps enclosed by a raking wall and replacement iron rails facing the front gravel area. The two-bay south side elevation contains two windows, with uPVC windows to basement level. The rear elevation has irregular window placement with two timber sash windows and two uPVC windows. A replacement timber sheeted door to basement level opens onto a concrete paved enclosed rear yard. The north side elevation has a single window opening to each floor, with uPVC windows to basement level.

The property sits on an elevated site enclosed to the road by replacement rendered walls and piers with mature trees. A double garage with natural slate roof stands in the rear yard.

Historically, the house appears on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1832 as a smaller oblong building with a rear return and attached offices forming a U-shaped structure. The Townland Valuation of the 1830s recorded it as the seat of Rev. Robert Hill, described as a square building, two storeys high and slated with good offices and a well-enclosed yard. Contemporary memoirs record that the building was completed in 1826 and cost £687, of which the Board of First Fruits granted £400 and loaned £250, with the remaining £37 supplied by the incumbent minister, Rev. Philip Fletcher. The Townland Valuation listed the Glebe house as a 1A class building measuring 40 feet by 20 feet by 20 feet high, with a basement storey, valued at £8 4s 7d. The rear outoffices served as a stable and coach house; the entire property was valued at £14 1s 6d.

Between 1832 and 1858, the building was expanded to its current form, increasing the valuation to £16 in Griffith's Valuation of 1859. Rev. Robert Hill remained until 1889, when he was succeeded by Rev. John William Slator. The property was purchased by Baronet John Murray Scott in 1899, following his inheritance of Lady Wallace's estate. The 1901 Census records Rev. John Slator (aged 47), his wife Mrs. R. E. Slator (aged 47) and their young son occupying the house, which was recorded as a first-class dwelling of 15 inhabited rooms. A third edition Ordnance Survey map from 1901 shows an additional extension to the rear return, though the corresponding census outoffice return form is missing. Rev. Slator occupied the Rectory until 1907, when Rev. Douglas Scott took possession. Douglas (aged 39) lived with his wife Marianne (aged 32) and their three children. The 1907 Census recorded outoffices including a stable, coach house, harness room, cow house, two calf houses, a dairy, piggery, fowl house, potato house and a shed with workshop. Scott remained until 1919, when he was succeeded by Rev. Frederick Baldwin. Rev. J. Balfour-Bradshaw became the final incumbent recorded in Annual Revisions before they ceased in 1928.

Alterations were carried out in 1970 when a modern kitchen and bathroom were installed, and in 1973 an oil central heating system was fitted. The building was listed in 1978 and underwent refurbishment in 2003. The Rectory continues to serve as the residence of the incumbent minister of Trinity Church and maintains its late-Georgian appearance with many original features intact.