Saint Matthews Church of Ireland, Lurganure Road, Broomhedge, Hillsborough, County Down

Gothic Revival stone Church of Ireland church, built c.1839 to the designs of Charles Lanyon, located on a corner site to the north of Lurganure Road and to the west of Church Lane. Rectangular on plan on an east-west axis with a two-stage entrance tower to the east and chancel projection to the east. North transept and vestry to the re-entrant angle added c.1900. Pitched natural slate roof with black clay ridge tiles and set below raised gables to either end having stone coping and gableted kneeler stones projecting beyond the eaves. Replacement cast-iron guttering on iron brackets to moulded sandstone eaves course. Rough-hewn squared basalt walling with sandstone ashlar plinth course and flush quoins. Pointed-headed lancet openings with flush sandstone ashlar surrounds, splayed sills and stained glass windows added c.1980. Square-plan two-stage entrance tower to the west with crenellated parapet and four octagonal piers surmounted by gableted pinnacles with finials and resting on a continuous string course. The upper stage has a pair of lancet openings to each elevation with hood mouldings smooth chamfered sandstone surrounds, timber louvres and gilded iron clock-face below. The lower stage is set below a splayed course with coursed squared stone and flush sandstone ashlar quoins. Lancet window opening to the west elevation with chamfered sandstone ashlar surround, hood moulding and stained glass, while the south entrance elevation has a Tudor-arched door opening with hood moulding, chamfered sandstone ashlar surround, replacement double-leaf hardwood doors and overpanel. Above the entrance is a sandstone carved decorative panel. West gabled elevation abutted by tower with a blind balistraria to either side. North nave elevation is abutted by a gabled north transept and vestry, added c.1900. The transept has rock-faced coursed rubblestone, shaped kneeler stones to stone coping, flush sandstone quoins and plinth course. Trefoil-headed lancet to the west cheek of transept with pair of lancets to the gable. The vestry has a Tudor-arched door opening with quatrefoil panel above, all formed in flush chamfered sandstone with sheeted timber door and overlight opening onto four stone steps bridging the steps to the crypt. East gabled abutted by gabled chancel projection with shaped kneeler stones and central paired pinnacle blocks with pointed-headed louvred opening to panel below. Tripartite east window, as per nave elevations. South nave elevation is four windows wide. Setting: Set on a corner site with its south nave elevation facing Lurganure Road and its rear east gable facing Church Lane, enclosed by a rubblestone boundary wall with stone and marble grave markers to the east, south and west, dating from the mid nineteenth-century. Roof Natural slate RWG Replacement cast-iron Walling Random coursed basalt walling Windows Lancets with stained glass