Congregational Church, Curran Road, Larne, Co Antrim

This Congregational Church was built between 1900 and 1919, with its foundation stone laid on 14 May 1910, to a design by architect John Seeds. The building is constructed of red brick with blue brick banding to the entrance front. The architectural style is an unusual combination, with a freely treated round-arched and neo-Byzantine appearance to the entrance front and a neo-Georgian pattern to the side windows. The roof is tiled with concrete replacements, although the domical copper ventilator turret remains original. Original cast iron guttering and downpipes are also present. A segmental arched window with prominent cast iron mullions is set above the main entrance, which is sheltered by a gabled porch with a replacement fibre cement slated roof. Concrete steps lead to the main entrance, flanked by rebuilt red brick retaining walls. Plastic lettering identifies the church on its front facade. Unfortunately, the original character of the building has been significantly diminished by the inappropriate replacement of the main side windows with plastic PVC fixed lights that include a top-hung vent, although one window in the side porch to the rear retains the original timber sliding sash vertically hung with horns. A roughcast hall to the rear, originally with a pitched roof of fibre cement slates, has been extended with a later addition finished in dry dash render of limestone chippings. The church is situated on a slightly elevated site facing the main road within the built-up area of Larne, with its entrance front and side elevations clearly visible.