Former St John’s Roman Catholic Church, Bay Road, Carnlough, Ballymena, Co Antrim

This is an early 19th century Roman Catholic church, built between 1840 and 1859, and now redundant. The building has been extended and altered over time, resulting in the loss of some original features and a reduction in its overall architectural value.

The church is constructed with a simple Gothic Revival style, featuring a slated, gabled roof. The walls are rendered, with a later projecting gabled porch of rubble stonework centrally located on the front elevation facing the road. The porch has been painted dark grey. The main nave windows are pointed arched lancets with drip mouldings, with the exception of a small circular window above the porch. The roof is topped with a pair of cylindrical metal ventilators, each with a conical cap, and an iron cross finial adorns each main gable.

The north gable originally presented a symmetrical facade with pointed lancet windows flanking a central doorway, intended as the main entrance before the addition of a gallery. The lancets are now blocked, disrupting the original symmetry; a projecting rectangular confessional is situated on one side. A low, lean-to sacristy extends from the back of the sanctuary gable, with a two-storey vestry attached alongside.

The church is situated within the built-up area of the village, set back from Bay Road within its own walled churchyard. The boundary walling is of plain rendered masonry, containing simple iron gates mounted on plain piers. The graveyard is grassed and contains no memorials of particular architectural or historic interest. A former 19th century school building (listed under reference HB06/01/004) is located to the rear, accessible through a small gateway in the rear boundary wall.

The church was in use until 1997 when a new church was built further north.