The Old Presbyterian Church (Non-Subscribing), Meeting House Street, Larne, Co Antrim BT40 1LF

The Old Presbyterian Church (Non-Subscribing), Larne

This is a building of distinct classical proportions which retains its late Georgian character both inside and outside, despite inappropriate changes to its front façade and later furnishings.

A two-storey church of rectangular plan with an organ projection at the rear behind the pulpit. The main entrance faces east. The walls are smooth cement-rendered, lined and blocked. The roof is hipped with Bangor blue slates in regular courses. The centre bay of the ecclesiastical west front is broken forward and topped by a pediment containing a circular datestone. A yellow brick chimney dating to around 1900 sits behind the pediment roof. Raised rusticated quoins dress the extremities. Tuscan columns support an entablature and pediment to form a porch; the columns have a pointed scagliola finish dating to around 1987, and concrete steps provide access.

The west front has three windows to the first floor: 8 over 8 sliding sash wooden windows with horns. One window appears on each side of the porch at ground floor level: 12 over 8 sliding sash wooden windows with horns, with lower panes translucent. Original cast iron guttering survives, though plastic replacement downpipes have been fitted. Cast iron oval end plates for tie rods are visible on the breakfront.

The side elevations are lit by two rows of four windows similar to those on the west front, one on each floor. The organ projection has smooth render, red sandstone haunches and grey sandstone coping to the gables. One semi-circular headed window with stained glass appears on each side of the organ projection.

The building was built as a Unitarian church to replace an earlier cruciform church on the site. Plans for rebuilding were approved in 1828 and the church was built by William Agnew, stone mason of Kilwaughter, opening on 1st November 1829. The organ chamber was added around 1886. Boundary walls, railings and gates were added in 1893 and a manse in 1892, both to designs of architect S.P. Close. A heating system was installed in 1900. The original pulpit was replaced in 1955. Stained glass was inserted in the organ projection in 1993. In 1987, ground floor pews were all replaced with wider aisles and cubicles.

The building stands on an island site bounded on all sides by public roads. It shares the site with a late Victorian manse alongside and a modern church hall at a distance in front. Lawns and trees occupy the side areas, and a tarmac area lies in front. Two iron-railing graves sit to one side. A rubble basalt boundary wall bounds the rear of the site. Cement-rendered boundary walls and piers with ornamental iron railings and gates appear on each side of the site, and a concrete post and wire fence fronts the site.