Joymount Presbyterian Church, 6 Joymount, Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim, BT38 7DN

Joymount Presbyterian Church is a double-height rendered Presbyterian church located on the north side of Joymount, just outside the historic town walls of Carrickfergus. The building was constructed in 1855, with the foundation stone laid that year and the church opening for service in 1856. The structure is Grade B2 listed and is situated within a conservation area.

The church is rectangular on plan and faces south, with a pitched concrete tile roof and replacement half-round metal gutters affixed to painted timber fascia. The walling is painted smooth render over a two-stage plinth, articulated by Giant Order pilasters positioned between windows. The principal windows are round-headed double-height stained-glass casements with sills and hood moulds springing from moulded imposts over pilasters.

The south-facing gable is centrally abutted by a modern gabled single-storey porch added in the 1970s. On either side of the porch are single windows with reticulated keyblocks. The main gable features an eaves-level stringcourse at the base of a round-headed recess with hoodmould and reticulated keyblock supported on diminutive pilasters. This recess contains a single tripartite window with embossed lettering reading "Joymount Presbyterian Church" and a shield-shaped date plaque at the apex. The west elevation displays seven windows across its width, though the window at the right end is blocked. The east elevation mirrors the architectural detailing of the west. The rear north gable is almost entirely abutted by the attached hall, with only the apex exposed as a blank gablet.

The church originally featured a vaulted ceiling, but this was concealed during a remodelling programme around 1890 when a flat ceiling was installed. Historical records from 1840 describe an earlier Unitarian Meeting House on the site, noted as being in an unfinished state and commenced in early 1838, with a portico supported by two tall brick columns at the southern gable. The building material used in the present church is stone taken from the shore, which is rich in salt.

Attached to the north gable of the church is a former schoolhouse, now used as a church hall, dated 1890. This is a two-storey rectangular structure facing west. It is detailed in keeping with the church but features a hipped roof, walling with quoins but no pilasters, and windows that are segmental-arch-headed painted timber six-light casements with moulded architraves and sills. The west elevation is asymmetrical, displaying three first-floor windows and a shield-shaped date plaque. The ground floor has one window flanking each side of a segmental-arch-headed replacement painted timber four-panelled double-door with overlight and moulded architrave. The north elevation is largely obscured by a two-storey modern extension and a modern annex, but the exposed section contains four windows. The east elevation displays two windows to each floor with a single extra square-headed diminutive painted timber casement. The south elevation, which is centrally abutted by the church, retains quoins and features diminished windows with some to the first floor blocked.

The 1890 date on the hall likely marks an overall building programme that included the remodelling of the church, possible creation of a vestibule, blocking of vestibule windows, and the erection of Joymount Manse, which was demolished and rebuilt on an adjacent site around 2000. The choir vestry was originally a faculty room when the hall served as a Sunday School. The upper hall is currently used for general sports, including badminton. All windows on the hall have been fitted with security grilles, and replacement sills have been installed, though some lack original architraves.

The interior of the church is well preserved and retains considerable late-nineteenth-century detailing. The original roof covering of natural slate on the church, hall, and manse was replaced with concrete tiles around 1990. A modern L-shaped single-storey annex and two-storey extension were added to the north of the hall around 2000.

The church is set back from Joymount with modern gates and sits within a tarmac car park. The site is situated near the east section of the Town Wall and adjoins lawned parkland to the west. A recreated Jacobean Knot Garden from the former Joymount House lies to the southwest, while Shaftesbury Park is situated to the east.

Historical records indicate that the congregation was organized between 1851 and 1852, prompted by demand in the area for another church. The Reverend James Warwick was the first minister, and the site was provided by Lord Donegall. Griffith's Valuation records the church and yard as exempt, valued at £25 and occupied by the Reverend Warwick. Valuation Revisions from 1908 to 1915 record no change in this value. The Presbyterian Historical Society records confirm the church's construction and opening date, with the current congregation historian being Alan McAlistair.