Church of SS Peter and Paul, Chapel Road, Bessbrook, Co. Armagh

Freestanding double-height Roman Catholic church, built c.1870, refurbished c.1950, located at the junction of Chapel Road and Church Road, Bessbrook. Cruciform on plan, unconventionally oriented with chancel to west; gabled porches to N elevation of nave, and E elevation of each transept; flat-roofed confessional outshots to W elevation of each transept, and S elevation of nave; side-chapel outshot to N side of nave. Pitched slate roof with stone verges having cross finials to transepts, profiled aluminium gutters on projecting eaves. East gable projects to centre, rising with granite offsets to ashlar granite bellcote with cross finial, chamfered pointed arched aperture with bell. Walling is painted render with plinth and rendered quoins. Windows are replacement leaded lattice with central stained glass panels (c.1950) with external secondary glazing, rendered reveals and painted masonry cills. Tripartite Y-tracery pointed arched windows to cardinal points, otherwise lancets. East gable (nave) has quoined breakfront to centre, topped with the bellcote and having a single window with stone quatrefoil over. S elevation comprises nave, lit by three lancets, and south transept, which has a window to S and is otherwise lit by two lancets to E and one to W. E porch has a pointed arched door opening with replacement double-leaf varnished timber doors and access ramp. N elevation (transepts) is centrally abutted by the chancel, which is lit by the W window and a small pointed arched window to each cheek. It is further abutted to S by a single-storey flat-roofed vestry (c.1950) with multi-paned metal-framed windows and parapet. Transepts are each lit by two windows to W. N elevation is as S. Setting: Set back from Chapel Road, slightly elevated to E, set on a paved platform accessed by five steps to NE and SE, with shrubs and small ornamental trees to either side. Tarmac parking area to E, bounded to road by a reconstructed stone-faced boundary wall with original rendered gate piers having cusped Gothic panels, gableted and finialled caps, and supporting original cast-iron vehicular and pedestrian gates. There is a two-storey residence within the gates to SE (original parochial house) and a replacement parochial house (c.1980) to S. Burial ground to W. The associated Sisters of Mercy Convent and Primary School are situated a short distance to NW. Roof: Slate Walling: Render Windows: Timber RWG: Aluminium