Clough Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church, Castlewellan Road, Clough, Downpatrick, Co Down, BT30 8RD

Clough Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church

A good example of a classical style Non-subscribing Presbyterian church of 1837, designed by John Lynn. The building is located on the north side of Newcastle Road to the south-west of the centre of Clough village and is accompanied by a small graveyard.

The church is a single storey structure with a symmetrical south-facing front elevation. At its centre stands a striking double-height semicircular porch recess, supported on plain granite Ionic columns with attic bases. Behind the porch is a pair of panelled doors with circular centre panels, curved slightly to follow the adjoining walls and crowned by a radial fanlight. The walls flanking the porch are rusticated, and one of the granite columns has had a small section of stonework neatly replaced. To either side of the porch are double-height recessed panels framed by plain pilasters. Each panel contains a ground floor window with a segmental head, broad surround, and sash window (3/3 panes); the lower sash on the right has been replaced without astragals. The vertical sections of the window surrounds extend downward to a plinth. Above each segmental head is a bracketed hood projection, surmounted by a moulded string course extending across the recessed panel width. This string course supports a blind opening matching the window design. The pilasters carry a full-width frieze supporting a pediment with a blind oculus in the tympanum. A plain paired chimney stack rises at the pediment apex.

The west and east side elevations are relatively plain, each with three semicircular-headed windows with recessed surrounds and multi-pane Georgian frames, evenly spaced slightly south of centre. These windows feature an unusual double sill with an air vent between the sills. The rear north elevation is gabled and symmetrical, with two evenly spaced windows of similar design. Near the apex of the gable is an oculus with a ventilation grill infill. Below the sills runs a long corrugated iron lean-to canopy. To the roadside are two sets of wrought iron gates with matching railings, their pillars and gate posts finished in granite with semi-spherical caps.

The church was constructed in 1836–37 following the final split between the 'Unitarians' and mainstream Irish Presbyterians. Its building was substantially funded by local commercial and gentry families including the Murlands of Annsborough, the McCammons, and the Allens of Mount Panther.