Survey Data
Reg No
12301062
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic, Historical, Social
Original Use
Church/chapel
In Use As
Church/chapel
Date
1815 - 1820
Coordinates
253999, 173164
Date Recorded
18/05/2004
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached four-bay double-height Board of First Fruits Church of Ireland church, built 1818, with single-bay double-height lower chancel to east, single-bay single-storey vestry to north-east, and single-bay four-stage entrance tower to west on a square plan. Pitched slate roofs (pitched roof to vestry) with clay ridge tiles, cut-limestone coping to gables having rendered chimney stack to apex to vestry, and cast-iron rainwater goods on cut-limestone eaves. Roof to tower not visible behind parapet. Unpainted rendered, ruled and lined walls with carved cut-limestone plaque (post-1918), rendered dressings to tower including stringcourses to each stage, advanced piers to corners (clasping to first and to second stage), clock face to third stage having hood moulding over, and punctuated frieze between courses supporting crow-stepped battlemented parapet having pinnacles rising into cut-limestone finials. Pointed-arch window openings to nave with lancet window openings to outer bays having chamfered surrounds, some having Y-mullions forming bipartite lancet arrangement, hood mouldings over, and fixed-pane fittings having leaded stained glass panels. Grouped (three-part arrangement) trefoil-headed window openings to chancel with cut-limestone block-and-start surrounds having chamfered reveals, mullions, hood mouldings over, and fixed-pane fittings having leaded stained glass panels. Pointed-arch window openings to second stage to tower with cut-limestone sills, surrounds having chamfered reveals, Y-mullions forming bipartite lancet arrangement, and fixed-pane timber fittings having lattice glazing. Square-headed window openings to third stage to tower with cut-limestone surrounds, hood mouldings over, Y-mullions forming bipartite pointed-arch arrangement, and fixed-pane timber fittings having lattice glazing. Pointed-arch openings to top (bell) stage to tower with cut-limestone surrounds having chamfered reveals, Y-mullions forming bipartite pointed-arch arrangement, and louvered panel fittings. Pointed-arch door opening with cast-iron bootscraper, rebated surround having chamfered reveals, hood moulding over, and timber panelled double doors. Set back from road in own grounds on a slightly elevated site with landscaped grounds to site. (ii) Graveyard to site with various cut-stone markers, post-1818-present. (ii) Gateway, post-1818, to west comprising pair of limestone ashlar piers with buttresses extending into octagonal 'finials', wrought iron double gates, wrought iron flanking pedestrian gates, limestone ashlar flanking walls having bas-relief buttresses flanking gateways, and limestone ashlar terminating piers on polygonal plans having conical capping.
Appraisal
A well-composed substantial rural church adhering to a standard arrangement of nave and tower associated with the Board of First Fruits (fl. c.1711-1833) and, occupying a picturesque elevated site on the outskirts of Castlecomer, forming an attractive landmark in the locality: the church is identified in the landscape by the tower stepping in slightly at each stage producing an elegant feature in the skyline. In contrast to the sparse treatment of the nave and chancel the tower incorporates a range of fine details contributing to the architectural design value of the site. Having been well maintained the church presents an early aspect with most of the historic character intact: delicate stained glass panels of artistic interest indicate that an early interior scheme may also survive in place. An attendant graveyard containing a number of markers exhibiting high quality stone masonry together with a fine gateway bearing stylistic similarities with that belonging to the Castlecomer House estate (12301081/KK-05-01-81) all enhance the group and setting qualities of the site.