Survey Data
Reg No
22206307
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic, Social
Previous Name
Saint Mary's Catholic Church
Original Use
Church/chapel
In Use As
Church/chapel
Date
1845 - 1855
Coordinates
228260, 140697
Date Recorded
16/05/2005
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached cruciform-plan gable-fronted Roman Catholic church, built 1850, facing south and having three-bay nave, single-bay transepts and chancel, with single-storey sacristy to north. Pitched slate roofs with cut limestone copings, eaves course, bellcote to north gable and cross finials to all gables. Hipped slate roof to sacristy. Ashlar limestone to gable-front and snecked limestone walls elsewhere, with stepped buttresses, moulded limestone string course, and having dedicatory plaque to upper part of gable-front. Pointed arch window openings to upper walls, string course acting as sill course, with chamfered limestone surrounds and hood mouldings, triple-light to gable-front and transept and chancel gables, single-light to sides of chancel and two-light elsewhere, with stained glass windows with flamboyant limestone tracery. Blind triangular opening to all gables with chamfered surround and hood moulding having carved detailing within. Chamfered limestone pointed-arch doorways to gable-front and front elevations of transepts, with timber battened double doors having decorative strap hinges. Square-headed window openings to sacristy with chamfered surrounds, label-mouldings and timber casement windows, one latticed and pointed arch doorway with chamfered limestone surround with hood-moulding, advanced entrance bay with triangular pediment having cross finial, timber battened door and plain overlight. Interior includes carved timber gallery with clock over internal lobby, latter having decorative coloured glass. Ornate sexpartite vaulting with elaborate corbels. Elaborate carved marble reredos set into pointed-arched recess with moulded render surround, flanked by doorways to sacristy. Graveyard to site. Panelled ashlar limestone piers to vehicular and pedestrian entrances, flanked by cut limestone boundary walls, with decorative cast-iron gates and railings. Former Roman Catholic church, built 1806, adjacent to site. Marian grotto on opposite side of street.
Appraisal
This church forms part of an interesting group with the grotto, the nearby former Mercy Convent and the slated stone building to the east, said to be the earlier church, the belfry corroborate this assertion. The chamfered surrounds, carved mouldings, and flamboyant bar tracery to the openings show the care and craftsmanship which went into the building of this church. Visible from a distance on the road to the north, and an imposing feature in the village itself, it is a valuable contribution to the architectural and artistic heritage of the Drangan area. The interior is of considerable interest, having a fine reredos, ceiling and gallery.