Randalstown Old Congregation Presbyterian Church

Image: © Kenneth Allen Taken: 18 Dec 2007

This oval church was built in 1790 on the site of the former meeting-house on land had originally been granted to the congregation (founded 1655) by Rose, Marchioness of Antrim, only daughter of Sir Henry O'Neill of Shane's Castle. The new church, built of brownish basalt rubble stones, was completed at a cost of £600. It is possible that the oval design of the building is linked to that of St. Andrew's Church in Edinburgh which was built about six years earlier. In 1829 a gallery carried on cast-iron fluted columns was added and at the same time a hexagonal porch topped by a graceful bell-tower was erected, all at a cost of £1,054. The gallery, accessed by stairs from the porch had, at that time, very little headroom and was very dark, being lighted only by the tips of the pointed windows. In 1929 extensive alterations to the church were carried out at a total cost of £6,200. The walls and roof were raised and 18 oculus windows were inserted, giving more light and more headroom in the gallery. Matching stone for this was brought in by horse and cart from derelict cottages near the shores of Lough Neagh. So well was the building work done that it is only by looking very, very carefully that one can see the join between the old stonework of 1790 and that of 1929. The church has a website at www.oc-church.co.uk

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