Church

St Patrick, Ballyclog

St Patrick, Ballyclog

St Patrick’s is the Church of Ireland parish church at Ballyclog, County Tyrone, a B-listed High Victorian rebuilding of 1865–68 by Welland and Gillespie, opposite the ruined seventeenth-century church.

Location
Ballyclog, County Tyrone
Country
Northern Ireland
County
County Tyrone
City / town
Ballyclog
Address
Coagh Road, Ballyclog, County Tyrone, BT71 5LL
Postcode
BT71 5LL
Built
1865–68; replaced the 1622 church across the road
Consecrated
2 September 1868
Architect
Welland and Gillespie; contractor James McClean
Denomination
Church of Ireland
Dedication
Patrick
Diocese
Armagh
Parish
Ballyclog
Grade
B
Style
High Victorian Gothic, with Hibernian motifs
Materials
Local sandstone, limestone and whinstone
Opening hours
The church can be opened for viewing at any time by contacting The Friends of Ballyclog who give information and guided tours to both churches. To arrange contact [email protected].
Access
Ramp or level access available on request. Non-accessible toilets in church. Level access to the main areas. Accessible toilets nearby

Overview

The Dictionary of Irish Architects records a new church of 1865–68 with a three-bay nave, semicircular chancel and circular south-west tower with spire. Drawings signed 26 December 1865 are in the Representative Church Body Library; the contractor was James McClean. The Northern Ireland listing (HB09/08/014) dates the design to Welland and Gillespie of Dublin, architects to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. The site was conveyed on 14 June 1865 and the completed church was consecrated by the Lord Primate on 2 September 1868, replacing Ballyclog Old Church of 1622 on the opposite side of the Coagh Road.

Friends of Ballyclog describe fabric of local sandstone, limestone and whinstone, with a flying buttress, spire and bell tower. The listing notes High Victorian Revival inventiveness, including polychromatic brickwork and an unusual roof structure. Alistair Rowan called it “a roguish little building… wilfully adapting Irish architectural elements to jazzy ends.” Parish tradition links the place-name to a bell associated with St Patrick; the old church and graveyard remain across the road. Northern Ireland listing is Grade B; there is no Historic England or Cadw list entry.

Further Information