Whitehead Methodist Church
Whitehead Methodist Church
Whitehead Methodist Church stands on Balmoral Avenue, Whitehead, County Antrim. It is listed Grade B1. Northern Ireland listings are not entered as Historic England or Cadw URLs.
- Location
- Whitehead, County Antrim
- Country
- Northern Ireland
- County
- County Antrim
- City / town
- Whitehead
- Address
- Balmoral Avenue, Whitehead, County Antrim, BT38 9QA
- Postcode
- BT38 9QA
- Built
- 1899–1900; opened 23 June 1900
- Architect
- Herbert Sykes
- Denomination
- Methodist Church
- Parish
- Whitehead
- Grade
- B1
- Style
- Arts and Crafts
- Opening hours
- The church is in use most evenings for meetings such as Bible Study and Craft Classes but the key is always available from the minister in the manse situated next door. Additionally short guided tours can be arranged and a comprehensive handbook describing the history of the church is available to study.
- Access
- Accessible toilets in church. Level access throughout
- Website
- https://wimethodist.com/
Overview
The Dictionary of Irish Architects records a new church by Herbert Sykes, opened on 23 June 1900, to hold over 300 people, with a church parlour and caretaker’s accommodation adjoining. The National Churches Trust and local heritage records describe an Arts and Crafts design of 1899–1900, retaining original timber window tracery and plasterwork. The town grew after the railway opened in the 1860s; negotiations for a central Methodist site began in 1896.
Five stained-glass windows include a memorial of 1926 to the first minister, the Revd Richard Cole, with an octofoil of angels above, and a pair with medallions of the four seasons. The porch window sits in timber tracery. A manse was built next door in 1908. Extensive dry rot in the south gable was surveyed after 2021 and required conservation of plaster, roof timbers and stained-glass frames.