church/chapel

Freestanding Church of Ireland church, built 1884, having four-bay side elevation to nave, three-stage tower with broach-spire to north elevation and entrance porch to south elevation. No longer in use. Pitched slate roof with ridge cresting, cut limestone chimneystack, stepped limestone coping, limestone cross finial to east elevation, wrought-iron cross finial to west elevation and some cast-iron rainwater goods. Ashlar limestone spire to tower with wrought-iron finial to apex and lucarnes to sides. Snecked limestone walls with cut limestone to buttresses. Pointed arch window openings with cut limestone block-and-start surrounds, hood mouldings to east and west elevations, now blocked but leaded stained glass visible in places. Paired louvered openings to second stage of tower. Pointed arch door opening with cut limestone block-and-start surround. Shoulder-arch opening to entrance porch with cut limestone surround and timber battened doors. Open timber truss roof resting on cut limestone corbels, red brick walls with yellow brick courses and tiled floor to interior. Set within its own grounds.

An excellently detailed church, designed by architect William Henry Hill, to serve the Church of Ireland congregation at the asylum. The tower and its spire form the main architectural and decorative focal point, while the limestone opening dressings are finely carved and add colour and textural interest to the façade. The red brick lined interior contrasts with the stone exterior, and the yellow brick details articulate the various architectural features. The group of related structures includes a gate lodge, the asylum and various outbuildings. This large complex played a significant social role in both city and county in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.