About
Our present church building dates back to 1879 and was completed at the then substantial cost, of £10,000.
“This fine High Gothic Church was built by Young & Mackenzie, architects, of Belfast, then at the peak of their powers..... It is built of roughcut local limestone with Dungannon sandstone dressings; the style is decorated Gothic Revival..... It is rare to find such a fine mid-nineteenth-century church surviving almost intact. The square tower rises up in four levels with clasped buttresses and small lancet or round windows piercing the blank walls at the first two levels. At the third level there are tall paired pointed windows while at the top level only one tall pointed window, with louvers. Here the flat buttresses are slightly battered in silhouette as they change into five-sided banded buttresses topped by tall octagonal pinnacles that clasp the base of the soaring octagon spire. The interior of the church with its U-shaped steeply-raked balcony gathered around the pulpit and, at ground level the pews following the curve of the centre balcony has much of the dramatic atmosphere associated with an old-fashioned theatre auditorium. The balconies are carried on eight cast-iron columns, with Gothic capitals, on top of which is a second tier of columns rising up to flat arches supporting the concealed nave roof trusses above the pine-sheeted heavily coved ceiling. The splendid three-seater pulpit with impressive Gothic back-rest to the central seat is reached by two symmetrically placed staircases one each side of the pulpit. This assemblage is set against a magnificent three-bay mahogany arcade of Decorated Gothic arches infilled with elegantly laid out organ pipes painted in the traditional manner” (UAHS – Buildings of Armagh; CEB Brett)
Architecturally, one of the finest features of First Presbyterian is its graceful spire of 185 feet. If you stand on the steps to the church and look above the left door you will see a small 'monkey faced chimera'. The most common explanation is that a member of the congregation was pompously telling the stone mason how to do his job and in response he added the monkey face !
In the vestibule there are two marble tablets on which are written the names of those who served in the First World War. There is also a brass tablet displaying the names of those who served in the Second World War. In November 1920, after the disbandment of the 7th and 8th Battalions of the Royal Irish Fusiliers, the regimental colours were given to First Armagh for safe custody. In order to prevent these deteriorating, they were moved to found on display tables which can be found at the two front corners of the church. The light oak communion table and chairs in front of the pulpit were installed in 1952 as a memorial to those who gave their lives in the Second World War.
Behind the pulpit you will notice a verse from Psalm 65, ‘Praise waiteth for thee O God in Zion’, which was painted in 1903 in gold leaf. The pipe organ was installed in 1905 was the first pipe organ to be played in a Presbyterian Church in County Armagh.
Book Tickets
Guide Prices
| Ticket Type | Ticket Tariff |
|---|---|
| EHOD | Free |
Note: Prices are a guide only and may change on a daily basis.
