Ballintoy Parish Church

Ballintoy Church of Ireland parish church

Ballintoy Parish Church is an important church in the village of Ballintoy, located in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It belongs to the Church of Ireland. This church is special because it's one of the most northern churches in the Diocese of Connor. It's also a "Grade-B+ listed building," which means it's a very old and important building that is protected because of its history and special design.

History of Ballintoy Church

This ancient stone structure, called a cromlech, was once near the church.

The church you see today was finished in 1813. It was built to replace an even older church that stood in the same spot. Reverend Robert Trail helped get the church built, and the design was created by Henry Wynne.

Church Improvements Over Time

Over the years, the church has had many updates. In June 1857, a brand new organ was put in. It was made by a company from Dublin called Telford & Telford.

Later, in 1883, the church got a big makeover. Workers added a new pulpit, which is where the minister speaks from. They also put in new pews for people to sit on, new flooring, and a new heating system to keep everyone warm. The roof and the tall spire were also fixed up.

More repairs were needed for the roof in December 1894. A strong hurricane had caused some damage, so the church had to be mended again.

Church Architecture

The church building has two main sections, called "bays." It also has a single "transept" on the north side. A transept is like a wing that sticks out from the main part of the church. The church tower is actually from the older building that stood there before. Between the main part of the church (called the "nave") and the transept, there is a small chapel or "baptistry." This is a special area often used for baptisms.

Special Features of the Church

Ballintoy Parish Church has some unique features that tell us about its past.

Outdoor Clocks

On one of the outside walls of the church, you can see a sun dial and a tide clock. These interesting clocks have a date carved into them: 1817. A sundial tells time using the sun's shadow, and a tide clock helps people know when the ocean tides will be high or low.

The Old Church Bell

The church used to have a bell that would ring, but it doesn't ring anymore. However, the old bell has a special message carved into it. It says:

"Archibald Stewart gave me: Charles, his son, re-cast me, anno 1686 and Archibald the son of Charles re-cast and augmented me anno 1718"

This inscription tells us that the bell was first given by Archibald Stewart. Then, his son Charles melted it down and made it again in 1686. Later, Charles's son, also named Archibald, melted it down and made it even bigger in 1718.

Communion Plate

The church also has a special cup, called a communion plate or chalice. People believe it was made a very long time ago, before 1638. It was likely crafted by a silversmith from Dublin named James Vanderbeg or Vanderbeck.