Ballintoy Parish Church facts for kids
Ballintoy Parish Church is an important church for the Church of Ireland in the village of Ballintoy, which is in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The church is a short distance from the village. It is one of the most northern churches in the Diocese of Connor, which is a large area managed by the church. This building is also a "Grade-B+ listed building," meaning it's officially recognized as a special building that needs to be protected because of its history or architecture.
History of Ballintoy Church
The church you see today was finished in 1813. It was built to replace an older church that stood in the same spot. Reverend Robert Trail helped to get the new church built, and Henry Wynne created the design for it.
In June 1857, a new organ was put into the church. This organ was made by a company from Dublin called Telford & Telford. It cost £37 at the time.
The church had a big makeover in 1883. During this renovation, new items were added, like a pulpit (where the minister speaks) and pews (the long benches where people sit). The floor was also redone, and a new heating system was put in. The roof and the spire (the tall, pointed part of the church tower) were also repaired. More repairs to the roof were needed after a strong hurricane caused damage in December 1894.
What Does Ballintoy Church Look Like?
The church building is two sections long. It also has a single part sticking out on the north side, called a transept. The tower of the church is even older than the rest of the building, as it was kept from the earlier church. Between the main part of the church (called the nave) and the transept, there is a small room. This room might be used as a chapel or for baptisms.
Special Features of the Church
On an outside wall of the church, you can see a sun dial and a tide clock. These special clocks have a date carved into them: 1817.
The old church bell is no longer rung, but it has an interesting message carved into it. It says that Archibald Stewart first gave the bell. Then, his son Charles had it re-made in 1686. Later, Archibald, who was Charles's son, had it re-made and made bigger in 1718.
The communion plate, which is a special cup or dish used during church services, is very old. People believe it was made before 1638 by a silversmith (someone who works with silver) from Dublin named James Vanderbeg or Vanderbeck.
