1835 – Castlereagh Presbyterian Church, Castlereagh, Co. Down

The congregation was originally founded circa 1650, but it was not until 1720 that a church was built on this site. The current church building was opened in 1835 on the site of the earlier building. Designed by Belfast architect John Millar, in a Greek Revival style, it was the first Presbyterian church in Ireland to have a bell tower. It is double height with a central entrance flanked by Ionic columns (distyle in antis) with a circular turret, copper cupola and ball finial above. The interior is relatively unchanged, having a typical Victorian interior including box pews.

Between 1829 and 1839 Millar, whose brother Thomas was a Presbyterian minister in Cookstown, designed several Presbyterian churches – Rosemary Street, Belfast, Castlereagh, Portaferry, Antrim, and Crumlin, all neo-Greek except for the last.

Described by The Northern Whig at the time of its opening: “This house has been erected at a very heavy expense, by the exertions of the congregation and the friends of their respected Pastor, the Rev. Mr Haslett. The new house has been erected from a design and under the superintendence of our talented young townsman, Mr John Millar, architect, to whom the lovers of classical architecture owe a debt of gratitude. This house does the utmost credit to Mr Millar’s talents. Viewed in its design, its altitude, or even its decorations, as a whole, or in part, it pleases the eye and satisfies the taste. It is adorned by a Belfry (the first instance of the kind we know of, on a Presbyterian house of worship, in Ireland), whose picturesque appearance, and commanding situation, render it very conspicuous”.