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Galgorm Church Ruin

Client

Galgorm Castle Education & Preservation Ltd

Project Value

£1.2M

Status

Pre-Planning

Sector

All Projects, Conservation, Other

The church ruin at Galgorm Castle — a Scheduled Monument — has stood untouched since it was burned during the United Irishmen Rebellion in 1798. Overgrown with ivy and structurally compromised, it remains an evocative remnant of the past — but one at growing risk of permanent loss.

As part of the wider Galgorm Castle redevelopment, Rejen Architects were asked to explore how the chapel might be preserved and sensitively brought back into use. We undertook detailed historical and architectural research to understand the chapel’s cultural significance, regional importance, and architectural form, supported by analysis of early ecclesiastical precedents and past interventions across the estate.

 

Our evolving concept proposes infilling collapsed sections using clay brick — a technique previously used in the restoration of castle windows and decorative parapet — combined with finely detailed ashlar stone at gables and openings. A perforated metal roof introduces soft daylight while maintaining the modest form of the original structure — an approach grounded in contemporary ecclesiastical conservation design.

 

We have been engaging positively with the Historic Environment Division (HED), including their architects and archaeologists, to explore options and define an appropriate path forward for this sensitive and symbolic structure.

How We Added Value:

  • Carried out early research to assess architectural, communal, and regional significance.
  • Developed a sensitive reuse concept that distinguishes old and new while allowing for legibility and longevity.
  • Initiated positive engagement with HED to explore viable restoration options [SEO: Scheduled Monument architectural engagement NI].
  • Supported a funding application to progress design development.
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