Ramelton Library

This interesting and distinctive structure was the first place of worship constructed by the Presbyterian community in Ramelton. Reputedly originally built in the second half of the seventeenth century, this meetinghouse is one of the earliest Presbyterian churches still extant in Ireland, and is thus a key architectural and historical landmark in this seventeenth-century Plantation town. However, recent archaeological investigations suggest that this structure may date to a few decades later, c. 1720. It remained in use as a meeting house until the construction of a new meetinghouse (see 40800504) a short distance to the west\south-west in 1906. Although in a variety of uses during the twentieth century, it has retained much of its salient fabric including natural slate roofs, battened timber doors, and attractive timber sliding sash windows with exposed sash boxes and intersecting tracery to their heads; these were probably added around the same time that the block to the south was added c. 1815 although they may have been recently installed or modified as part of conservation works. It is built in an almost austere architectural style with plain roughcast rendered walls softened by the regular rhythm of the window openings. The taller windows to the centre of the north elevation of the original block adds the bare minimum of interest; this central focus is mirrored to the south elevation of the entrance block with a doorway with small window opening over. The modesty of its architecture is characteristic of Presbyterian churches\meetinghouses dating to the eighteenth century and before; this is due to the restrained doctrine of this Church and also due to the restrictions imposed under the Penal Laws. Its plan-form is quite unusual due to the addition of a parallel extension during the first decades of the nineteenth century, which became the new entrance front to the site. Inside, the columns supporting the arcade between the two blocks were apparently made from the masts of the Royal Navy frigate HMS Saldhana, which sank in 1811 at the entrance to Lough Swilly during a storm with the loss of all hands (some 253). The simple interior is notable for the wainscoting and the remains of some timber pews and pulpit. This church is also associated with Francis Makemie (1657-1708), raised in Ramelton, who later emigrated to America where he was regarded as one of the founding fathers of Presbyterianism in America. Makemie first travelled to America as a missionary in the 1680s, and established the first Presbyterian congregation in America, at Snow Hill, Maryland, in 1684. Makemie was renowned for his fight for religious freedoms; he was arrested for preaching without a license in 1707, he was subsequently acquitted in a court case in New York that became a landmark case for religious freedom in America. This fine former meetinghouse is now a public library providing an important amenity for the local area. It is one of the more important buildings in the area, and an integral element of the built heritage of Donegal. The simple boundary walls and gateway to the south, and the gateway to the east side of the original block add to the setting, and complete this composition.