Quarry Hill Church
In February I had the opportunity to capture the beautiful Quarry Hill Church in Strangford.
Marty & Melanie came across a worse for wear looking Strangford Presbyterian Church when they bought the house right next door. Built in 1845, the Church had been lying derelict for many years. Being natives of Strangford, Marty & Melanie were familiar with it and in 2017 decided to take on the job of restoring, conserving and converting it themselves. The couple worked together to complete the incredible task of turning it into the stunning holiday rental that can be found there today. Deciding to keep so many of the original features, they have made this Presbyterian Church turned totally unique guest house shine once more!
Tell us a little bit about yourselves and the story behind Quarry Hill Church
We are a local couple with a young family. My wife Melanie was born in Strangford and I grew up on a farm in the countryside nearby, we both went to school in the village hardly 50m from the church. We had noticed the church slowly falling into disrepair over the years but it was when we moved next door in 2016 we saw close up what a bad state it was in. It had been for sale for years but perhaps the listed status and the scale of the challenge had deterred anyone from taking it on. Whether brave or stupid we decided to try and buy it! There was a lot of blood, sweat and tears but thankfully we didn't regret it.
The style of your Holiday Rental is amazing! Did you take inspiration from other places you had stayed or seen when designing it?
There are not many examples of churches in Ireland that have been converted into homes or accommodation. Melanie is an Architect and specialises in conservation, so she gets all the credit for the design. Really the inspiration came from the church itself, it is such a graceful building with beautiful classical original features and a rich history. Our approach was very much conservation led, every original feature that could be retained and restored was kept in place, the new aspects of the conversion are modern in style but we endeavored to maintain the volume and light such that the spaces still feel very much like a church.
Do you have a favourite room or detail?
It is so hard to choose. It might be the fantastic 2m diameter ceiling rose, the original organ restored to working order by Melanie's dad Tom, perhaps the huge original Georgian arched windows. I can't forget the pulpit which forms the staircase to the mezzanine level, our guests particularly enjoy a go at literally preaching from the pulpit. The Session House is our favourite room, previously used as a meeting place for the Church Elders, it is fully paneled and converted as the master bedroom. Sorry we couldn't choose just one thing!
Have you any advice for those wanting to create or design something similar?
Restoration of a listed building is hugely rewarding but go in with your eyes open, get a good understanding of the state of the building, the necessary repair work and any special restrictions that may apply. It will be very frustrating and slow at times and there will be unwelcome surprises but don't get discouraged! Don't be afraid to mix modern with the original features but allow the heritage to lead the way.
For guests coming to stay at Quarry Hill Church, where would you recommend as good places to visit nearby?
We are so lucky in Strangford, you can park your car and not get back into it for the rest of your stay. It has become a real foodie destination in recent years with 3 high quality restaurants to choose from. There are beautiful walks on our doorstep, our favourite being "The Avenue" which is directly opposite the church, it goes in the loop around the peninsula the village sits on through woods and along the shore of the lough. It's normal to see seals, otters, all manner of birds and other wildlife. Castleward National Trust Estate sits next to the village, you can spend a day there exploring 30+ miles of trails, castles, the main house and farm yard (Game of Thrones "Winterfell"). The ferry departs Strangford every 30 minutes and is worth it for the journey alone, on the other side of the lough in Portaferry the Aquarium is definitely worth a visit and a walk up Windmill Hill will reward you with stunning views of Strangford Lough.