The Belfast Telegraph has reported on how on an online row has erupted after what has been described as ‘the smallest church in Ireland’ – St Gobban’s, Portbradden – appears to have been demolished, while though the building apparently was neither listed nor consecrated, it was recognised as a ‘tourist gem’.
The Belfast Telegraph writes:
Measuring just 11ft 4in x 6ft 9in (3.45m x 2.06m), St Gobban’s in the north Antrim coastal hamlet of Portbradden had for many years been a popular visitor attraction and the venue for dozens of weddings.
The building had been owned by retired clergyman and teacher the Rev Con Auld, a former mayor of North Down, and following a sale now appears to have been demolished amid controversy.
Sinn Fein councillor Cara McShane said she could understand both sides of the argument. ‘I grew up in Ballintoy and I remember one or two people round that area didn’t look on it overly positively, as they said it wasn’t a consecrated church,’ she said, ‘But there were a lot of marriages there and people do attach a lot of sentiment to it.
‘But what control do we have over a private building?
‘Hindsight’s a wonderful thing and it was located on that beautiful Causeway Coast way, which our council is very much trying to promote and extend.
‘It’s just unfortunate. If you see any pictures and paintings of the area, the church was always included. It became a big part of the landscape.’
