Bangor Abbey is not only a church but it is a structure that represents Bangor as a town. The Tower…read morethat was erected in the 17th Century keeps watch over Bangor. The grounds are steeped in history and the story of the Abbey is enough to fill a History text book. Viking pillages, Saints, Norman invasions, dissolution's and reformations. Bangor Abbey is no normal church. Inside the church every stone tells its own story. On a sunny day light is cast over the congregation from the beautiful stain glass windows. The grounds of the Abbey are no less interesting, Graves include that of a doctor on board the infamous Titanic. The cemetery can be visited freely between 9am and 5pm but I recommend having the stories recounted by an expert to gain the full sense of history. Excursions can be arranged by contacting the Parish, who are extremely helpful. Open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday between 2pm and 4pm. I would advise one to make the most of these brief opening hours.

A warm and welcoming church which takes a genuine interest in you. A great range of activities for…read moreall ages. If you are in the area or looking for a church where you will feel comfortable and welcome but still hear God's word, SEC is for you. Got toddlers? Come along to the 'Tree Tots' on Mondays at 9.15am. Huge play area with big climb-on toys as well a table activities and a song corner. Sunday at 11.00am is the main service.

Up until a couple of months ago, a warehouse was for me exactly that - a warehouse. And a shop of…read morecourse, but I'm referring to an actual physical warehouse. Not so any more! Referring to my 'Made in Belfast' review, I have since discovered a warehouse refurbished as a restaurant, and today I went to church in one of these fashionable buildings. Warehouses most certainly seem the way forward. I am a regular church goer, but have recently had a desire to nosey around a few different ones and see how I like them. Northdown CFC happened to be today's lucky church, and so myself and my boyfriend ventured on our 5 minute journey to Newtownards. Having read on the website that the service started at 11am, we were both rather alarmed to realise that there were only 5 other people (and the worship band) actually in the church when we arrived at 10:55am. We later found out that a) this is a regular occurance (and to be frank, it happens in my home church pretty much all the time), and b) summer time is more laid back anyway. Just before the service started, my boyfriend and I got a poke from behind from a friendly regular saying hello, and how he hadn't seen us before and hoped we had a good morning. Shucks. At 11:15 (approx), the Pastor welcomed us all (all = 60 people at this stage) and informed us that we were going to sing songs, hear a lady speak and have tea and coffe. Lovely jubbly. The worship band were pretty sound, and the lady speaker did a great job on on her favourite passage from Hebrews. Tea and coffee, we learnt (from nice Mr Friendly man), were free for visitors, which my boyfriend greatly appreciated. I, being my usual awkward self, told the lady serving that I didn't drink tea, coffee or hot water, much to her dismay. Sorry missus, that's just the way I roll. We got chatting to a lovely, friendly girl around our age who introduced us to the Pastor who was also lovely and friendly. I really appreciated the effort these people made to make us welcome. Coming from such a big church, you sometimes miss the small community that is so evident in other churches. But I felt right at home in Northdown. Lovely little friendly church in a warehouse...do check it out.

I'm not religious but now and again I like to have a wander around a church grounds or graveyard to…read moreremind myself of the spiritual side to life. St. Marys in Comber is a particularly old church and so it is home to many very old graves and gravestones - some dating back to the 1800's. The church stands on the site of a Cistercian Abbey which dated back to 1198 - it was shut by Henry the 8th when he went all fanatical and wanted to marry all the ladies and then cut off all their heads - he was a bit loopy if you ask me. Anyway, there are some original stones left which are exhibited inside the Church itself. I had a nice dander around the graveyard, when I came to leave I noticed a crypt marker to the Andrews family - another famous family from Comber - they used to run the local mill and the son of the family Thomas Andrews was chief architect on the Titanic. Unfortunately his body does not lay here as it was never found. Historical goodness in Comber town.