This stunning building is located on Belfast's Alfred Street. The original church was build in 1866 since then it has undergone a number of structural and decorative renovations. The original church was designed by Thomas Jackson in the ecclesiastical style of the Tudor period. The effects of bombing and of deterioration have seen the church fall in to disrepair thou gh thankfully there was a massive regeneration programme carried out to ensure the building would survive and blossom. In 2008 work began to restore the premises and this was completed in 2009. The cost of this was £3.5m and ensured both interior and exterior were brought back to full glory. The church has many interesting features; it contains a pelican at the foot of the alter (a symbolic figure of sacrifice for Christians.) Originally, many of the churches wooden features were made from 'Irish Oak' though these were replaced with marble during restoration as they didn't survive The Blitz bombing. The church is also well known for it s ceiling which is fan vaulted, in replica of Westminster chapel. Also, the church is home to the largest bell in Belfast. There are a few stories about this bell, whose chimes have caused a nuisance over the years. In previous years the church stood near by a whiskey distillery. The owners of this company claimed that the bells stopped their whiskey from maturing properly! Unbelievably the church softened the peal of the bell by wrapping it up in felt so it wouldn't echo so loudly! This felt has long since gone and now you can hear the bell chiming regularly throughout the day. Since the restoration was complete the church has won a number of awards in light of its architectural beauty. These include; Building Conservation Award, Project of the Year Award, the Civic Trust Award 2010 and The Royal Society of Ulster Architects Conservation Award 2010.
Worth a look if you're after a peaceful spot to pray, or fancy learning a little more about the historical background or restoration process. read more