Today I'm down with son Ben at Sinclair Seamen's Presbyterian church. As you will see this is certainly no ordinary church building! Join me for a wee very informal dander round this hidden gem! Better still come and see it for yourself!
Located down on Corporation Street, in the dockland area of Belfast known affectionately as 'Sailortown'. This old 1857, unique church, is definitely worth a visit even to view the outside. You can get in to see it, for no charge, on a Wed afternoon 2-4 p m most weeks, but it is wise to ring up beforehand to check when it is open. (william.chambers17@ntlworld.com ) not sure is this e mail is up to date!
Tel: (028) 9080 1240 ) Phone is good.
The church gets it's name in particular because it has always held out the hand of friendship to sailors. Many of the architecture/furniture, church items,-even the 'collection plates', have a nautical theme.
The outside of the church looks like something that would be at home in St Mark's Square in Venice. ( Note the novel Rialto Bridge archway entrance and the high square church tower! ) The church has architectural significance being designed by Charles Lanyon in 1857 and built for the princely sum of £4500. Again local sandstone from Scrabo was used in the construction.
Although dating from 1857, the interior of this Venetian style harbourside church was refurbished on a maritime theme largely as a hobby collection by a former minister, the Rev Cochrane. The church is fitted out as a continuimg gleaming tribute to the city's seafaring traditions extended by a friendly though aging congregation. Don't miss the stained glass, the bell from HMS Hood (the First World War ship) and the prow shaped pulpit. The church is full of shipping and naval memorabilia which includes a ships bell, an array of naval flags, two miniature lighthouses with working lights, a helm and navigation lights on the pulpit, which also had a ships prow integrated into it and a selection of model ships and paintings! The church also houses some of the most fantastic stain glass artwork to be seen, in particular, a rose window dating from when the church was built in 1857! Look around the walls for the famous listed William Morris (1834-1896 English textile designer, poet, novelist, translator, and socialist activist. ), wallpaper too.
Shipyard workers, dockers and sailors at the time of Titanic would have felt at home in its ship-like interior, with its pulpit shaped as a ship’s prow flanked by navigation lights, ship’s binnacle font and the bell of HMS Hood calling worshippers to service.