This building was completed in 1927 and may have replaced Ormiston Presbyterian church which was on a nearby site.
I had intended to return to the area to specifically photograph a number of churches but had to change my plans as I decided to visit Belfast City Cemetery instead. I may visit again in June or July.
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the Republic of Ireland, and the largest Protestant denomination in Northern Ireland. Like most Christian churches in Ireland, it is organised on an all-island basis, in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The church has approximately 210,000 members.
Apart from the seats for worshippers, the inside of a Presbyterian church is dominated by four items of furniture.
The Pulpit is the place from which sermons are preached. It generally occupies the central place in the church, reflecting the central place of the proclamation of the Word of God in the worship of the Church.
The Lectern, or Bible Stand, holds the Bible in a prominent place in the church. The Bible is the source of all authority in the life of the church.
The Communion Table is often placed directly in front of the pulpit. The associated chairs are occupied by the minister and elders during the service of Holy Communion.
The Baptismal Font is used during baptisms, which is regarded as a sign of the covenant between God and the Church, welcoming the child into the community of the Church. Children are regarded as sharing the promise of salvation with adults in the church and have as much right to be baptised as adults. (‘Infant Baptism’ does not guarantee admission to Full Membership. Full Membership is only accepted on Profession of a personal Faith.)
This church was established in 1868. It was damaged during Blitz in 1941 and later restored.
St Mary’s Parish Church, Crumlin Road, Belfast, celebrated the 150th anniversary of its consecration with a Service of Thanksgiving on November 25 not long before my visit in March 2019.
It is described as a gothic style high Victorian Church, with an enormous central tower, designed by London architect William Slater, It and was intended to accommodate 800 worshippers.
It is built of Mourne granite and sandstone and cost £6,500 to build.
The five stained glass windows in the Sanctuary were presented by Mrs Blakiston-Houston and her son, Mr J Blakiston-Houston.
The first housing in the area sprang up in the 1860s to accommodate the workforce and their families who were mainly employed in the thriving linen industry on the Crumlin Road. Unfortunately, the closure of the mills in the 1960s hastened the physical and social decline and of the area.
The Crumlin Road is a main road in north-west Belfast, Northern Ireland. The road runs from north of Belfast City Centre for about four miles to the outskirts of the city. It also forms part of the longer A52 road which leads out of Belfast to the town of Crumlin (from Irish: Cromghlinn, meaning ‘crooked glen’). The lower section of the road houses a number of historic buildings, including the city’s former law courts and prison, whilst the road encompasses several large housing areas, including Ardoyne, Ballysillan and Ligoniel.
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