Belfast Belmont Presbyterian Church

Belmont Presbyterian Church was constructed in 1860-61. The congregation was formed from local missions organised by Ballymacarrett and Sir Thomas McClure of Belmont House provided the current plot of land and personally financed the construction of the building. 

The cruciform church was first built as a much simpler structure. Originally a small redbrick rectangular hall, Belmont Presbyterian Church was subsequently extended and added to a number of times throughout the Victorian and Edwardian periods by some of Belfast’s most illustrious architects. The original redbrick church was designed by WJ Barre (c1826-1867), a Newry based architect who moved to Belfast after winning the competition to design the Ulster Hall in 1860. The church, along with a sexton’s house (now a gate lodge) and schoolhouse (now demolished), was completed in 1861 and was opened for worship on 26th January 1862. 

The first addition to the church came in 1873 when Anthony Thomas Jackson (1838-1917) added the current south aisle and transept. The north aisle (and presumably the north transept) was added in 1887 by Young & Mackenzie; the Dictionary of Irish Architects described Robert Young and John Mackenzie as ‘the leading architects for the Presbyterian Church in the northeast.’ 

The next major alteration came in 1898 when the current square tower was added and the nave extended by Vincent Craig (1869-1925). A local architect who was articled to WH Lynn between 1885 and 1889, Craig established an independent practise in 1891 and was later recognised as the leading proponent of the aesthetic Art Nouveau movement in the country. Vincent Craig was the younger brother of James Craig (Viscount Craigavon), the First Prime Minister of Northern Ireland. James Craig was a lifelong member of Belmont Presbyterian; he was baptised in the church and, following his death in 1940, Craig’s funeral was also held at Belmont before his body was interred at Stormont. 

Following a refurbishment of the building, Belmont Presbyterian Church was reopened by James Craig in 1931; the adjoining Hyndman hall was also constructed at this time. The refurbishment and hall were carried out to designs by James Corden Stevenson, a Belfast-based architect who was active from the 1920s until the 1950s. Prior to completing the work at Belmont Presbyterian Church, Stevenson had also designed the Cregagh Presbyterian Church and its hall in 1929. A second church hall was added to the east side of in the 1960s. The congregation continues to worship in Belmont today and to play a vibrant role in the local community.