St George's Church, Belfast facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St George's Church |
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| 54°36′0.4″N 5°55′29.9″W / 54.600111°N 5.924972°W | |
| Location | High Street, Belfast |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Denomination | Church of Ireland |
| Churchmanship | High Church |
| Website | St George's Church |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Completed | 1816 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St George's |
| Archdiocese | Diocese of Armagh |
| Diocese | Diocese of Connor |
St. George's Church is a historic Church of Ireland church on High Street in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is famous for being the oldest Church of Ireland church in the city.
The current building was designed by Irish architect John Bowden and opened in 1816. It has a very long and interesting history that goes back much further than that.
Contents
History of St. George's Church
The Chapel of the Ford
The story of St. George's begins over 700 years ago. The first mention of a church on this spot was in 1306. Back then, it was called the Chapel of the Ford.
It was built near a "ford," which is a shallow place where people could cross the River Lagan and River Farset. The chapel was a safe place for travelers to wait before crossing the muddy flats that covered much of what is now central Belfast.
A Royal Charter and a Famous Sermon
In 1613, King James I of England gave Belfast a special charter, making it an important town. The chapel became the official "corporation" church for the town's leaders.
Later, in 1690, King William of Orange visited the church on his way to the Battle of the Boyne, a major battle in Irish history. A famous sermon was preached for him in the church.
A New Church for a Growing City
By the late 1700s, the old church was in bad shape. A new parish church, which would later become St Anne's Cathedral, was built nearby.
However, Belfast was growing fast because of the Industrial Revolution. Soon, another church was needed. So, a new St. George's Church was built on the original site of the Chapel of the Ford. It opened its doors in 1816.
Challenges in the 20th Century
As Belfast changed, many people moved from the city center to the suburbs. This meant fewer people attended St. George's for a while.
During a difficult period in Northern Ireland's history known as The Troubles, the church was damaged by bombs on several occasions. Each time, it was carefully repaired, showing the strength of its community.
Amazing Architecture
St. George's is not just old; it's also beautiful and has some unique features. The church was designed by John Bowden from Dublin and is built from sandstone.
A Grand Entrance with a Story
The most famous part of the church is its grand front entrance, called a portico. It has tall, impressive Corinthian pillars.
This portico has an amazing story. It was originally made for a bishop's palace near Derry in 1788. When that palace was taken down, the portico was bought and moved to Belfast. It was carried by horse and cart, and then by barge on the Lagan Canal. It was one of the first cargoes to travel on the new canal!
Inside the Church
Inside, the church has a simple layout with a main hall (the nave) and a special area at the front (the chancel). In 1865, the plain ceiling was removed to show the decorated wooden beams, which you can still see today.
A new chancel was added in 1882, making the inside of the church even more beautiful.
Traditions and Community Life
St. George's is known for its lively traditions and its important role in the community.
A Church of Firsts
St. George's was the first Anglican church in Ireland to do many things, including:
- Holding a Harvest Thanksgiving service.
- Having a robed choir.
- Putting on plays inside the church.
- Celebrating a Midnight service on Christmas Eve.
Music and Ministry Today
The church is famous for its musical tradition. It has one of the few church choirs in Ireland made up of only men and boys.
St. George's serves the whole community, from people working in nearby offices to those who are homeless. It welcomes people from all different backgrounds.
Notable People
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The first organist at St. George's, from 1817 to 1821, was Edward Bunting. He is famous for collecting and saving traditional Irish music. He gathered many old tunes at the Belfast Harp Festival.
