St Mary's Church, Belfast facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Mary's Church |
|
|---|---|
| Saint Mary's Church, Belfast (Chapel Lane) | |
.JPG)
St Mary's Church, Belfast
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Location | Belfast, County Antrim |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | John O'Neill |
| Architectural type | Romanesque architecture |
| Years built | 1782-1784 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Down and Connor |
| Province | Armagh |
St. Mary's Church (Irish: Naoimh Eaglais Mhuire) is an important Catholic church in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is located in the Chapel Lane/Smithfield area. This church opened in May 1784. It is known as the "mother church" for Belfast. This means it was the first Catholic church built in the city. At that time, laws against Catholics were becoming less strict. The church grounds have a small grotto dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes.
Contents
History of St. Mary's Church
Building the First Catholic Church
In 1782, a count showed only 365 Catholic people lived in Belfast. People from other Christian groups, like the Church of Ireland (Protestant) and Presbyterians, helped raise money. They donated funds to build St. Mary's Church. This showed a good relationship between different religious groups.
The very first Mass (a Catholic church service) was held on May 30, 1784. This was a Sunday. Father Hugh O’Donnell led the service. He was the first Parish Priest of Belfast. During the opening, a group called the Irish Volunteers helped. They were led by Waddell Cunningham. They stood in the churchyard and walked Father O'Donnell into the building.
Growth and Changes Over Time
In 1813, the church received a special gift. The Anglican Vicar of Belfast, Canon Turner, donated the church's pulpit. This continued the friendly ties between the Catholic church and local Protestant groups. Later, in 1815, St. Patrick's Church was built. This was needed because more and more Catholic people were moving to Belfast.
After the Great Famine, Belfast's Catholic population grew even more. St. Mary's Church became too small. So, an architect named John O'Neill was hired. He designed a bigger church for the growing number of people.
The original church building cannot be seen today. In 1868, the church was made much larger and updated. It was rebuilt in a new Romanesque style. This style often uses round arches and strong walls. The main changes included adding five sections and a front porch. A tall tower, ninety feet high, was also added. The building was moved closer to the street.
The Church in the 20th Century
More updates happened in the late 1930s. New stairs, confessionals (small rooms for confessions), and a sacristy (a room for priests to prepare) were added. A Belfast architect named Padraig Gregory did all this work. The church was supposed to reopen in May 1941. However, the Belfast Blitz happened just days before. This was a series of bombings in Belfast during World War II. Because of the bombings, the reopening was cancelled by Bishop Daniel Mageean.
A new stone was placed above the doorway. It has a special cross and the dates ‘FIDEM / SERVAVI / 1783 / 1868 / 1941’. This means "I have kept the faith."
In 1954, a grotto dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes was built. This was during the "Marian Year," a special time for Catholics. Father Bernard MacLaverty, who was in charge then, helped create it. Padraig Gregory designed the grotto in the church gardens.
In 1983, the sanctuary (the main area around the altar) was updated. This was to celebrate the church's 200th birthday. An artist named Roy Carroll did the work.
From May to August 2017, the church had major repairs. The roof and walls were fixed. The grotto area was also repaved.
St. Mary's Church Today
For almost 40 years, priests from the Mill Hill Fathers served the church. The last of them left in 2019. The current Parish Priest is Father Timothy Bartlett. Other retired priests also help him.
The church holds two Masses every day from Sunday to Monday. On Friday and Saturday, there are three Masses a day. The 6 PM Mass on Friday and Saturday is special. It is celebrated in the Irish language.
