St Patrick's Church, Belfast facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saint Patrick's Church |
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| Saint Patrick's Church, Belfast | |
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| Location | Belfast, County Antrim |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Website | St Patrick's Church |
| History | |
| Consecrated | 12 August 1877 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Timothy Hevey |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Years built | 1875–1877 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 125 ft |
| Nave width | 32 ft 6 inches |
| Width across transepts | 95 ft x 25 ft |
| Number of spires | 1 |
| Spire height | 180 feet high (54 metre) |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Down and Connor |
| Province | Armagh |
St. Patrick's Church, Belfast (in Irish: Eaglais Naomh Padraig) is a Catholic church. You can find it in the Donegall Street area of Belfast, Northern Ireland. The very first church on this spot opened in 1815. The building you see today was finished in 1877.
The First Church Building
Belfast's first Catholic church was St Mary's. But as more Catholic people moved to Belfast in the early 1800s, a new church was needed. Bishop William Crolly decided to build one on Donegall Street.
This new church was named after Ireland's patron saint, Patrick. It opened in 1815. Many people helped make it possible. Even some educated Protestants and important people in Belfast helped pay for it.
After a big famine in Ireland, Belfast's Catholic population grew even more. Other churches were built, but by the 1870s, it was clear that St. Patrick's needed a much bigger church.
The Church Today
The church building you see now was designed by Timothy Hevey. He was a very important Catholic architect in Belfast. The church was built by Collen Brothers. They built the new church around the old one. Once the new church was ready, the old building was taken down.
The new church was designed to hold 2,000 people. It was finished and blessed on August 12, 1877. Archbishop Daniel McGettigan of Armagh led the blessing ceremony.
Bishop Patrick Dorrian is buried in the church. He had worked in the parish earlier in his life. He also gave permission for the current building to be constructed.
The church is very grand and large. Because of its size, it was chosen for important ceremonies. Three bishops were officially made bishops here. These were Bishop Henry Henry in 1895, Bishop John Tohill in 1908, and Bishop Daniel Mageean in 1929.
One special thing to see is the large statue of St Patrick. It is 7 feet tall and stands above the main door. This statue was carved by James Pearse. He was the father of a famous Irish leader, Padraig Pearse. James Pearse also carved the church's altar.
The church also has a huge bell. It weighs two tons! This bell was made by Thomas Sheridan in Dublin. It was placed inside the church's tall spire. The spire itself is 180 feet high, which is about 54 meters.
St. Patrick's Church is a "Grade B+ listed building." This means it is a very important historical building. In 2017, reports said the church needed a lot of money for repairs.
Art by Sir John Lavery
The church is also home to a special piece of art. It is a triptych (a painting with three parts) by Sir John Lavery. He was a famous artist who grew up in this parish. He was even baptized in the older, smaller church.
Lavery gave the church his painting called 'The Madonna Of The Lakes'. For this painting, he used his wife, Hazel Lavery, and his step-daughter as models.
In 1917, Lavery offered to donate the artwork. The triptych shows three images. In the middle is Our Lady. On either side are St Brigid and St Patrick. The painting was officially shown in April 1919.
The triptych used to sit on an altar designed by Edwin Lutyens. Lutyens was a friend of Lavery. Two special candlesticks by Lutyens also lit up the painting. Sadly, the altar and candlesticks are now gone. Only the frame around the triptych remains. It is the only thing designed by Lutyens left in Northern Ireland.
In May 2015, the church had a special visitor. Charles, Prince of Wales (now King Charles III) and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall visited. They came to celebrate the church's 200th birthday. They saw the famous artwork after a short prayer service.
St. Patrick's School
Right next to the church on Donegall Street is St. Patrick's School. It was built in 1828. The builder was Timothy Hevey, who was the father of the architect who designed the church. This was the first Catholic school ever built in Belfast. The land for the school was given by the Marquess of Donegall.
For many years, the school was run by the Christian Brothers. It was a working primary school until 1982. After it closed, it was used for a short time as a community center for the parish. At one point, the church leaders even thought about tearing it down to make a big car park.
