St. Patrick's Church, Belfast ( ga, Eaglais Naomh Padraig) is a

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a letter ...

church located in Donegall Street area of

Belfast Belfast ( , ; from ga, Béal Feirste , meaning 'mouth of the sand-bank ford') is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingd ...

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label=Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. North ...

. The first church was opened on the site in 1815 while the current building dates from 1877.

First Church

Belfast's first Catholic church was St Mary's, Chapel Lane but with the growth of the Catholic population in the early nineteenth century Bishop William Crolly, then a priest in residence in the small Georgian town, decided to construct a new church in Donegall St. This church, dedicated to Ireland's patron saint Patrick, was opened in 1815, the construction made possible - in part - by the contribution of Belfast's educated Protestants and civic elite. In the post-famine era Belfast's Catholic population swelled considerably and, while other churches and new parishes were developed, by the early 1870s it was clear St. Patrick's needed an entirely new and larger church.

Current Church

The new (current) church was designed by the architect Timothy Hevey who was Belfast's leading Catholic architect. It was built by Collen Brothers of Portadown and Dublin who constructed the new church around the old one which was then demolished. The entire fabric of the new church, designed to seat 2000 people, was completed for blessing on 12 August 1877 by the Primate of All Ireland, Archbishop

Daniel McGettigan Daniel McGettigan (1815–1887) was an Irish prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.Daniel Mc ...

of Armagh. Bishop

Patrick Dorrian Patrick Dorrian (1814–1885) was an Irish Roman Catholic Prelate and 23rd Lord Bishop of Down and Connor. Early life and education Dorrian was born in Downpatrick on 29 March 1814, one of four sons of Patrick Dorrian and his wife Rose (née M ...

, who early in his priestly ministry had served in the parish, and who authorised the construction of the present building is interred in the church. The splendour and scale of the church meant it was the chosen venue for the episcopal consecrations of Bishops Henry Henry in 1895, of John Tohill in 1908 and later in 1929 of

Bishop Daniel Mageean Bishop Daniel Mageean D.D. 6 May 1882 – 17 January 1962 was an Irish Roman Catholic Prelate and until 1962 he held the title Lord Bishop of Down and Connor. Early life and priestly ministry Daniel Mageean was born in the townland of Darragh ...

. One notable feature is the indomitable 7 ft tall statue of St Patrick above the door which (like the altar) was carved by the English-born James Pearse, father of Padraig Pearse. A two-ton bell, cast by Thomas Sheridan of Dublin,Bell from Sheridan’s Foundry, Dublin
National Museum of Ireland website. Retrieved 30 October 2017. had already been placed into the 180 feet high (54 metre) spire.Parish history
St Patrick's Church website. Retrieved 30 October 2017. It is a Grade B+ listed building.Listed Buildings
Department of Communities website. Retrieved 30 October 2017. In the summer of 2017 it was reported that the church needed millions of pounds to complete restoration.

Sir John Lavery

The church also houses a

triptych A triptych ( ; from the Greek adjective ''τρίπτυχον'' "''triptukhon''" ("three-fold"), from ''tri'', i.e., "three" and ''ptysso'', i.e., "to fold" or ''ptyx'', i.e., "fold") is a work of art (usually a panel painting) that is divide ...

by a native of the parish who was baptised in the older, smaller church Sir

John Lavery Sir John Lavery (20 March 1856 – 10 January 1941) was a Northern Irish painter best known for his portraits and wartime depictions. Life and career John Lavery was born in inner North Belfast, baptised at St Patrick's Church, Belfast a ...

. He presented 'The Madonna Of The Lakes' using his wife

Hazel Lavery Hazel Lavery, Lady Lavery (née Martyn; 1880–1935) was a painter and the second wife of portrait artist Sir John Lavery. Her likeness appeared on banknotes of Ireland for much of the 20th century.Sinead McCoole, ''Hazel: A Life of Lady Lavery, ...

and step-daughter as models. In 1917, Lavery contacted the then Administrator Fr John O'Neill with the intention of donating a piece of art to the church. The triptych depicting three images - Our Lady flanked by St Brigid and St Patrick - was unveiled in April 1919. The art work was the centrepiece of an historic visit by

Charles, Prince of Wales Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms. He was the longest-serving heir apparent and Prince of Wales and, at age 73, became the oldest person to ...

and his wife

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall Camilla (born Camilla Rosemary Shand, later Parker Bowles, 17 July 1947) is Queen Consort of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms as the wife of King Charles III. She became queen consort on 8 September 2022, upon the a ...

to the church in May 2015 to mark St. Patrick's bicentenary. The couple viewed the church’s most treasured artwork after a short service of prayer. Parish Clergy In 2022 the parish is served by two resident clergy - Very Reverend Eugene O'Neill VF

Parish Priest A parish is a territorial entity in many Christian denominations, constituting a division within a diocese. A parish is under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of a priest, often termed a parish priest, who might be assisted by one or ...

and Reverend Tony McAleese (curate). Parish Mass Times Sunday Masses begin on Saturday evening with a 6pm Vigil - Mass with music led by cantor and organ. Masses on Sunday begin at 9.00am - Mass with organ, 11.00am - Solemn Mass with Choir and Incense, and 6.00pm - Mass by candlelight with Taizé-style music led by cantor and organist. Holyday of Obligation at 7.00pm Vigil; 1.00pm. Mondays to Fridays at 1.00pm. Parish Confession Times Daily, Monday to Friday immediately following 1pm Mass (usually 1.25pm).

St. Patrick's School

Adjacent to the church on Donegall St is the refurbished St. Patrick's School, constructed in 1828 by the Belfast builder Timothy Hevey, father of the architect of the same name who designed the church next door. This was the first Catholic school to be built in Belfast on land was donated by the

Marquess of Donegall Marquess of Donegall is a title in the Peerage of Ireland held by the head of the Chichester family, originally from Devon, England. Sir John Chichester sat as a Member of Parliament and was High Sheriff of Devon in 1557. One of his sons, Sir A ...

. For much of its history the school was operated by the Christian Brothers and was a functioning primary school until 1982. After it closed it served briefly as a parish community centre and at one stage the parish clergy wanted to demolish the school for a large car park.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Belfast, Saint Patrick Saint Patrick Saint Patrick Roman Catholic churches completed in 1877 19th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in the United Kingdom Gothic Revival church buildings in Northern Ireland Grade B+ listed buildings 1815 establishments in Ireland