Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB26/50/093

Address :
Sinclair Seamen's Presbyterian Church Corporation Square Belfast BT1 3AJ

Townland:
Town Parks

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Survey 2:
B+

Date of Listing:
26/06/1979 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Church

Former Use
Church

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
130/13 NE

IG Ref:
J3428 7500

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Owner Category

Church - Presbyterian

Exterior Description And Setting

Italianate church of uncoursed ashlar stonework by Lanyon Lynn & Lanyon, facing Corporation Square, with L-shaped plan enclosing freestanding campanile tower linked to the church by an arcaded bridge as a flying buttress at balcony level. The main frontage to Corporation Square consists of a shouldered gable with three recessed panels with machicolated friezes, a rose window in the central panel and smaller oculi in the outer panels, and a dentilled cornice. A stone roundel below the rose window formerly contained lettering naming the church. The church is entered from the side through an archway under the staircase link to the tower lit by an arcade of lancet windows. The square bell tower is approximately twice the height of the church, decorated by two tall machicolated panels on each elevation pierced by "arrow slits", and capped by a shallow pitched roof. At the top stage of the tower the belfry is screened on each elevation by large paired Venetian Gothic windows with central quatrefoils and slender colonettes. West elevation: The side gable to Corporation Street is similar but simpler. This elevation is framed by the side chapel to the N and the tower to the S. North elevation: The back elevation is largely obscured by a recent two-storey extension housing church halls, but has a shouldered gable similar to the front with a rose window over three lancet windows. East elevation: This elevation is quite plain apart from a single window, having been previously abutted by a building. Setting The church’s
setting is enhanced by its contiguity to the Harbour Office and location in Corporation Square, which was the original home of shipbuilding in Belfast. Iron railings on dwarf walls are not original (none are shown in early photographs). Roof: Slate (lead over tower) Walls: uncoursed ashlar sandstone Windows: leaded/stained sglass RWG: Cast iron

Architects

Lanyon & Lynn

Historical Information

Built 1857-58 by Lanyon Lynn & Lanyon commissioned by Thomas Sinclair in memory of his father John Sinclair, who was a Belfast merchantand as a church for mariners visiting the port of Belfast. The additional stained glass and memorials largely date from the ministry of Rev Samuel Cochrane, 1902-45.

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style B. Proportion C. Ornamentation D. Plan Form H-. Alterations detracting from building I. Quality and survival of Interior J. Setting

Historic Interest

V. Authorship W. Northern Ireland/International Interest Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance

Evaluation

A stone church of 1858 to designs by Lanyon Lynn & Lanyon with free-standing campanile tower. Much historic fabric and detail of quality survive with an unusual plan and interior richly and eccentrically decorated with nautically-themed stained glass, monuments and ship models, of unique interest. A fine example of the type and unusual in its style, it is also representative of the work of a notable local architectural practice. The church is also unique in its origin and function as a church for mariners.

General Comments

Date of Survey

10 October 2012