St. Therese of Lisieux Church

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A double-height gabled church in Gothic revival style dating from 1937-38 to designs by the Belfast-based architect Patrick Bernard Gregory and constructed by the local firm J. J. Thompson. Rectilinear plan form with two-storey flat-roofed extensions to NE and SE corners. The church is located within a site compound that includes a two-storey hipped roof former mansion dwelling at 71 Somerton Road (HB26.46.016 B) fronting onto the E side of Somerton Road.

Pitched natural slate roof with raised stone verges and ashlar stone flush corbel table to gables. The eaves are similarly dressed with a flush corbel table, albeit in a more squat form. Cast iron ogee guttering and ornate hoppers discharging to rectangular-section downpipes. Walls are Scrabo sandstone laid to squared and pitched coursing on projecting plinth with cut-stone dressings. Trefoil windows to nave with ashlar dressings and splayed cills having stained leaded glazing.

Principal elevation:
The gabled symmetrical three-bay wide principal elevation faces W. Single storey projecting porch with raised parapet to centre with a pointed arch door opening flanked by three-stage diagonal buttresses. Circular Doric columns on a moulded square base each side rise to square moulded imposts that support a pointed arch formed in ashlar stone voussoirs with stop chamfer reveal, hood moulding over and square labels. Double-leaf pointed arch timber panelled door. Large rose window above. Pointed arch trefoil windows to remaining bays to GF.
Three-stage angled buttresses to N and S gable ends.

South elevation:
The S elevation consists of a seven-bay wide elevation and a lower abutment to SE that is single-storey with basement flat-roofed extension. Each bay is separated by three-stage buttresses. A single storey outshot in the middle bay houses the confessional box with small vent slots incorporated. Three stepped windows to first bay to W end and paired windows to the next five bays. Pointed arch door opening to extension facing W with a square-headed double-leaf timber panelled door with fanlight over. This door is accessed by a long ramp with paved surface and Scrabo sandstone walling and later galvanised railings.
Square-headed windows to extension: three-part window to central bay to B. GF has a stained glass window to S end, a three-part double-hung timber sash window to centre and a two-part double-hung timber sash window to E end. A smaller three-part window to the basement aligns with the central window above and is encompassed by a stone wall with later railings over to form a light-well.

East elevation:
The E elevation consists of a double-height gable flanked by two-storey flat-roofed extensions to N and S ends. Square-headed window to GF with timber casement that appears to have been inserted later (ashlar stone around is more recent that the same above). Two-bay wide projection to S end with square-headed openings. Louvred vent to B , two-part window to GF. Immediately adjacent there is a square-headed door opening which opens on to a flight of stone steps and stone guarding wall capped with chamfered coping. Large pointed arch tri-partite trefoil window above having stained leaded glazing. Small pointed arch window at high level. The gable is flanked by three-stage buttresses. Three-bay wide extension to N end with pointed arch trefoil windows that contain stained leaded glass.

North elevation:
The N elevation consists of a seven-bay wide elevation abutted to NE by a single storey flat roofed extension. Each bay is separated by three-stage buttresses. The first bay to W has a pointed arch door opening with a square-headed timber panelled door with fanlight and a trefoil window with stained leaded glazing to GF. Paired windows above. Paired windows to remaining bays. Pointed arch door opening to extension facing W with a square-headed double-leaf timber panelled door with fanlight. Square-headed windows to extension.

Setting:
Lawned and tarmaced site around the church enclosed by railings to W, hedge to N that terminates in square stone gate pillars, with projecting plinth and corbelled coping. These pillars support a metal gate that leads to the property next door. Beyond the gate screen, a stone wall extends to meet the NE abutment. Dwarf red brick walling to E and modern fencing to S.
Random-coursed rock-faced stone walling to W with dressed stone coping topped by painted cast-iron railings.
Double gate (W gate) supported onto square-plan gate piers with projecting plinth, corbelled coping having a carved cross to W elevation.
Modern brick walling with railings to SW walling with a modern gateway.
Next to the church sits a two-storey hipped roof building at 71 Somerton Road (HB26.46.016 B) fronting onto the E side of Somerton Road.

Materials:
Roof : Natural slate
RWG: Cast iron
Walling: Scrabo sandstone laid to squared and pitched coursing
Windows: Stained leaded glazing

Historical information

The Roman Catholic Church of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, a Gothic-style nave church located on the Somerton Road, was constructed in 1937-38. The Antrim Road and Fortwilliam areas were formerly characterised by a number of merchant’s manors, but in the 1930s housing was developed in the area, greatly increasing the local Roman Catholic population. The Bishop of the Diocese, the Most Rev. Dr. Daniel Mageean, decided to build a new church to accommodate the growth of the laity in North Belfast. The Bishop intended to build the church in the vicinity of the Bishop’s Palace at Chichester Park but restrictive clauses in the lease made it impossible to build either a church or school upon the land. The Bishop decided to build the new church on the grounds of Lisbreen House on the Somerton Road. Lisbreen House (see HB26/46/008 for full history) was the former home of architect John Lanyon (c. 1840-1900), Sir Charles Lanyon’s son, and was also home to Major-General Edward W. D. Bell, who gained a Victoria Cross in the Crimean War (The Cave Hill Campaigner). The Diocese purchased Lisbreen House outright at a cost of £3,000.

The Church to St. Thérèse of Lisieux was designed by Patrick (Padraig) Bernard Gregory (1886-1967). A Belfast-based architect, Gregory operated an independent practise from 1906 and was described by the Dictionary of Irish Architects as ‘a committed Catholic [who] designed many Catholic churches throughout Northern Ireland and was responsible for the original scheme for the Cathedral of Christ the King in Johannesburg.’ Gregory was also responsible for the contemporary Church of St. Antony on the Woodstock Road in 1936-38, and carried out numerous additions to St. Malachy’s Church on Alfred Street. The foundation stone of the Church of St. Thérèse of Lisieux was laid on 25th January 1937. The local firm of J. & R. Thompson were contracted as builders and throughout the construction of the new church, services were held in the dining room of Lisbreen House. The new church cost £12,000 with £6,000 expended on furnishings. The Natural Stone Database notes that locally-quarried Scrabo Sandstone was employed in the masonry of the new church which was dedicated in May 1938 to St. Thérèse of Lisieux (DIA; NSD; Holy Family Parish website).

The NIEA HB Records note that the majority of stained glass windows within the Church to St. Thérèse of Lisieux were designed by Daniel Braniff, a Belfast-based glazier who also worked with Gregory on St Mac Nissi's chapel at Garron Tower. The windows depict scenes from the life of Jesus and also St. Thérèse, whilst the rose window was designed to represent the petals of a flower (St. Thérèse was popularly known as the ‘Little Flower of Jesus’ (Larmour, p. 91; NIEA HB Records).

The First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1936-57) set the rateable value of the church at £350 (although as a house of worship it was exempt from payment of tax or rates). With the completion of the church Lisbreen House became the official residence of the Bishops of the Diocese of Down and Connor. In 1950 the gallery of the church was extended and a new side chapel added, increasing the accommodation of the building to a congregation of 600. By the end of the Second Revaluation (1956-72) the rateable value of the church had been increased to £768. The Church of St. Thérèse of Lisieux was listed in 1990.

Resources

Primary Sources
1. PRONI OS/6/1/61/4 – Fourth Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1931)
2. PRONI OS/6/1/61/5 – Fifth Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1938)
3. PRONI VAL/3/C/3/12- First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1936-72)
4. PRONI VAL/4/B/7/16 - Second General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1956-72)
5. Ulster Town Directories (1918-1943)
6. First Survey Record – HB26/46/016 (No Date)
7. NIEA HB Records – HB26/46/016

Secondary Sources
1. ‘The Cave Hill Campaigner’ Belfast: Cave Hill Conservation Campaign, 2004.
2. Larmour, P., ‘Belfast: An illustrated architectural guide’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1987.

Online Resources
1. Dictionary of Irish Architects - http://www.dia.ie
2. Natural Stone Database - http://www.stonedatabase.com
3. Holy Family Parish website - http://www.holy-familyparish.com/global/archive/history.html

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
X. Local Interest
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance
S. Authenticity
R. Age

Evaluation

Gothic Revival gabled church dating from 1937-38 and constructed in Scrabo Sandstone to designs by the Belfast-based architect Patrick Bernard Gregory. The Church was commissioned by the Bishop of the Diocese following the growth of housing development and consequently the Roman Catholic population, in an area formerly characterised by a number of wealthy merchant’s manors. The rectangular nave church, originally constructed by the local firm J. J. Thompson, was later extended by a flat-roofed two-storey addition to NE and a single storey addition to the SE ends, to form a 'T' shaped plan. The overall composition is simple yet well-articulated, with an impressive front elevation featuring a large rose window, which was designed to represent the petals of a flower, below which sits a small porch. There are several splendid interior features, including windows by the renowned Belfast based stained glass artist, Daniel Braniff. The original intention of the Bishop was to locate the church within the grounds of the Bishop's Palace in Chichester Park, but a restrictive clause in the lease prevented him. Instead, the Diocese purchased Lisbreen House (HB26/46/008), said to have been home to John Lanyon (Charles Lanyon's son) on the E side of Somerton Road, and developed the church within its grounds. The stone steps to the rear, together with the impressive gate screen and walls to the N, enhance the character of the church.