Ulster Bank

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Attached symmetrical pedimented two-storey stucco-fronted Neo-Classical former Methodist Church, built c.1846, to the designs of Isaac Farrell with prostyle hexastyle portico. Largely demolished c.1990 with the pedimented facade incorporated into a modern office development, completed c.1999.

Lead-lined roof to pediment with a single cast-iron hopper and downpipe to the north wing. Painted stuccoed walling. Square and round-headed window openings with replacement powder-coated steel-framed windows. Original double-leaf varnished doors with raised-and-fielded panels and matching rectangular overpanels to the left and right cheeks of the central arch, replacement glass doors to remainder.

Prostyle hexastyle portico comprises a full-span modillioned pediment, plain tympanum and plain architrave supported by six Giant order Corinthian columns having responding Corinthian pilasters to the facade resting on raised pedestals fronting onto the pavement. Painted stuccoed walling, channel rusticated to the ground floor with a guilloche platband at first floor sill level. Square-headed window openings to the first floor with architrave surrounds and cornice supported on console brackets. Round-headed window openings to both end bays on the ground floor having decorative steel windows with margin lights. Groin-vaulted transverse porch to the three central arches with a double-height glazed entrance porch to the centre and possibly original double-leaf timber panelled doors to the cheeks. Square-headed door opening to the north wing with architrave surround and pediment supported on console brackets having double-leaf timber doors with raised-and-fielded panels. Replacement granite paving within portico and entire facade enclosed by decorative cast-iron railings with matching iron piers and gates.

Setting

Located on the east side of Donegall Square overlooking Belfast City Hall (HB26/50/001A) abutted to all sides by modern office developments.

Roof; Lead-covered pediment
Walling: Stucco
Windows: steel
RWG: Cast-iron

Historical information

Donegall Square Methodist Church was built to the designs of Isaac Farrell in 1846-50, replacing an earlier Methodist meeting house c1806.

The new ‘Wesleyan Methodist Chapel’ is first listed in Griffith’s Valuation (1859-60) at a value of £200. Fronting Donegall Square East and captioned ‘Methodist Chapel’ on a map of Belfast (1864), this building replaced a smaller ‘Methodist Chapel’, which was previously located on site but was set back from the street-line of Donegall Square East (map c1818).

Built in 1806, this original meeting house was valued at £44 in the Townland Valuation (1830s) and comprised a simple square-plan building, capable of seating 800 people (Walker). This meeting house was in itself a replacement for the very first Methodist church, founded in nearby Fountain Street in 1787 (Patton).

As the congregation of Donegall Square grew, a larger church, to be built on the same site, was deemed necessary. Alderman William McConnell, who had aided construction of the church by means of a grant of £1,500, laid the foundation stone on 2nd July 1846 and the church opened in June 1847 (Walker). Designs were prepared by the Dublin architect, Isaac Farrell, who completed a number of Methodist churches in Dublin and Coleraine, in this “…very solid classical form.” (Walker). A rare and valuable 18th century Snetzler organ was bought from Armagh Cathedral in 1849 but on 2nd September of that year, the church interior was destroyed by fire. The building was completely rebuilt, except for the portico façade, by the original contractor James Carlisle, in 1850 (Patton; DIA).

The square plan church, sited behind the grand frontage, was capable of seating 1,500 while the basement below was used for Sunday school, accommodating a maximum of 1,000 children (Patton). The church was six bays in length, with two aisles separating the box pews. A large gallery embraced three sides of the interior while the pulpit and wall-mounted organ pipes dominated the fourth wall (Walker). Originally low wings connected the main portico to the buildings on either side, one of which still remains. Renovation work and the addition of a new organ, was undertaken by Hogg & Sons in 1910 and overseen by architect James St John Phillips (DIA).

The church was closed in the early 1990s and was completely demolished with the exception of the façade (Walker; Patton). Significant redevelopment occurred during the first decade of the 21st century; the steps to the main entrance were removed and the façade now acts as a frontage piece to a large modern office development to the rear, which houses the headquarters of the Ulster Bank (HB File).

The building represents the last example of a classically designed church, to be constructed in Belfast and the solid and restrained classical frontage piece acts as “…an essential component of the (Donegall) square’s streetscape.” (Patton).

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/1/61/2- Second Edition OS Map (1832-33)
2. PRONI OS/6/1/61/3- Third Edition OS Map (1858)
3. PRONI OS/6/1/61/4- Fourth Edition OS Map (1901-2)
4. PRONI OS/6/1/61/6- Sixth Edition OS Map (1931)
5. PRONI T1541/1 – Map of Belfast Reduced from the 60’ Survey and updated
(1864)
6. PRONI T1541/5- Map of Belfast (1818)

7. PRONI VAL/1/B/720- Townland Valuations (1830s)
8. PRONI VAL/2/B/7/1A- Griffith’s Valuation (1859-60)
9. PRONI VAL/12/B/43/A1- Annual Revisions (1862-82)
10. PRONI VAL/12/B/43/C35- Annual Revisions (1906-15)
11. PRONI VAL/3/B/3/14- First General Revaluation (1935)

12. The Ulster Street Directories (1841-1995)
13. HB File (HB26/50/019)

Secondary Sources

1. Walker, Simon “Historic Ulster Churches” QUB, Belfast (2000)

2. Curl, James, Stevens “Classical Churches in Ulster” UAHS, Belfast (1980)

3. Larmour, P “Belfast, An Illustrated Architectural Guide” 1987

4. Brett, C.E.B “ The Buildings of Belfast 1700-1914” 1985 ed

5. Patton, Marcus “Central Belfast- An Historical Gazetteer” UAHS, Belfast (1993)

6. www.dia.ie - Dictionary of Irish Architects online

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
X. Local Interest
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance

Evaluation

Attached symmetrical pedimented two-storey stucco-fronted with prostyle hexastyle portico Neo-Classical former Methodist Church built c1846 to the designs of Isaac Farrell. Largely demolished c.1990 with the pedimented façade incorporated into a modern office development, completed c.1999. An impressive temple front, which stands as a decorative element on the Square, is all that remains of the former church. Despite the loss of much of the historic building, the portico represents the history of this important site and the Methodist Church in Belfast. It is also an example of the work of an architect of note.