Sinclair Seamen's Presbyterian Church

The Department's description

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

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

Criteria for listing: 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.