Sinclair Seaman's Presbyterian Church EHOD 2025

About

Sinclair Seamen's Presbyterian Church was built in 1856 as a memorial to John Sinclair, a Belfast businessman and philanthropist. For many years he and his brother Thomas were heavily involved with the Seamens' Christian Friend Society, an interdenominational group which promoted seamens' physical and spiritual welfare. In 1848 it came under the control of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and grew into a thriving congregation based on " The Bethel" hall in Pilot Street. With the untimely death of John Sinclair, his family initiated a movement to have a seamens church erected in his memory and a more permanent home for the Bethel congregation. Large donations from across the religious divide flowed in and Charles Lanyon, the eminent architect was engaged to design the church. A vacant site at the corner of Corporation Square, near the newly erected Harbour Office was kindly donated by the Harbour Commissioners, and the Church was formally opened in October 1857. Built on Scrabo Sandstone, to a Venetian design, the church rests on 1000 wooden piles and cost £4,500 to build. Its interior furnishing emphasise the historic links between the congregation and the Belfast port. Where would you find a brass ship's wheel, a brass capstan and a binnacle The ship's bell of HMS Hood of World War 1 vintage is wrung every Sunday to begin the service. How many congregations ask their clergy to occupy a pulpit made from wood of an old wind-jammer by carpenters from Workman Clarks Shipyard, standing at the prow of the ship flanked by port and starboard lights, with a model flying boat overhead. Around the walls are many plaques and artefacts, each telling their own story During the last year the outside stonework has been refurbished and a roundal similar to the one provided in 1857 has been added to the front of the church.