St Mary's, oldest Catholic Church in Belfast 1784
I'm down near CastleCourt on Chapel Lane to visit the oldest Roman Catholic church in Belfast city. It is St Mary's Roman Catholic Church chapel Lane and it opened in 1784.
Who Built St Mary’s Church?
The Census in 1782 showed that there were 365 Catholics living in Belfast. At that time, there was no Catholic Church in the City. Catholic parishioners had been gathering at the mass rock at Stranmillis now Friar's Bush cemetery.
The Presbyterian and Church of Ireland communnities took up a special collection at their services – the Handsome Collection – and made a gift of the monies donated to build the first Catholic Church in Belfast – St Mary’s Chapel Lane. The generosity of the Presbyterian and Church of Ireland people of Belfast demonstrates the unprecedented religious tolerance of that time. Our still cherished and beautiful pulpit was donated to St Mary’s by the Vicar of Belfast, Canon Turner, of the Anglican Church in High Street in 1813.
It was on Sunday, 30th May 1784 that Mass was celebrated for the first time in the new church of St. Mary’s for the first time by Father Hugh O’Donnell, first Parish Priest of Belfast.
A sister church was built – St Mary’s on the Hill in Whiteabbey. And Father O’Donnell would mount his horse after saying Mass in Belfast and ride on horseback to Whiteabbey to say Mass there.
Italian Paintings
The two beautiful paintings hanging on either side of the altar in St Mary’s Church. On the left the painting depicts the death of St Joseph, and on the right the painting depicts the Annunciation.
italian1360
In 19th century Ireland there were not many artists and craftsmen. Italian artists emigrated to Ireland, and one such artist came to live in Belfast. He was a talented painter and muralist and had a studio close to Chapel Lane. He was commissioned to paint the works of art for the opening of the new church.
About six years ago the paintings were restored in situe by experts in art restoration, one of them from the Tate Gallery. The paintings could not be removed from the walls so all work was carried out on scaffolding. The painting of the Sacred Heart was restored at the same time – and the beauty of the paintings was revealed for all to admire. Some time ago, we had the honour to welcome to the church the granddaughter of the Italian artist.
Deerhurst England and St Mary’s Chapel
My pilgrimage to the birthplace of my great great great Grandfather Levi Roberts
Choir of St Mary's Church, Warwick | Christ the Lord Is Risen Again Anthony Foster (BBC 2019)
Choir of St Mary's Church, Warwick (Oliver Hancock) | Christ the Lord Is Risen Again Anthony Foster @ Easter Day Eucharist - Live from St Mary's Church, Warwick | BBC One 21.04.2019
Live from St Mary's Church, Warwick. Traditional worship for Easter Day, led by the bishop of Warwick, the Rt Rev John Stroyan and the Rev Dr Vaughan Roberts, Rector of Warwick, who will preach. The mass setting is Grayston Ives's Missa Brevis, sung by St Mary's Church Choir, conducted by director of music Oliver Hancock. Well-loved Easter hymns include Jesus Christ Is Risen Today, Love's Redeeming Work Is Done and Thine Be the Glory, accompanied by organist Mark Swinton.
Kunjukkaattu- Carol service competition by St. Mary's family unit
Carol competition Syro-Malabar Catholic community, St Mary's Family unit. Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. @ Holy Spirit Church, Glen Road. Christmas 2015 Midnight Mass. Rocky Jacob, Job Kunjumon, Aby, Roy, Amanda, Annjoel, Shiny, Deena, Paul & Denna Detty
St Anne's Cathedral Belfast
I'm down at Belfast's St Anne's Cathedral. Opened in 1904 the Cathedral narrowly escaped and survived the 2WW 'Blitz', when German bombers flattened surrounding housing.
I'm just taking a wee informal dander inside to give you an idea what to expect if you come down too.
St. Mary's Catholic Church Eskadale, Scotland
Few places can match the uniqueness of rural Highland churches -oases of tranquillity where man's spiritual need is complemented by the beauty of nature. For a visit that is both aesthetically and spiritually rewarding take the low road to Struy - a narrow winding road that seems to lead into a time-lock where the clear, sweeping river Beauly flows ribbon-like between banks of birches and plantations of firs. Beautiful Strathglass, incomparable in its ever-changing vistas and gentle melancholy. Suddenly, on top of a hillock, a building appears, dazzling in its white-washed harling, set with many-faceted windows: St Mary's of Eskadale, 'built on a scale of grandeur hitherto unknown in the Highlands.'
That the chapel was considered grand for its time betrays its denomination. All around, gravestones of its erstwhile priests, parishioners and benefactors tell of the faith of the dead. For St Mary's stands in one of the few districts in the Highlands where the inhabitants adhered to their Catholic faith, long after their Chief, The Chisholm, changed his allegiance. It is hard to believe that so large a Roman Catholic chapel was built as far back as 1827, only 34 years after the passing of the Catholic Relief Act which gave freedom of worship to Roman Catholics. Built by another Chief of the area, the 12th Lord Lovat, St Mary's is quite different from the few Catholic churches in existence at that time throughout the Highlands - usually barn-like structures, with no windows and a mud floor. No barn this, its windows filling the nave with a light that must have been a revelation to the tenants of the nineteenth century, the traceried rose window being added in the east gable in 1881: a constant source of wonder for the congregation of Eskadale who, at the turn of the century, numbered over 800.
Sir Edward Carson's Grave St Anne's Cathedral Belfast
Edward Carson was the unionist leader and many view him as being the founding father of Northern Ireland. His statue stands in front of the steps at Stormont. He signed the Ulster Covenant. His is the only person to be buried in St Anne's Cathedral. I found his grave when I was taking a dander round the cathedral today. I had no idea that he was buried here!
Edward Henry Carson, Baron Carson PC, PC (Ire.), Kt, KC (9 February 1854 – 22 October 1935), known as Lord Carson, and from 1900 to 1921 called Sir Edward Carson, was an Irish unionist politician, barrister and judge. He was leader of the Irish Unionist Alliance and Ulster Unionist Party between 1910 and 1921, held numerous positions in the Cabinet of the United Kingdom and served as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary. He was one of the few people not a monarch to receive a British state funeral.
His larger than life-size statue, erected in his own lifetime in front of the Northern Ireland parliament at Stormont, symbolizes the widely held perception that Northern Ireland is Carson's creation.
ST GEORGE'S Parish dating from 1300s, oldest Church in Belfast
I'm down in city centre Belfast on High Street, near the famous Albert Clock, to visit Belfast's oldest congregation, that worships in St George's Church of Ireland.
The Parish Church of Saint George, Belfast, more commonly known as St. George's Church, Belfast, is a Church of Ireland church located on High Street in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is the oldest Church of Ireland church in Belfast. It was designed by Irish architect, John Bowden, and opened in 1816.
The church stands on what had been a fording place where the River Lagan and River Farset met. The earliest mention of a place of worship existing on this site is in the papal taxation rolls of 1306. The Chapel of the Ford was a chapel of ease of the main parish church at Shankill, and was constructed here for those waiting to cross the mud flats which covered most of the area that has since become central Belfast. The chapel later became known as Corporation Chapel after the newly founded Belfast Corporation.
By the time of the Plantation of Ulster, the church had become the main parish church for the area. In 1613 James I of England granted a charter to Belfast as a key garrison town in the plantation, and St. George's became the 'corporation' church. William of Orange passed through Belfast on his way from Carrickfergus to the Battle of the Boyne, and had a famous sermon, Arise Great King, preached to him here.
By the late 18th century, however, the church had fallen into disrepair and the Earl of Chichester, the dominant local landowner, gave land for a new parish church for Belfast to be built on a more expansive site a few hundred metres away on Donegall Street. This church would later become St Anne's Cathedral. Henry Joy McCracken, a leading member of the Society of the United Irishmen and 1798 rebellion was buried in the churchyard after being hanged, before later being moved to Clifton Street Cemetery. However, by the 1800s, the growth of industrial Belfast necessitated a second Anglican church being built, and a new St. George's was built on the old site, opening in 1816. Throughout the 19th century, the church had a series of rectors known for their flamboyant style, and in the early 20th century, St. George's developed its distinct High Church ethos. The movement of people out of the City Centre in the 20th century saw the congregation drop, and during The Troubles, the church was seriously damaged on a number of occasions by Provisional Irish Republican Army bombs.
St. George's continues to be noted for its liturgical and musical tradition – it has one of the few men's and boys' church choirs in Ireland. Its ministry, both to the business community and to Belfast's homeless population, are an important part of parish life. St. George's has a diverse congregation, drawing members from different religious, cultural and social backgrounds.
Built mostly of Scrabo sandstone. The west end, facing High Street, has a large Corinthian pillared portico, giving the impression that it is a two storied building. The portico was originally made to order in Egypt for Frederick Hervey, 4th Earl of Bristol and Bishop of Derry, to adorn the main entrance of Ballyscullion House in County Londonderry, built in 1788. After the Earl died in 1803, the house was gradually dismantled and the portico was bought and transported to Belfast. To reach its new home, the portico was initially hauled by horse and cart to Lough Neagh. From there it went by barge, reputedly the first barge cargo brought to Belfast from Lough Neagh by the new Lagan Canal Navigation (now disused). The coats of arms on the pediment are of the Diocese of Down and the city of Belfast.
St. George's was the first Anglican church in Ireland to introduce Harvest Thanksgiving, musical recitals in church, early morning celebrations of the Holy Communion, a robed choir, drama in church, the Christmas Midnight Eucharist, the Three Hours Devotions on Good Friday, and to adopt the 1984 Alternative Prayer Book of the Church of Ireland.
St Mary's RC, Newport Carnival topic
These children are year 1 - their topic was 'Carnival' and they achieved this after 5 hours tuition! Really looking forward to seeing the new classes in February! Watch this space!
Ruskins View // St Mary's Church // Swine Market // Woods // Kirkby Lonsdale - Cumbria UK
A walking vlog taking you a look at ruskins view/st mary's church & grounds//the swine market & the woods at Kirkby Lonsdale - Cumbria UK on Wednesday 30th May 2018..Visit my channel for more videos like this..
Knights: St Frideswide Collect
Voces Angelicae consort, conductor Francis Knights, perform his Collect for St Frideswide's Day (2002). Recorded live in the Holywell Music Room, Oxford, on 24 November 2002.
Website francisknights.co.uk
Bangor Parish Choir 1986 - The Lord Bless you and Keep you.
Another absolutely superb Ulster Choirmaster - one I wish I had had an opportunity to sing for more - Ian Hunter's fabulous Bangor Parish Church Choir - an example of control, musicality and ensemble that any of us would love to emulate.
TOURS BY BANGOR PARISH CHOIR DIRECTED BY IAN HUNTER
Scotland
- St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh - one week's daily Evensongs (5)
- St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh - Recital
England
- Lichfield Cathedral - one week's daily Evensongs (5)
- Coventry Cathedral - Recital
- Coventry Cathedral - Evensong
Ireland
- Killaloe Church of Ireland Cathedral - Evensong and Recital
- Limerick Church of Ireland Cathedral - Evensong and Recital
- Ennis Roman Catholic Cathedral - Recital
- Galway Roman Catholic Cathedral - Recital
Dublin
- St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin - Evensong on two occasions
London
- St Paul's Cathedral, London - one week's daily Evensongs (5) and Mattins (1)
- Recitals in:
- Westminster Cathedral
- Westminster Abbey
- St Margaret's Church, Westminster
Belfast
- Holy Cross Church, Ardoyne - Carol Services (2)
- St Mark's Church, Ballysillan - Evensong
CONCERTS IN BANGOR PARISH CHURCH ORGANISED BY THE CHOIR AND IAN HUNTER
- The Scholars
- James Galway
- Ulster Orchestra
- St Peter's Consort
- Bangor Parish Choir
- Renaissance Singers
- Ulster Brass Ensemble
- Band of the Royal Marines
- Donaghadee Male Voice Choir
- Les Petits Chanteurs de Douai
- Choral Society of Trinity College, Dublin
- Choir of St Catharine's College, Cambridge
- Organ and Choral Scholars of St John's College, Cambridge
- Organ and Choral Scholars of King's College, Cambridge - 4 years
RECORDINGS:
Bangor Parish Church Choir released two commercial LP records on the Alpha label of the Abbey Recording Company, Oxford
- CAROLS BY CANGLELIGHT
- THE WINGS OF FAITH
BROADCASTING:
Bangor Parish Church Choir broadcast regularly and frequently, locally and nationally, on BBC, ITV and RTE, radio and television
St Mary's University Campus Tour
Take a look around the London campus of St Mary's University, Twickenham. Want to see it for yourself? Book on to an upcoming open day:
Walton Parish Nursing Celebration Highlights 2016
A 4 minute summary of the Walton Parish Nursing Celebration Service held on October 16th 2016 at St Mary's Church in Walton, Felixstowe. For the full version go to
SSPX Latin Mass - 2019 - Laetare Sunday in St. Marys, KS
- Archbishop Lefebvre, with Bishop de Castro Mayer, once stated that: “If, by some impossible turn of events, the Mass was no longer a sacrifice, there would no longer be any sort of religion on earth!” Let us rekindle our attachment to the Mass during this season of Lent!
Laetare Sunday is a moment in the midst of a penitential season during which the Church calls Her children to rejoice. Why? It is all too often that we, as fallen creatures, easily lose sight of the goal, of the purpose for which we are fasting, for which we are striving during Lent. She calls us to re-orient, to remember, and to look up towards our true calling, the path to which is the answer to finding true (not perfect, but true) happiness in this life and in the next.
For more on the traditional Latin Mass, visit
For more SSPX media, browse
Rejoice, O Jerusalem, and come together all you that love her; rejoice with joy, you that have been in sorrow: that you may exult, and be filled from the breasts of your consolation. I rejoiced at the things that were said to me: We shall go into the house of the Lord. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Rejoice, O Jerusalem, and come together all you that love her; rejoice with joy, you that have been in sorrow: that you may exult, and be filled from the breasts of your consolation.
Grant, we beseech Thee, O almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds justly deserve to be punished, by the comfort of Thy grace may mercifully be relieved. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, forever and ever.
it is written that Abraham had two sons; the one by a bond- woman, and the other by a free- woman. But he who was of the bond- woman was born according to the flesh; but he of the free-woman was by promise. Which things are said by an allegory. For these are the two testaments; the one from Mount Sina, engendering unto bondage, which is Agar: for Sina is a mountain in Arabia, which hath affinity to that Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children: but that Jerusalem which is above is free, which is our mother. For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not; for many are the children of the desolate, more than of her that hath a husband. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born according to the flesh persecuted him that was after the spirit, so also it is now. But what saith the Scriptures?Cast out the bond- woman and her son; for the son of the bond-woman shall not be heir with the son of the free-woman. So then, brethren, we are not the children of the bond-woman, but of the free; by the freedom wherewith Christ hath made us free.
St. Mary's Rebuild 1998/99 Part 4
Part 4 of 4 of the rebuild of St. Mary's RC Church Bridgend
The Roman Catholic Chamber Choir & the USAFA Cadet Catholic SCHOLA
A Tapestry of Sacred Music performed on April 7th 2019 at St. Mary's Cathedral, Colorado Springs, CO.
Mary McAleese The time is now for change in the Catholic Church
Mary McAleese grew up the eldest of nine children in a tumultuous time in Northern Ireland. Her family was forced to leave the area by Loyalists when The Troubles broke out. She was the first Irish President to come from Northern Ireland and the first woman to succeed another woman as the eighth President of Ireland from 1997 - 2011. An outspoken advocate on many issues concerned with justice, equality, social inclusion, anti-sectarianism and reconciliation it was no surprise the theme of her Presidency was 'Building Bridges'. Mary graduated in Law from the Queen's University of Belfast in 1973 and was called to the Northern Ireland Bar in 1974. In 1975 she was appointed Reid Professor of Criminal Law, Criminology and Penology at Trinity College Dublin and in 1987 she returned to her Alma Mater, Queen's, to become Director of the Institute of Professional Legal Studies. In 1994, she became the first female Pro-Vice Chancellor of the Queen's University of Belfast. In 2013 she received a master's degree and licentiate in canon law of the Roman Gregorian University.