1865 – Former Methodist Church, University Rd., Belfast

The former Methodist Church was built in 1865 to designs by architect W.J. Barre. An elaborate mid-Victorian design of red, yellow, and blue brick with stone trimmings – it has a prominent campanile, framing the street with the spires of the nearby Crescent and Moravian churches. Over the years, since closure due to declining numbers, the building has suffered substantial water damage, and its pews and organ have already been removed. Original features still extant including wrought ironwork, joinery and stone carvings and a high vaulted timber ceiling within.

Planning permission was granted to turn the church into a Wetherspoon’s public house in 2017. Plans were also approved in 2008 to change the use of it to offices and demolish the adjoining buildings and replace them with 31 studio apartments. This never happened and by 2022 it was back on the market for sale. It is grade B listed as it is an important building within the Queen’s Conservation Area.