War Memorial, St. John'S Presbyterian Church, Ormeau Road, Belfast, Bt7 3Hx

War Memorial to Newtownbreda Presbyterian Church

This intricately detailed Gothic Revival war memorial was erected to commemorate the members of Newtownbreda Presbyterian Church who fell in the First World War. It was unveiled and dedicated on 1 May 1922.

The memorial stands approximately 2 metres tall and is square on plan with projecting angled buttresses at each corner. It rests on three broad limestone steps. The design incorporates Eastern influences, notably a central ogee-shaped dome topped with a fleur de lys pinnacle. The short drum beneath this dome is decorated with repeating cusped lancet details, and below runs a cornice of alternating poppy flowers and palm leaves. At each corner, at this level, stands a smaller dome reflecting the shape of the central one, embellished with unusual flower motifs in an Art Nouveau style.

Each of the four sides features a rectangular recessed panel flanked by circular attached colonnettes with carved floral capitals. The East side bears the inscription "ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF THE MEN OF NEWTOWNBREDA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR". The West side displays the names of those who gave their lives inscribed in gilt on a granite panel. Above the East panel is a cusped semicircular arch containing a carved setting sun with a laurel wreath in the centre and the dates 1914 and 1918 inscribed in the spandrels. The other two sides are blank. The limestone memorial does not appear to be signed by the sculptor.

The memorial is positioned prominently within a semi-circular grassed area in front of the main West facade of the listed Newtownbreda Presbyterian Church, from which it derives significant group value. It stands close to the Ormeau Road footpath.