Mountpottinger Methodist Church, Albertbridge Road, Belfast, County Antrim

A large double-height red-brick Gothic-Revival Methodist Church built c.1890 and located north of Albertbridge Road east of Belfast city centre. T-shaped plan with two-storey flat-roof extension (1957) to rear. Pitched natural slate roof with raised stone verges having cross finials to gable. Cast-iron ogee rainwater goods on projecting eaves band over Lombardic-style frieze. Walling is Flemish-bonded red-brick with slender buttresses having masonry offsets and decorative stone pinnacles to principal elevation. Breakfront has decorative frieze of terracotta panels framed by sandstone string course between floors; Lombardic and castellated detail flanking bays at main elevation. Windows are a variety of leaded-and-stained glass lancets; arranged in groups of three to each floor at east and west elevations (those to first floor are pointed-headed with continuous hood moulds). Geometric rose window to south gable flanked by single lancets, all with decorative Gothic hood moulds having stone pinnacles and fleur-de-lis finial. Paired lancets to flanking bays at main elevation with diminutive oculus to spandrel, continuous hood mould and carved finial. The principal elevation is gabled with central breakfront. Paired entrance in twin triple-order Gothic sandstone porticos with original diagonally- timber-sheeted double-leaf doors having decorative wrought-iron strap-hinges; cusped head having leaded-and-stained glass panel. Portico comprises semi-engaged colonnettes, arranged in groups of three with carved Gothic mouldings, finial and pinnacles; accessed via three stone steps. The west elevation is four sets of triple windows wide with a paired cusped lancet to far right, stepped at sill level and surmounted by oculus and heavy projecting sandstone Gothic canopy on corbel brackets. Left gable has tripartite window at first floor (central opening is taller) surmounted by vented oval opening at gable and flanked by blind square-headed openings; ground floor has seven leaded-and-stained glass timber-casement windows (that to centre is wider). The north (rear) elevation is fully abutted by the two-storey flat-roof extension (1957); of little interest (irregularly arranged square window openings and original double-leaf timber-panelled door to west elevation; north elevation has three large openings to first floor and a window to right at ground floor). The east elevation is four sets of triple windows wide with a paired lancet to far left (as at west elevation); the right gable is recessed (partially concealed). Setting Corner-sited at Albertbridge Road and Templemore Avenue, set back from the street and enclosed by original cast-iron railings fleur-de-lis detailing; original gates to south and west with decorative gate piers. Enclosed yard to rear at east side. Roof: Natural slate Walling: Flemish-bonded red-brick Windows: Variety of stained-and-leaded glass RWG: Cast-iron