St. Molua's Church of Ireland Church, 645 Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, Co.Antrim, BT4 3LR

St Molua's Church of Ireland Church

A large hall-style church of the Church of Ireland, built in 1961–62 and designed by architect Denis O'Donoghue Hanna. The building is constructed of rustic brick on a steel frame and is orientated north-west to south-east. It is located on the southern side of Upper Newtownards Road on a site slightly lower than road level, opposite the grounds of Stormont Estate.

The principal elevation faces north-west (the ecclesiastical west end). A pitched roof with concrete tiles and large rectangular window to a pedimented gable is surmounted by three tall thin spires clad with cedar shingles and topped with metal crosses. The two smaller spires rise from the shoulders of the gable either side of the central taller spire, which rises from a brick plinth set back on the ridge. All three spires have supporting columns and 'swept-eaves' detail to the cedar shingle cladding and are surmounted with simple metal cross and ball detail at the apex.

The main gable has a large rectangular window divided into smaller panes above the entrance. Six timber panelled doors with carved square handles provide access. Above the doors are six brass engravings by James McKendry, each showing two figures of angels with figures representing the workers who designed and built the church at their feet. Cast-metal rainwater goods are present throughout.

Slightly curved brick walls form single storey wings either side of the main gable with flat felted roofs, timber fascia and polycarbonate skylights. A stone moulded panel representing the Holy Spirit occupies the centre of the curved wall to the east, and the Eagle to the west. Tall thin windows with plain glass face north-east and north-west.

The north-east wall includes a single storey wing to the north end with five moulded brick panels in relief depicting: The Creation; Adam and Eve being driven from the Garden of Eden; St Molua curing his father of a cancerous foot; the protecting hands of God; and St Molua as a Bishop supervising the building of a church. Three square windows are positioned to the south-east elevation. Tall slot windows set at 45 degrees to the main wall are fitted with coloured glass and have concrete lintels and cills.

A two storey projecting wing to the south end has a pair of timber doors and two square windows to ground floor level on the north-west elevation. Five rectangular top-hung timber window openings with panelling below occupy the ground floor level to the north-east elevation.

The south-east elevation features curved triple apses with apses to east and west formed in timber with glazed sections at ground floor level, vertically clad timber with decorative silvered motifs representing the 'tares', and glazed sections to the upper level with obscure glass. Both apses have flat roofs, metal downstands and brick plinths. The central section is formed in rustic brick with projecting panels divided by narrow recesses, culminating in multiple gabled roof details creating a chevron pattern with vertically boarded timber to the gables. Timber fascia and soffit, concrete tiles and ridges abut the gable end wall with concrete skews.

The south-west wall is similar to the north-east except that the two storey projecting wing has a double height timber and glazed door and screen to the north-west elevation accessed by a modern ramp. A marble memorial plaque beneath the windows reads 'Jesus Christ the same yesterday today and forever'. Moulded panels to the south-west elevation of the single storey wing depict: The Rose of Sharon and the Lamb of God; the pelican feeding its young; the fish with the tree that grew from the mustard seed; the Lion of Judah with Christ bruising the head of Satan; and the True Vine and the chalice.

The church site is bounded to the north by a brick wall with a curved gate screen. Two sets of gate piers are present, with decorative lamp standards to the inner set of piers and a pair of ornate metal gates. Hedging forms the boundaries on other sides. The area behind the gates has a tarmac surface with grassed areas immediately in front of the main entrance doors to the church, to the east and west of the site and to the rear. Contemporaneous halls are set to the south of the site.