Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 28-32 Annadale Avenue, Belfast, BT7 3JJ

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

This modernist church was erected in 1969 on Annadale Avenue in south Belfast, approximately three miles from the city centre. The building is located in a predominantly residential area of mixed nineteenth and twentieth century housing, near the Ormeau Road on a tree-lined avenue leading towards the Annadale embankment at the River Lagan.

The church is rectangular in plan, comprising a large double-height block connected to a lower single-storey cellular block. It is constructed in concrete mushroom-brick laid in stretcher bond, with a flat asphalt roof, painted metal rainwater goods, and single-glazed painted steel centre-pivot windows in painted timber sub-frames. Windows to the rear elevation and clerestories are powder-coated aluminium with frameless glass.

The north front elevation is the principal façade, dominated by a large rectangular double-height projecting gable to the right and a single-storey rectangular gable with entrance screen to the left. A tall, narrow spire of square-plan brick construction stands detached but connected to a cantilevered porch canopy projecting from the entrance screen. The spire is plainly detailed, with deep slits recessed into the centre of each face in its upper third. At the top, these recesses separate to form four corner piers of brickwork connected by a concrete lintel, with a tall narrow metallic shaft mounted centrally as a lightning conductor.

The main gable rests on a low cement-faced plinth and is framed at the sides with concrete mushroom-brick piers and a concrete lintel at the top. Tall recessed slit windows run from ground to eaves level beside each pier. The remainder of the gable features a large decorative panel of grey concrete brickwork laid in regular header courses angled at forty-five degrees to create a sawtooth effect. A continuous clerestory of frameless glazing runs along the top of the gable, above which sits a deep fascia panel of vertical painted timber slats with a metal box gutter. The soffit is finished in varnished boarded timber. The entrance screen is slightly recessed within the single-storey gable and consists of full-height glazed varnished timber framing with deep mid-rails, glazed side lights, overlights, and centrally located glazed double doors. The porch canopy soffit is finished in varnished boarded timber with square recessed light fittings fitted with white translucent plastic shades. A marble plaque mounted on the adjoining gable reads "THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS CENTRE FOR YOUNG ADULTS".

The south rear elevation consists of approximately four structural bays, with three bays to the left possibly representing a later addition. It features mushroom-brick walls with low cement-faced plinth, clerestory glazing, and deep soffit detail matching the front elevation. The three left-hand bays have a brick plinth without glazed clerestory, instead fitted with a painted solid board panel. Windows and doors are powder-coated aluminium. A double exit door is located within the original section, while full-height window panels are centrally positioned in the bays of the later section. The door is glazed with a deep mid-rail and painted timber glazed over-light; panels have a deep mid-rail, upper top-hung window, and lower painted solid infill panel in brown.

The east side elevation comprises approximately eight structural bays, with two bays to the right-hand side protruding slightly. It features mushroom-brick walls with low cement-faced plinth, clerestory glazing, and the characteristic deep soffit detail. Vertical columns within the clerestory glazing at each bay are possibly steel boxed out in painted timber boarding. Full-height window panels are centrally located in most bays, featuring painted timber sub-frame, deep mid-rail, upper painted metal centre-pivot window, and lower painted solid infill panel in brown. A slim concrete cill sits in the clerestory. A painted timber door with louvered panel occupies the central bay opening (boiler house). The clerestory roof of the large main block is visible above the roofline, and a tall rectangular mushroom-brick chimney with plain concrete cap is attached to the main block's east face.

The west side elevation comprises a double-height block with approximately six structural bays to the left-hand side and a lower single-storey block of approximately three bays to the right-hand side, possibly representing a later addition. The main block features mushroom-brick walls with low cement-faced plinth, clerestory glazing, and matching deep soffit detail. Full-height window panels are centrally located in all bays, generally featuring painted timber sub-frame with upper half having a painted metal window with top opening light and half centre-pivot window, and lower half a painted solid infill panel. Window panels to the hall contain no solid panel but are fully glazed with Georgian-wired glass. Glazed escape doors are located within one panel in each of the main halls. The three bays of the later right-hand section are detailed similarly to the rear elevation, with full-height window panels centrally located in two bays and a glazed escape door in this section.

The church is situated on a large site with mature trees, bounded by Annadale Avenue to the north and Hampton Manor Drive to the south. A tarmacadam driveway to the east leads to a carpark, with the remainder of the site laid to lawn. Painted steel vehicular gates and railings with slender square-section vertical uprights pointed at the top, together with a smaller pedestrian gate, run along the front of the site. They are utilitarian in style.