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

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, erected in 1969 as one of four chapels built by the church in Northern Ireland during that decade. Now used as the church's Centre for Young Adults, it stands on a large, mature, tree-lined site on Annadale Avenue, near the Ormeau Road approximately three miles from Belfast city centre, with Hampton Manor Drive forming the southern boundary. The surrounding area is predominantly residential, made up of mixed 19th and 20th century housing leading to the Annadale embankment on the River Lagan.

The building is rectangular on plan and comprises a large, double-height block connected to a lower, single-storey cellular block. It was built to a standard design known as the 'Type M' plan, reportedly employed by the church worldwide, and is said to have been constructed by the congregation themselves. Despite this self-build origin, the result is a striking and largely unaltered example of Modernist church architecture, displaying many characteristics typical of the period: a floating flat roof, cantilevered canopy, sculptural wall panel, and rectilinear tower.

Materials throughout are consistent: flat roofs with asphalt covering, painted metal rainwater goods, concrete mushroom brick in stretcher bond, and single-glazed painted steel centre-pivot windows in painted timber sub-frames. Windows to the rear are powder-coated aluminium, and the clerestory glazing is frameless.

NORTH (FRONT) ELEVATION

The principal entrance faces north and is composed of two elements: a large, rectangular, double-height projecting gable to the right, and a single-storey rectangular gable with an entrance screen to the left. A large cantilevered porch canopy projects outward beyond the building line from the entrance screen. To the left of this canopy, and connected to it, stands a tall, narrow, detached spire set in line with the main gable. The spire is square on plan, built in brick with plain detailing. In its upper third, deep vertical slits are recessed into the centre of each face. At the very top, these recesses open out to form four corner piers of brickwork connected by a concrete lintel, with a tall, narrow metallic shaft at the centre serving as a lightning conductor.

The main gable has a low plinth faced in cement, framed on either side by concrete mushroom brick piers with a concrete lintel at the top. A tall, narrow recessed slit window runs from ground level to eaves level alongside each pier. The remainder of the gable face consists of a large decorative panel of grey concrete brickwork laid in regular header courses angled at 45 degrees, producing a distinctive sawtooth effect. A continuous clerestory of frameless glazing runs across the top of the gable. Above this sits a deep fascia panel of vertical painted timber slats, with a metal box gutter at the top and a varnished boarded timber soffit beneath.

The entrance screen is set slightly back within the single-storey gable and consists of a full-height, fully glazed screen in varnished timber, with deep mid-rails, glazed sidelights and overlights, and centrally positioned glazed double doors. The soffit of the porch canopy is finished in varnished boarded timber with square recessed light fittings fitted with white translucent plastic shades. The gable to the left is plain concrete mushroom brick with the same clerestory and fascia detail as the main gable, with brickwork in stretcher bond. A marble plaque mounted on this gable reads: 'THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS CENTRE FOR YOUNG ADULTS'.

SOUTH (REAR) ELEVATION

The rear elevation has approximately four structural bays, of which the three to the left are possibly a later addition. The original bays follow the same mushroom brick walls, low cement-faced plinth, clerestory glazing, and deep soffit detail as the front elevation. The three later bays have a brick plinth but no clerestory glazing; instead they have a painted solid board panel at that level. All windows and doors in this section are powder-coated aluminium. A double exit door is located within the original section. The later bays have full-height window panels centrally positioned, each with a deep mid-rail, upper top-hung opening window, and lower painted solid infill panel in brown. The door is glazed with a deep mid-rail and a painted timber glazed overlight.

EAST (SIDE) ELEVATION

The east elevation has approximately eight structural bays, with the two rightmost bays projecting slightly forward. The same mushroom brick walls, low cement-faced plinth, clerestory glazing, and deep soffit detail apply throughout. Vertical columns — possibly steel boxed out in painted timber boarding — appear within the clerestory glazing at each bay. Full-height window panels are centrally located in most bays, each with a 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 runs through the clerestory. One central bay contains a painted timber door with a louvred panel, serving the boiler house. The clerestory roof of the main double-height block is visible above the single-storey roofline. A tall, rectangular mushroom brick chimney with a plain concrete cap is attached to the main block on this east face.

WEST (SIDE) ELEVATION

The west elevation is divided into two distinct sections: a double-height block of approximately six structural bays to the left, and a lower single-storey block of approximately three bays to the right, the latter possibly a later addition. The main block follows the same materials and detailing as the other elevations. Full-height window panels are centrally located in all bays; these generally have a painted timber sub-frame, with the upper half containing a painted metal window with a top opening light and a half centre-pivot window, and the lower half a painted solid infill panel. Window panels to the halls are fully glazed with Georgian-wired glass, without a solid lower panel. Glazed escape doors are incorporated into one panel in each of the main halls. The three later bays to the right are detailed similarly to the rear elevation, with full-height window panels in two of the three bays and a glazed escape door in this section.

INTERIOR

The building is reported to be virtually unchanged internally as well as externally.

SETTING AND BOUNDARY TREATMENT

The church occupies a large site bounded by Annadale Avenue to the north and Hampton Manor Drive to the south, planted with mature trees. A tarmacadam driveway on the east side of the site leads to a car park. The remainder of the grounds are laid to lawn. The front boundary is defined by painted steel vehicular gates and railings with a smaller pedestrian gate. These are utilitarian in style, with slender, square-section vertical uprights pointed at the top.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Latter-day Saints missionaries were active in Ireland as far back as the 1840s, but the first purpose-built meeting house on the island was not constructed until 1948. Growing membership led to the creation of the Irish Mission in July 1962 and the subsequent construction of four chapels in Northern Ireland later in that decade. This building was one of those four, the others being on Holywood Road, Old Cavehill Road, and Albertbridge Road. Its rarity as a self-build Modernist church of this period, combined with its high degree of external and internal authenticity, contributes to its architectural and social significance.