Chapel Of Unity, Methodist College, Belfast, Bt9 6Bq

Chapel of Unity, Methodist College, Belfast

This modernist chapel was built in 1968 within the grounds of Methodist College in South Belfast to designs by Gordon McKnight, following a competition held to mark the school's centenary. The building's distinctive form comprises a tall steeply pitched gable flanked by shallow mono-pitched roofs with flat-roofed clasping arcades to the sides. The overall composition is reputed to emulate praying hands. The entire building is raised on a plinth with broad steps to the front (north-east) and paved areas to the rear retained by brick walls, with ramps and steps responding to the natural rise of the school site.

The chapel is constructed in buff brick of non-standard proportions laid in Flemish bond, with eaves and verges expressed in multi-coursed corbelled brick. The roof is finished in natural slate, with flat roofs having a raised parapet of probably sheet membrane. Rainwater goods are aluminium with square profile. Windows comprise stained glass Dalle de Verre panels (thick glass shards set in resin-bonded concrete) and single-glazed metal-framed round-arched windows of Crittall or similar type elsewhere.

On the front north-east elevation, the nave gable is flanked by mono-pitched and flat roofs as described. A double entrance with splayed brick surround and camber-arched head leads into the chapel. Above the entrance sits a timber crucifix, with a bell recessed at the apex of the gable, which is slightly pointed on plan. A heavy painted timber fascia board runs along the mono-pitched roofs, with a stained glass wedge set between it and the roof below. The flat-roofed sides feature arcaded fenestration with raised parapet, splayed buttresses between arches and splayed cills at the base of each arch. The solid timber entrance doors, possibly of oak, are engraved with the school motto "Deus Nobiscum" (God with us) and "Quis Separabit" (Who shall separate us), and have scallop-edged copper kick plates in a stained varnish finish. To the left of the entrance stands a freestanding square plinth supporting a copper statue of children joining hands in a ring, erected by parents and dedicated in memory of pupils no longer with us.

The north-west elevation shows the side view of the tall and shallow pitched roof forms with arcaded openings to the flat roof. Five arched windows in total feature raised parapet continuing from the front elevation, with arches formed in two brick header courses, splayed cills and buttresses matching those on the front. A vertical glazed slot is positioned at the far right side, beyond the flat and mono-pitched roofs. Deep timber eaves boarding runs along the mono-pitched roof, with clerestory windows below largely concealed behind the parapet to the flat roof. A hipped roof appendage is set back with a bowed casement window of single glazing and timber frame; the appendage is otherwise plain.

The rear south-west elevation mirrors the front form, except the arcaded flat-roofed abutments terminate at their far ends, each containing a set of round-arched double doors in sheeted timber. A lower hipped roof appendage sits at the nave gable. The upper part of the gable is filled with a polygonal concrete panel comprised of vertical ribs with stained glass slots between, whilst clipped eaves run along the mono-pitched roofs with blank walling below. A small lean-to abutment was added at the right side at a later date.

The south-east elevation mirrors the north-west elevation. The hipped roof appendage is set back with two concrete steps leading to a full-height recessed opening comprising square-headed framed double doors within a plain glass surround. A honeycomb brick panel sits to the right of the opening. Surrounding the chapel are paths in precast concrete slabs, with wider paved areas to the south-west retained by brick walls with tubular metal railings painted black. Concrete slab benches are positioned to the south-east side. Broad entrance steps are flanked by retaining walls with sloped brick recesses to the sides.

The chapel overlooks College Gardens, with gate pillars and screen walls positioned mid-way along that street roughly aligned with the entrance. Although not contemporary with the building, these features help integrate it with other buildings of interest at Methodist College, and together they form an important set-piece within the Queens Conservation Area. The chapel is positioned between McArthur Hall and Whitla Hall, with a backdrop of modern buildings and is largely open to the front with a sloping lawn leading to tree-lined College Gardens.