Faith House, 25 Orpen Park, Finaghy, Belfast, County Antrim, BT10 0BN

Faith House is a complex of single- and two-storey buildings on the west side of Orpen Park in Belfast. The central block possibly dates from the late 17th century, with the building constructed in stages over more than three centuries. The complex has an L-shaped plan with single- and two-storey pitched roof extensions to the northeast and southwest.

The oldest component is a gabled two-storey building of rectangular plan facing south (Block 1), which may date from the late 17th century. A two-storey pitched roof L-shaped building was constructed to the rear (Block 2) sometime in the first half of the 18th century. A single-storey pitched roof extension to the southeast (Block 3) and a porch to the south (Block 4) followed in the second half of the 18th century. Modern extensions to Block 3 facing the middle courtyard (Block 5) were constructed in 1989–1990, with further modern extensions to the north and southwest (Block 6) dating between 1991 and 2011.

The principal elevation faces south. Block 1 is a two-storey, three-bay structure with crow-stepped gables topped by plaques bearing coats of arms. It has a natural slate pitched roof with angled red-clay ridge tiles and decorative fish scale banding. Rectangular section rendered chimney stacks have chamfered coping and polygonal chimney pots. The rendered walls feature projecting quoins and a base plinth. Cast iron hoppers discharge to circular downpipes. Square-headed window openings have rendered architraves with moulded hoods and projecting cills. The ground floor has timber casement windows; the first floor has 1/1 pane sliding sash windows. A single-storey porch (Block 4) stands to the east side of this elevation, with a pointed segmental arched door opening framed by a moulded architrave and containing a replacement timber panelled door with fanlight and side lights. The porch has bipartite window openings to its east and west return faces, each with a four-centred arch fitted with fixed glazing and dressed stone surrounds with moulded hoods and splayed cills. Diagonal two-stage buttresses support the porch, which has moulded cornicing and a raised crenellated parapet above. Block 3, the single-storey eastern section, is four bays wide with a half-hipped slate roof with angled red-clay hip tiles. Cast iron ogee guttering with decorated hoppers discharges to circular downpipes. Square-headed window openings contain timber casement windows with moulded hoods and chamfered cills. The third bay has a three-part window, and the slightly projecting bay to the east end has a four-part window, each opening featuring a four-centred arch and dressed stone surround with hood mould. The projecting bay has a crenellated parapet above.

The east elevation comprises a single-storey gabled bay forming the eastern part of Block 3, a projecting single-storey gabled bay immediately to the north, and a modern single-storey pitched roof building forming part of Block 6. The rendered walls of Block 3 have projecting quoins to the south end. The pitched slate roof has roll-top black-clay ridge tiles. A square-headed window opening with a uPVC casement window and projecting cill lights the gabled bay. Block 6 has painted red-brick walling.

The west elevation comprises a two-storey gabled bay to the south end (Block 1), a two-storey recessed four-bay wide section immediately to the north (Block 2), and a two-storey stepped gabled bay (Block 2) abutted by a modern two-storey flat-roofed extension forming part of Block 6. The gabled bay at the south end has a three-sided hipped roof bay window at ground floor level with a square-headed door above opening onto a modern steel fire escape stair. A plaque bearing a coat of arms and the date 1727 is centred on the crow-stepped gable above. Moulded corbel stones sit at the eaves. A modern two-storey flat-roofed corridor connects this bay to the modern extension to the southeast. Block 2 has a pitched natural slate roof with decorative bands of fish scales, angled red and black clay ridge tiles, and exposed rafter tails. Three rectangular painted chimney stacks are centred on the ridge, with chamfered corners. The central chimney has three octagonal clay pots, with a fourth missing; the two flanking chimneys each have two octagonal clay pots. Replacement uPVC casement windows to the recessed bay and ground floor of the gabled bay all have raised architraves and stone cills. A three-part timber sliding sash window with 1/1 panes lights the first floor below the crow-stepped gable. The rendered walls have been scored to resemble ashlar stone, and a raised plinth runs along the base.

The middle courtyard is accessed through the east elevation and is enclosed by the north elevation of Blocks 1 and 3 (much obscured by single- and two-storey modern extensions), the east and south elevations of Block 5, and the two smallest modern extensions forming part of Block 6. Natural slate roofs have angled red-clay ridge tiles. uPVC semi-circular guttering discharges to circular downpipes. Modern skylights light the south end of Block 5. Red-brick walling is laid to English bond. Square-headed window openings with projecting cills contain uPVC casement windows. A single-storey flat-roofed porch projects from the south elevation of Block 5, featuring leaded lights, heavy cornice, and paired brackets.

The site is set within tarmaced parking to the south and within the middle and rear courtyards, with modest landscaping and some mature trees to the west. The modern extensions include a two-storey flat-roofed building to the north forming an L-shaped plan with a single-storey flat-roofed building, and a large complex to the southwest with single- and two-storey buildings and an internal courtyard. Access is via a narrow street to the west side of Orpen Park.

Materials include natural slate roofing, cast iron and uPVC rainwater goods, rendered masonry walling, and timber sliding sash and casement windows with some uPVC casements.