Nelson Memorial Presbyterian Church, Annsboro Street, Belfast, County Antrim, BT13 2PH

Nelson Memorial Presbyterian Church

A free-standing Presbyterian church built around 1895 to designs by architect William J. Gilliland, located at the centre of Nelson Square on the south side of Shankill Road, Belfast. The building is a rectangular classical composition with a pedimented double-height symmetrical façade and four aisles. A double-height lecture hall is attached to the rear by single-storey canted annexes containing a kitchen and minister's room, added in 1898 by Vincent Craig.

The principal north elevation faces the square and presents a symmetrical classical arrangement in the Corinthian order. Red sandstone ashlar forms the facade, raised on a projecting plinth with continuous string courses at pedestal base level and first floor window sill and head level. The central breakfront features a pair of Giant Order pilasters with Corinthian capitals, supporting an architrave and dentilled pediment with plain modillions and cyma recta cornice. A blank frieze occupies the pediment tympanum, with balustrade parapets and corner dies to either side. Paired six-panel double entrance doors sit centrally within round-arched openings with projecting moulded keyblocks and archivolts. Above the doors is a recessed carved sandstone panel reading 'NELSON MEMORIAL CHURCH'. Three round-arched windows occupy the centre (the central one larger), with square-headed openings with chamfered surrounds positioned on either side above the pedestal base level. First floor openings flank the pedimented breakfront, set above lugged blind panels inset with roundels.

The sanctuary is constructed in English bonded red brick with continuous moulded sill courses. Sanctuary windows are round-arched casements with reinforced glazing over camber-headed windows. Each window bay is framed by a double recessed brick arch with voussoirs and moulded sills.

The east sanctuary elevation contains five windows wide, abutted on the left by a single-storey canted annex; two of its windows are now bricked up, with a timber panelled entrance door with segmental-arched fanlight at the right. The attached lecture hall gable contains three segmental-arched windows with a rendered plinth. A projecting stairwell at the right mirrors the classical entrance façade treatment, with a timber panelled entrance door and blank opening, both with moulded surrounds, accessed by two stone steps. An oculus window with moulded surround and voussoirs surmounts these openings, with a single window at first floor level.

The south sanctuary elevation is abutted by two canted annexes adjoining the lecture hall. The exposed central section features a canted projection with square-headed windows on each face. The lecture hall south elevation is roughcast rendered with a visible corbelled eaves course, five windows wide, each separated by rendered angle buttresses with offsets and weathering. These windows are modern uPVC replacements.

The west sanctuary elevation contains five windows wide, abutted on the right by a single-storey canted annex with segmental-arched timber sashes at centre and right, and a timber panelled entrance door with segmental-arched fanlight at left. The lecture hall gable is abutted centrally by a lean-to porch containing double timber panelled doors within a segmental-arched moulded opening, surmounted by a round-arched opening now boarded with hood mould, with a single window at left. The nave is abutted on the left by a projecting stairwell detailed as the east elevation.

The roof is pitched natural slate with blue and black clay ridge tiles, lead valleys, and replacement uPVC ogee rainwater goods on a corbelled brick eaves course. A raised curved parapet wall runs along the south elevation with sandstone coping.

The church grounds are bounded to the west and north by mild steel railings on a brick plinth wall, with a paved walkway around the building. Car parking is located at the south, accessed by mild steel gates. The site is bounded by terraced housing at the east and south.