The bishop of Down and Connor Dr Patrick Walsh has rededicated St Anne’s church in Dunmurry in south Belfast which has undergone extensive refurbishment. St Anne’s had been closed for the last ten months for the facelift which included the installation of a new roof and ceiling, the extension of the entrance area and installation of new wiring, lights and heating.
The sanctuary has also been remodelled with a new altar, tabernacle and baptismal font. The church was completely re-decorated and re-carpeted during the refurbishment.
Bishop Walsh said the rededication of St Anne’s was a “joyful occasion” for everyone involved with the parish and praised parishioners for the sense of community in the area.
“Here in St Anne’s you have, in quite a remarkable way, worked to achieve that” he told the congregation at the rededication, who included Belfast Lord Mayor Jim Rodgers.
“What you have achieved is all the more commendable as yours is an ever-growing parish with parishioners moving in from other parishes, even outside Belfast and I praise you for this”, said Dr Walsh.
He said the history of the parish was a fascinating story and “a fertile ground for historical research”.
“We should all be proud of what we have inherited and be conscious that we are the present guardians of a great tradition”.
Part of St Anne’s was developed out of a former meat store and the area became a parish in its own right in 1985.
But records show there has been a church in the area for nearly 800 years, and indeed St Oliver Plunkett ordained a priest there in 1667.
Parish priest Fr Edward O’Donnell said that the refurbishment of the church has been envisaged for the past five years since serious roof leaks developed. “We decided something needed to be done and thanks to the generosity of the parishioners we were able to do that”.
Architect Paul O’Daly said the new layout of St Anne’s represented “the coming together of many minds”.
Its redevelopment is one of a number of church projects in Belfast.
The Good Shepherd Church on the Ormeau Road also re-opened recently after significant redevelopment.
Meanwhile, the 160-year old St Malachy's Church in Alfred Street closed recently for a refurbishment expected to take almost two years.
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