Background, History, Architecture and Visitor Exhibition
The first home for the central administration of the Church was situated in Belfast’s May Street in what is now Ross’s auction house.
Whilst the May Street site provided office accommodation, it was recognised that there was a need for an Assembly Hall and after much discussion by a number of committees over several years, the congregation of Fisherwick Presbyterian Church agreed to vacate their site in order to build what is now Assembly Buildings at a cost £74,000.
Designed by Young & Mackenzie in the architectural style of a Scottish baronial castle, the gothic structure boasts a 40m high clock tower, a bell tower housing Belfast’s only operational peal of 12 bells, which can chime hymns and carols on the hour. Built in local Scrabo stone by builder Robert Corry, Assembly Buildings was officially opened at Fisherwick Place in Belfast city centre by The Duke of Argyll, the brother-in-law of King Edward VII, at the start of the 1905 General Assembly Week that June.
For almost 80 years the Assembly Buildings, or Church House, as it was then known, operated entirely as the headquarters and General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. In 1992, however, after its first significant refurbishment, the building took on a commercial persona, providing both a retail facility on the ground floor and offering the grand Main Hall as an outside conference venue.
Within its unique setting, following further refurbishment in 2010 and redevelopment in 2017 / 2018, the conferencing facilities were upgraded and expanded. With the 1,150-seater Assembly Hall at its heart, along with the Board Room, Minor Hall and existing meeting rooms, the new ground floor Conference Room, Exhibition Centre and multiple syndicate rooms, all with state-of-the-art technology and Wi-Fi throughout, make the Assembly Buildings Conference Centre one of the most versatile facilities of its kind in Belfast
Click here to find out more information on the conference centre facilities at Assembly Buildings.
Visitor exhibition
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s visitor exhibition opened in 2019 and sets out the rich history of the denomination, its place within Presbyterianism and its contribution to and place in Irish society.
From the arrival of Scottish Presbyterians in Ulster some 400 years ago, to the founding of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland in 1840, across different stand-alone interpretive themed panels and interactive exhibits, visitors can walk through a brief history of Presbyterianism on the island.
With opportunities to discover the work, mission and ministry of the Church today, there is also information on some of the influential men and women who have left their mark on Irish Presbyterianism, a look at the democratic nature of Presbyterian church government and religious and political controversies, past and present.
Over 30 special artefacts can be viewed, many of which have been loaned by the Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland. There are also interactive exhibits and audio-visual installations. These enable visitors to locate the denomination’s 500-plus congregations across Ireland, interact with a 19th century map of Presbyterians in Ireland and view short films on the history, life and work of the Church.
The special artefacts include an iron wall-mounted baptism font and pewter communion ware, an early ‘pocket sized’ 1655 copy of the King James Bible, a New Testament and a Book of Psalms in Irish.
There are also some smaller items of interest on display such as communion tokens, a pulpit timer and other pieces that tell their own stories – like the imperial Chinese travel document issued to a Presbyterian missionary traveling to Manchuria. Outside of the General Assembly, which takes place in the first week in June each year, the Moderator’s 1905 Chair is also on display.
Smaller panels tell the story of some prominent Irish Presbyterian ministers who had a considerable impact on the history of North America and the United States. There is also a reproduction of the 1718 Shute Petition from over 300 ‘inhabitants of the North of Ireland’ to the Governor of Massachusetts and New Hampshire indicating their willingness to emigrate.
The exhibition is free and is open Monday to Friday 9am-5pm, excluding public and bank holidays when the building is closed.
You can read about the official opening of the Visitor Exhibition here.
Carrickfergus Window
This impressive masterpiece is located on the first floor at the main entrance to the Assembly Hall. It was a gift donated by the Presbytery of Carrickfergus in 1992 to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the ‘birth’ of Presbyterianism in Ireland in 1642.
The window depicts a ship arriving from Scotland at Carrickfergus which is represented by the Castle built there in the 11th century. It is believed that the oldest Presbyterian congregation is that of Ballycarry founded in 1613.
Assembly Hall
The Assembly Halls seats 1,150 and after the refurbishment that was completed in 2011, it is fully equipped with air conditioning and Wi-Fi.
The organ was installed in 1906 and was a gift from William Cuthbert. It has 4,500 pipes ranging in size from 16ft to ¾inch and weighs 10 tons.
At either side of the organ loft at the front of the auditorium are two stained glass windows. The one on the left depicts four of Jesus Parables; The Prodigal Son, The Wise Virgins, The Talents and the Good Samaritan. The window on the right tells the story of Moses, from his being found in the bulrushes, meeting with God at the burning bush, receiving the Ten Commandments and becoming the leader of the children of Israel. The Burning Bush is the symbol used to represent the Presbyterian Church.
These special windows were removed for safe keeping at the height of The Troubles in Belfast and were only replaced in 1992.
Assembly Room – Rosemary Street Windows
Rosemary Street Presbyterian Church was destroyed in the Blitz in 1941 and the surviving stained glass windows were stored away and eventually fitted in the first floor Assembly Room in 1991. The congregation moved to the site on the North Circular Road having united with Ekenhead to form Rosemary Presbyterian Church.
These windows are the work of Wilhelmina Geddes, a leading stained glass artist from Co. Leitrim whose work included windows in Canada, New Zealand and the UK.
One window depicts the Great Commission showing Jesus and His 11 disciples. This is the McCaughey Window, which was unveiled by Mrs. Mary Park as a schoolgirl in memory of her grandfather who had a great interest in overseas missions, especially China.
The second window depicts Pilgrim’s Progress looking towards the celestial city also known as the Sinclair Window, a memorial to John Sinclair who was a driving force in the erection of Assembly Buildings and also in the building of the War Memorial Building in Howard Street.
Weir Chapel
This special room on the second floor is used for weekly staff worship and was the gift of the Very Rev Dr Jack Weir as a memorial to his parents, who were missionaries in China, as well as to many other missionaries who have served the Presbyterian Church overseas.
The stained glass windows depict the sea of life with a ship sailing out with the message of the gospel and a net with a catch of fish. An inscription reads, “Going into all the world with the message of the gospel.”