Worldwide recognised Belfast listed building to be secured – Attwood

Carlisle Memorial Methodist Church, Belfast, only one of three buildings in Northern Ireland on the World Monument Watch List will have its future secured.

Environment Minister Alex Attwood has pledged 400,000 to secure this iconic North Belfast building, situated at Carlisle Circus.

The World Monuments Fund in 2010 recognised it as one of the 100 most endangered historic buildings in the world.

Other buildings on the World Monument Watch List include the Taj Mahal, and the Great Wall of China.

Carlisle Memorial has been closed as a church since 1982. It has been lying empty since the late 80s and is in a critical condition.

Making the announcement Alex Attwood said: Carlisle Memorial Methodist Church is one of Belfasts best known listed buildings and is a hugely important landmark at the entrance to West and North Belfast from the city centre. This funding will help secure its future and, following its conservation and regeneration, will be a great opportunity to both revitalise and provide a significant economic boost for the area. What I and DOE is about, is making Northern Ireland a better place to live, work and invest and this will certainly help to do that.

While it is not economically feasible to save every historic building, it is vital that we do as much as we can to preserve our rich past for future generations. Carlisle memorial is a jewel in our historical crown and after it’s conservation, it will have a great beneficial impact for the economy, tourism and for health and well being. Why shouldnt the many tourists who visit our shores every year, flock to it as they do to our other historic sites in turn revitalising the area as a gateway to visiting north and west Belfast.

A spokesman for Belfast Building Preservation Trust said: Belfast Buildings Preservation Trust is delighted to receive this support from the Department of the Environment. Carlisle Memorial Church was Watch Listed by the World Monuments Fund in 2010 as one of the 100 most endangered historic buildings in the world. The Departments support is critical in stabilising and securing the building and allows us valuable time to work towards finding a vibrant and sustainable regeneration solution.

Designed in the Gothic Revival style by noted architect W. H. Lynn and completed in 1875, the church was home to one of the largest Methodist congregations in Belfast. Preserving our built heritage is a key ingredient in Programme for Government.