Sinclair Seaman's Presbyterian Church EHOD 2026

Join us this EHOD and enjoy a guided tour or wander around at your leisure. Sinclair Seamen's Presbyterian Church was built in 1856 as a loving memorial to John Sinclair, a Belfast business man and philanthropist. For many years he and his brother Thomas were heavily involved with the Seamens' Christian Friend Society, an interdenominational group, which promoted seamens' physical and spiritual welfare. In 1848, the Society came under control of the presbyterian Church in Ireland and grew into a thriving congregation based in " The Bethel " hall in Pilot Street. With the untimely death of John Sinclair, his family initiated  a movement to have a seamens' church erected in his memory and a more permanent home for the "Bethel" congregation. Large donations from across the religious flowed in and Charles Lanyon, the eminent architect was engaged to design the church. A vacant site at the corner of Corporation Square, near the newly erected Harbour Office was kindly donated by the Harbour Commissioners, and the church was formally opened in October 1857.Built of Scrabo Sandstone, to Venetian design, the church rests on 1000 wooden piles and cost £4,000 to build. Its interior furnishings emphasise links between the congregation and the busy Belfast port. Where would you find  a brass ship's wheel, a brass capstan and a binnacle?  The Ship's bell of HMS Hood, of WW1 vintage is wrung every Sunday to begin worship. How many congregations ask their clergy to occupy a pulpit made of wood from an old wind-jammer by carpenters from Workman Clarks shipyard?