VIDEO: Belfast church re-opens after double arson attack

By Q Radio news

A Belfast church targeted in a double arson attack almost two years ago will reopen this evening.

Saintfield Road Presbyterian Church was extensively damaged back in July 2016 when vandals targeted the building just days apart.

At the time there was cross-community condemnation with First Minister Arlene Foster describing it as a "senseless hate crime".

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said he was disgusted by the attack and that he hoped the criminals responsible could be arrested.

In the intervening months the church has undergone an extensive refurbishment programme.

(The Rev. Alistair Bill inside the newly refurbished Saintfield Road Presbyterian Church, Belfast)

This evening a special service of thanksgiving will take place attended by the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, local neighbouring churches, civic and community representatives.

The church in south Belfast has a congregation of around 700 people and has been at the heart of the local community since it began in 1960.

Used by a variety of church-based and community run organisations throughout the week, in July 2016 the church complex suffered two devastating arson attacks that resulted in the main church building and halls being out of action for a significant period of time.

The Rev. Alistair Bill, minister of Saintfield Road Presbyterian, explained that during this time the church had to meet in a variety of other locations within the community:

(The interior of the newly refurbished Saintfield Road, Presbyterian Church, Belfast)

“After the church was attacked, we were inundated with messages of support from across the community and offers of practical help, so many in fact we couldn’t take them all up. We were really heartened to see that our congregation was seen as being at the heart of the local community.

“It has been a testing time and a time of renewal in many ways. Over the past 22 months we have been heartened on our journey by a piece of scripture found in Genesis 50 verse 20, where Joseph is saying to his brothers, “ ‘You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good…” What happened that July night was harmful, but it didn’t end in the destruction of our church and the scattering of God’s people. It was the start of a new journey, which is why we have called our service tonight ‘Celebration on the Journey’ and I want to thank everyone who has helped us and supported us on that journey,” Alistair Bill said.

The fire and soot damage required the main church building to be stripped back to its core. This, however, gave the leadership team an opportunity to think more creatively about the church and how it could become more community focused. This entailed a radical change to the interior of the building, designing a space that was bright, modern, comfortable and flexible.

“We decided to turn the inside of the church around 180 degrees, removing the balcony and making a fully accessible, a space that could be used for events by others within the community and not just for Sunday worship. We also put in a wider platform and upgraded the facilities, like our audio visual system,” Rev. Alistair Bill said.