St Simon's

The parish has an interesting history. A site for St Simon’s Parish Church and school was purchased in 1900 for £829. St Simon’s School opened first, under principal Robert Jefferson, later to become Bishop of Ottowa and Chaplain to HM Governor General of Canada.

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The school was used for Sunday School and worship, but an Iron Church, formerly used in St Donard’s Parish, was erected on the site and opened for worship in August 1911.

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Despite high unemployment, a decision was made to go ahead with the building of a new church, which was then joined to the Iron Church. This was consecrated in June 1924.

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When the 1928 General Synod passed the Belfast Additional Church Act, St Simon’s was the first to benefit with grants totalling £10,481. A nave was built, and the Iron Church was reconstructed on a nearby site to serve as a parish hall. The renovated church could accommodate 500. A little prayer desk and organ originally belonged to the Chapel of the Resurrection at Belfast Castle.

Funds for this latest refurbishment of the church were raised from the sale of the parish hall, which had served uniformed organisations including the Church Lads’ Brigade and Girls’ Friendly Society, Sunday School along with adult organisations such as Mothers’ Union and Ladies Guild, Bowling and Badminton Clubs since the start of World War Two.

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The sale took a number of years to complete, and the hall was finally transferred to its new owner in 2019 for use as a local community hub.