---
title: "First Church, Belfast"
description: "Located in Belfast, County Antrim. Built 1781–83; façade extended 1833; rear 1906–07. Grade A. Neo-classical, elliptical plan style."
category: "Church"
tags: ["Church","Presbyterian Non-Subscribing","County Antrim","Belfast","Grade A","Unitarian","Neo-classical"]
canonical: "https://thebritishgazette.com/post/belfast-first-church"
pubDate: "2026-09-06T01:16:54.218Z"
dateModified: "2026-09-07T17:49:40.849Z"
location: "Belfast, County Antrim"
country: "Northern Ireland"
county: "County Antrim"
town: "Belfast"
address: "Rosemary Street, Belfast, County Antrim, BT1 1QB"
postcode: "BT1 1QB"
built: "1781–83; façade extended 1833; rear 1906–07"
architect: "Roger Mulholland; Young and Mackenzie (1906–07 rear)"
denomination: "Presbyterian Non-Subscribing"
grade: "A"
style: "Neo-classical, elliptical plan"
materials: "Buff-pink sandstone, much of it now plastered"
website: "https://www.firstchurchbelfast.org.uk/"
openingHours: "Open most days 10am to 4pm."
gridReference: "J 338 744"
---

# First Church, Belfast

First Presbyterian Church (Non-Subscribing) on Rosemary Street, Belfast, is a Grade A listed meeting house of a congregation established in 1644. It is Unitarian and Non-subscribing in tradition, and the oldest surviving place of worship in the city.

## Overview

The present church was built in 1781–83 to designs by Roger Mulholland on an elliptical plan for the congregation of Dr William Crombie, and opened on 1 June 1783, replacing an earlier meeting house on the site. Francis Hiorne of Warwick may have contributed to the interior pew layout. John Wesley preached here in 1789. Rev. Samuel Haliday refused the Westminster Confession in 1719; the church has been non-subscribing since that time. Young and Mackenzie extended the rear in 1906–07. The building is Northern Ireland listed building HB26/50/054 (Grade A). Listing URLs for Northern Ireland are not used in the Gazette list-entry field. The congregation has included members of the Harland family and Thomas Andrews of Harland and Wolff.

## Further Information

- [First Church Belfast](https://www.firstchurchbelfast.org.uk/)
- Northern Ireland listed building HB26/50/054 (Grade A)
- [Dictionary of Irish Architects / NI Buildings Database](https://apps.communities-ni.gov.uk/Buildings/buildview.aspx?id=4224&js=true)