The All Points Arts team was delighted to have been given access to St. Joseph’s on Princes Dock Street by the Sailortown Regeneration Group – to film performances by Ai Messiah and Gary Lutton.

The building is one of the last remnants of the old historic Sailortown quarter, steeped in history and beautiful to behold both inside and out. The last half a century has seen much of the neighbourhood eradicated or transformed by redevelopment, but Sailortown Regeneration have exciting plans to strengthen once again the bonds of community, with St. Joseph’s at the centre of those plans as a hub for all kinds of activities from live concerts to drop-in, education and children’s activities. The church was closed to worship in 2000 and deconsecrated by the Catholic Church, but has been leased to the group for their plans.

For the All Points Arts team, St Joseph’s biggest strength lay in its ownership by – and commitment to – its community. Exciting times lie ahead.

The ‘Chapel on the Quays’, as it has always been known, was a community resource to thousands of Sailortown worshippers over four generations, and was a beacon of light for nearly as many sailors, since it rose to dominate the dockside skyline exactly 120 years ago last August. Many seafarers have told tales of seeing the shining spire of St. Joseph’s as their last sight of Belfast on the way out of Belfast Lough – and their first sight of the city on their return. Now there are plans to relight that beacon.

Find out more about the St. Joseph’s project at www.sailortownregeneration.com