Search churches in Belfast
Find churches across Belfast and the surrounding area.
Belfast's landmark churches
- St Anne's Cathedral (Belfast Cathedral): the Church of Ireland cathedral in the Cathedral Quarter, a broad Romanesque basilica begun in 1899, with the slender Spire of Hope rising from its roof. Its Black Santa Christmas sit-out for charity is a beloved city tradition.
- St Peter's Cathedral: the Catholic cathedral off the Falls Road, its twin spires a landmark of west Belfast since 1866.
- Clonard Monastery: the Redemptorist church whose annual novena draws tens of thousands, and whose quiet peace-making between communities became part of the story of the Good Friday Agreement.
- Sinclair Seamen's Presbyterian Church: near the docks, famous for its nautical interior complete with ship's wheel and binnacle, a one-off in Irish church life.
- Fitzroy Presbyterian and Fisherwick Presbyterian: two of the best-known congregations of Belfast's largest Protestant tradition, close to Queen's University.
A city of many congregations
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland has its headquarters in Belfast and remains the largest Protestant denomination, followed by the Church of Ireland and a historically strong Methodist community. Catholic parish life is equally deep, from St Malachy's ornate city-centre church to the parishes of west and north Belfast. Beyond the four historic traditions, Belfast has a striking number of Baptist, Free Presbyterian, Elim Pentecostal and independent evangelical congregations, and mission halls still dot the residential streets. Newer arrivals have added Chinese, African, Polish and Romanian churches, while congregations around Queen's serve a large student population. Cross-community work, from prayer breakfasts to shared youth projects, is a quiet but real feature of church life here.
Browse Belfast churches in the directory
See every church we list in Belfast, or explore the wider area, including Lisburn, Carrickfergus and Ballymena, on our County Antrim page.
Practical notes for visitors
- Sunday morning services usually begin at 10.30am or 11am, and evening services at 6.30pm or 7pm remain common in Belfast, unlike much of Britain.
- St Anne's is open to visitors daily; Clonard and St Peter's welcome visitors outside Mass times.
- The Cathedral Quarter, St Malachy's and the university churches are all walkable from the city centre; Glider buses serve the Falls and Newtownards Roads.
- Visitors are received warmly across every tradition; if in doubt about local custom, simply ask a steward at the door.
Frequently asked questions
Is church attendance really higher in Belfast?
Yes. Northern Ireland has the highest rates of regular worship in the UK by a clear margin, and it shows in Belfast's full car parks on a Sunday morning and the survival of evening services across the city.
Can visitors attend the Clonard novena?
Everyone is welcome. The nine days of the Solemn Novena each June fill the church many times a day, with overflow crowds outside, and people of all backgrounds attend.