St. Joe’s Story

For more information see:Sailortown Regeneration

St Joseph’s is a space for all the community in the heart of Belfast Docks.

It has recently undergone a programme of repairs to rescue it from near dereliction.

Now open for meanwhile use it is working towards fully restoring this Grade B+ listed building to bring it back to its former glory.

Our mission is to collate and offer collaborative activities for young people, families, and adults and to host an eclectic programme of local music, arts, and performances.

St Joseph’s stood proudly on Belfast Docks for generations. Its steeple was lit by a beacon acting as the first and last sight of home for travellers. Now enclosed on either side by tall buildings it is a testament to the resilience of the Sailortown people who fought for over 20 years to keep its heritage alive.

St Joseph’s was the epicentre of an inner city community, servicing the religious needs of a large congregation of Docks families, workers, and sailors.

Now deconsecrated, it is no longer a holy space but will continue to serve as a welcoming place for all from Cradle to Grave. Contained within its walls are the memories and stories of a Belfast community who lived, laughed, loved, and cried in Sailortown’s cobbled streets.

Sailortown sits on the edge of Belfast City Centre, a once thriving neighbourhood area that was decimated by the building of the inner city urban motorway.

Not defined by rigid geographical boundaries it exists as a place betwixt and between the passages of life and time.

— St. Joe’s