Restoration
The area of the city around Saint Malachy's has been dramatically developed in the last number of years. That, and its age, have led to the deterioration in the condition of the brickwork which has meant that a full scale Restoration Programme began in January 2008 and was completed in 2009 at a cost of £3,500,000. The interior of the Church has also been restored. The ornate stencilling around the Sanctuary, painted over in the 1950s, was restored as were the Altar Rails and the intricate mosaic floor. The Solemn Re-Opening and Dedication of the Altar was celebrated on March 29, 2009 by the Bishop of Down and Connor Dr Noel Treanor in the presence of the Bishop Emeritus Dr Patrick Walsh.
This was the first time that Saint Malachy's had been closed for an extended period since the Church was opened in 1844. Although the Church suffered a great deal of damage during the Second World War it was still kept open by doing the work in stages, sometimes with half the Church closed off.
Read more about this topic: Saint Malachy's Church, Belfast
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