MASSES will not be celebrated at the oldest Catholic Church in Belfast for a month from Monday and will instead shift to a nearby building as extensive restoration work at the church continues.
St Mary's, in Chapel Lane in the city centre, where Mass was first celebrated in 1784, has been undergoing both external and internal restoration since May.
Masses have been being celebrated as normal at the church, but that will change from Monday.
In a message to parishioners in the weekly bulletin, the parish administrator, Fr James Boyle, wrote: "On Monday July 17 9am Mass will be in the church. The 1pm Mass and all Masses after that for about four weeks will be said daily at Living Youth."
The Living Youth building, beside the church in Chapel Lane, was the venue for Mass during the first phase of development work in 2014.
Fr Boyle added: "However, it will still be possible to enter the church to pray, to light candles, and to put your usual donations in the boxes of your preference. This will be a possibility for most of the four weeks of closure. Maybe there will be a few days of total closure."
The work includes the complete replacement of the main roof coverings and the repairing and re-pointing of walls and stonework, while new paving is being installed in the grotto area, which is dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes.
In a previous message to parishioners in May, Fr Boyle had said that the renovation work, expected to total more than £300,000, is due to be completed by Friday August 18.
