CLONARD MONASTERY, which played an instrumental role in the peace process, has begun a three-phase multimillion-pound fundraising effort to preserve its century-old church.
The Redemptorist community of priests and brothers are seeking "at least £1 million" (€1.04 million) from the local Falls Road community and a similar amount from further afield to repair the iconic church, near the so-called peace line in west Belfast.
This is urgently needed to replace the leaking roof and to repair crumbling brickwork, works of art and other still-hidden damage thought to have been caused by rainwater. Fr Michael Murtagh, Rector of Clonard, said: "Clonard is nearing its centenary in 2011. Over the past 100 years the church has been subjected to normal wear and tear, and now a number of essential capital improvements costing £1 million are necessary."
He said £300,000 had already been raised "which has allowed us to undertake repairs to the roof - for some time we have been catching water in buckets".
Some urgent work has already been completed and relevant health and safety conditions have been met. Work to the roof, flooring, heating system and electrical wiring is now required in addition to other works on the surrounding grounds. The final phase will cover internal restoration, including the uncovering of a mosaic floor which has been covered by carpet since the 1970s.
The church, like the community it supports, has witnessed the strife of the past century. The Redemptorists believe their ministry excludes no one, and their efforts at reconciliation and mediation have won widespread respect.
The church survived the bombing of Belfast during the second World War. It was used as a shelter by local Catholics from the lower Falls area and by Protestants from Shankill Road.
The area was engulfed by the Troubles after 1969 and it was at Clonard that the first meetings between former SDLP leader John Hume and Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams took place, arranged by Clonard priest Fr Alex Reid.
The church remains one of the busiest in Belfast, with up to 5,000 people per week attending the weekly Novena.
Fr Murtagh said: "All those feet have had their effect on the floor."
The Redemptorist community has links with Protestant denominations, notably Fitzroy Presbyterian church in south Belfast, where former moderator Ken Newell preaches. Donations from these churches have been received. Clonard church is not within the diocese of Down and Connor and is not funded in the same manner as other "parish" churches. Income for the restoration project therefore has to come from the Redemptorist order itself and the congregation it serves.
Fr Murtagh said he is hopeful the project will be completed despite the harsh economic times.
"This church was begun in 1908, and you might not have called it a credit crunch then but there wasn't a lot of money. People built Clonard because of pride, not money.
"I think there is more to life today than money and it's time to focus on the pride of the people again. That's what gives me confidence."