|
 It
would have been easy to settle for a replica of the previous
St. Bernard's Church. Indeed it was a fine place of worship and
built only ten years previous, however from the outset Father Dan
set himself the mountainous challenge of building something special.
The New Church of St. Bernard was to represent much more. To the
faithful parishoners who have have had to endure much over recent
years, culminating in the destruction of St. Bernard's church, the
new building was to be a sign of hope and renewed faith . To those
that would desecrate a place of worship, the new church design was
to show that evil will never triumph.
A design competition
held to seek new ideas
was won by Dempsey
Architects with a concept which met the requirements of liturgy,
environment and history.
Set into the side of a
hill and commanding views over Belfast Lough, the design of the new
church was influenced by both nature and chronicle. The church was
built using natural materials where possible. The use of natural
stone
in Irish
buildings
conjures
up images of raths and crannogs and this became a starting point
from which flowed the embracing wall to protect the main church.
Using Donegal stone walls, with their small openings |
