Three Belfast-based conservation organisations have joined together to oppose a major office and residential development which they claim would "dwarf" the listed May Street Presbyterian church, dating from 1829, in the middle of the city.
The Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, Belfast Civic Trust and Belfast Buildings Preservation Trust say the scheme by Barnabas Ventures would "destroy the integrity" of the building, which is located in a conservation area.
The proposals involve demolition of the adjoining church hall, removal of part of the roof of the church and the erection of a six-storey building encompassing it. The church would be flanked by a 19-storey tower of offices and apartments.
Calling for the scheme to be rejected, the three heritage organisations said: "These proposals would encase and dwarf one of the city's last remaining classical churches and blatantly ignore listed building and conservation area policy".
But Mark Finlay, managing director of Barnabas Ventures, accused opponents of the scheme of taking a "narrow view of conservation", which failed to give credit for its many "positive aspects", including a full restoration of the church.
According to its website, Barnabas seeks "to develop 'property with a purpose' and typically undertakes projects that . . . add value to the built environment", in line with the Biblical text: "Looking forward to the City with foundations whose architect and builder is God".
In the case of May Street Presbyterian Church, Mr Finlay said Barnabas was "seeking to restore an important historic building in the centre of Belfast, see it maintained as a place of worship but equally turned into a vibrant community venue".
Its first minister was Rev Henry Cooke, a leading opponent of Daniel O'Connell and "arguably the founder of Ulster Unionism", as Mr Finlay said, "and it was built on a patch of ground that was bought from the family of Henry Joy McCracken".
He said Barnabas had been attracted to the May Street project by the history and heritage of the church and "the valuable work it is doing at the moment in reaching out to the community", especially people with personal crises.
Mr Finlay stressed that the scheme has the "full support" of the present minister, Rev Keith Drury, and the congregation because they saw it as "the only viable way of retaining this historic church and its mission in the heart of the city".
Designed by Lisburn architects Knox and Clayton, the scheme would restore the stained glass windows on either side of the church, which face a triple-height atrium space on one side and the street on the other. Its neo-classical facade would not be affected.
