On Monday, September 23 Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon will preside at the dedication of the 122-year-old St Francis of Assisi RC Church, Belmont at 5 p.m. Parishioners will be happy to return and worship in the familiar sacred space which has been shut for 14 years.

Structural issues with the ancient building caused it to be closed in 2010 for restoration. Fundraising to raise millions for the project took time and, in the interim, a pastoral centre was constructed for Masses and other parish gatherings.

Underlying the thrust to restore the church is the pride of the St Francis parishioners, residents of Belmont committed to preserving and celebrating the rich heritage of their community, as well as sharing their unique energy and character with the national community at home and abroad.

St Francis has been an important foundation and nurturing environment for several generations of Belmont families and continues to play a vital role in the community.

The Catholic News was told the objectives of the restoration was “to rebuild and restore the spirit, heart and beauty of Belmont, the first urban district of the Capital city” and “to revitalise the spirit of community collaboration to effectively contribute to sustainable development”.

The St Francis building committee and fundraising committee have engaged in fundraising for the past ten years. The project was divided into phases. Phase 1 began September 2021 and cost TT$4.5 million; Phase 2 started in the first quarter 2023 at a cost of approximately TT$4.5 million.

Phase 1 entailed emergency work to deal with all issues affecting the church including leaks and removing Portland cement over the original lime mortar. Other work included roof restoration using most of the original timber, and repairs to stained glass. Phase 2 focused on restoring the exterior wall and repainting the walls.

The church was blessed by Archbishop Patrick Vincent Flood on May 25, 1902. It was designed by the Irish architect George Coppinger Ashlin, a renowned architect who designed churches and cathedrals, and built by George Brown, supervised by Fr Vincent Sutherland OP, the Dominican Vicar General.

St Francis is in an Irish Romanesque style with rounded arches and windows, many pillared doorways, and a round tower. The impressive walls were made

from local limestone, quarried from the Laventille quarry and hand carved into blocks that are two and a half feet thick.

The National Trust in October 2019 listed St Francis as a National Heritage building.