Titanic Quarter - The Great Activity in Belfast History
The Titanic Quarter in Belfast, Northern Ireland is a waterfront regeneration project, including apartments, a riverside entertainment district, and a major Titanic-themed attraction under development on reclaimed land in Belfast Harbour, known until recently as Queen's Island.
The Titanic was called the ship of dreams. A hundred years after it sank, a church in the Belfast dock where the great ship was built has a new dream for a boat that will bring people together and give them new life.
According to Reverend Chris Bennett everyone needs a BHAG. That is a Big Hairy Audacious Goal. The vicar's BHAG is to buy an old boat and launch a church on the same dock where the Titanic was constructed.
When thinking of Titanic Belfast one of the first associations is the The Troubles. The other, in this centenary year, is the tragedy of the Titanic built by the city's men in what is today known as the Titanic Quarters. The sinking of the White Star Line's prized ship on its maiden voyage a hundred years ago and strife in the name of religion have indeed cast long shadows over this down-to-earth city.
However, Belfast is changing and it is the Titanic Quarter which have undergone the greatest change, transforming from a post-industrial area to what Rev Chris calls the heart of the new Belfast.
As chaplain to the Titanic Quarters, he plays a major role in this new development. Together with representatives from other mainstream churches in Northern Ireland, he founded The Dock. The dream of the church group is to buy an old boat based in the Titanic Quarter and revamp it into a community hub and cafe for the whole community. The idea of a chaplaincy centre based on a boat goes along with the idea of creating a space for chaplains to meet and connect in a neutral setting that does not resemble a church building from any denomination.
We step onto neutral waters together.
Rev Chris admits that the challenges are tough. To stay motivated when they meet many people who show resistance towards anything church-related is not easy for the team. The term chaplain has been quite helpful in this regard. Wearing the clerical collar definitely has not, he says emphatically. Another challenge the team has been faced with is to build a church in a rather transient context.
We're not dealing with a parish community, he explains.
People don't move into the Titanic Quarters for life, settle down, start a family and connect to a local church. They are maybe here for a few months, a year or two - or sometimes just a day or two. Although it can become discouraging when long-term relationships and rewards are rare, The Dock Church continues to invest in relationships with the community. With the strapline, "Where once we built ships, today we build communities" as its motto, the team runs regular events such as "Meet the neighbours" to reach out and build lasting relationships.
With the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic at the forefront of everyone's minds, the church made a huge effort to put on events in the last few weeks that would bring people together in commemorating the tragedy sensitively.
The Titanic was called the ship of dreams. A hundred years after it sank, a church in the Belfast dock where the great ship was built has a new dream for a boat that will bring people together and give them new life.
According to Reverend Chris Bennett everyone needs a BHAG. That is a Big Hairy Audacious Goal. The vicar's BHAG is to buy an old boat and launch a church on the same dock where the Titanic was constructed.
When thinking of Titanic Belfast one of the first associations is the The Troubles. The other, in this centenary year, is the tragedy of the Titanic built by the city's men in what is today known as the Titanic Quarters. The sinking of the White Star Line's prized ship on its maiden voyage a hundred years ago and strife in the name of religion have indeed cast long shadows over this down-to-earth city.
However, Belfast is changing and it is the Titanic Quarter which have undergone the greatest change, transforming from a post-industrial area to what Rev Chris calls the heart of the new Belfast.
As chaplain to the Titanic Quarters, he plays a major role in this new development. Together with representatives from other mainstream churches in Northern Ireland, he founded The Dock. The dream of the church group is to buy an old boat based in the Titanic Quarter and revamp it into a community hub and cafe for the whole community. The idea of a chaplaincy centre based on a boat goes along with the idea of creating a space for chaplains to meet and connect in a neutral setting that does not resemble a church building from any denomination.
We step onto neutral waters together.
Rev Chris admits that the challenges are tough. To stay motivated when they meet many people who show resistance towards anything church-related is not easy for the team. The term chaplain has been quite helpful in this regard. Wearing the clerical collar definitely has not, he says emphatically. Another challenge the team has been faced with is to build a church in a rather transient context.
We're not dealing with a parish community, he explains.
People don't move into the Titanic Quarters for life, settle down, start a family and connect to a local church. They are maybe here for a few months, a year or two - or sometimes just a day or two. Although it can become discouraging when long-term relationships and rewards are rare, The Dock Church continues to invest in relationships with the community. With the strapline, "Where once we built ships, today we build communities" as its motto, the team runs regular events such as "Meet the neighbours" to reach out and build lasting relationships.
With the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic at the forefront of everyone's minds, the church made a huge effort to put on events in the last few weeks that would bring people together in commemorating the tragedy sensitively.
Source...