There are two side altars in the Church, on either side of the sanctuary.  One is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the other to Saint Joseph.  The Church also has statues of the Sacred Heart, Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Anthony of Padua, Saint Therese of Lisieux, Saint Philomena, Saint Malachy himself, and Saint Benedict Joseph Labre, known as “The Ragged Saint”.
Saint Benedict Joseph LabreSaint Benedict Joseph was born on 26th March 1748 in France.  He tried to join the Trappists, Carthusians and Cistercians, but was rejected by them all.  He spent years wandering Europe, before coming to Rome.  Whilst in Rome, he would go into a Church and pray for many hours on end in front of the Blessed Sacrament during the Forty Hours of Adoration.  He died in Rome on the 17th April 1783 and on the 8th December 1881, he was canonised by Pope Leo XIII.  Near to Saint Malachy’s Church was the old Employment Office and many people would stop by at Saint Benedict Joseph’s shrine to say a prayer and light a candle in the hope of finding work.

The original bell of the Church cracked in 1845, soon after the opening of the Church.  It was replaced in 1868 and is the largest bell in Belfast.  The bell was silenced for a while, then later it was coated in felt to muffle it slightly.  The legend is that it was too loud and its peal sent shock waves which interfered with the distilling of whiskey in the Dunville Distillery, located near the Church but now long gone.  The bell still calls the people to Mass and to prayer every day of the week.

Restoration work undertaken in 2008 cost £3.5m.  The new furnishings include an Altar, Celebrant’s Chair and Baptismal Font.  These were all carved from Portuguese limestone.  The pews and floor of the Church, along with the shrines to the saints, were also replaced during the restoration project.  The statues of Our Lady and Saint Joseph, on either side of the sanctuary, are original to 1844.  These were removed from the church in the 1950s and have now been fully restored.
Since the restoration work was completed, the Church has received a number of architectural awards.  These can be viewed on entering the Church on the left hand side of the entrance porch.  The enormous investment in Saint Malachy’s Church has ensured that it will remain a fitting place for the worship of God for generations to come.

The organ was made and built by the famous Telford family from Dublin and it is considered to be one of the finest and most important organs in Ulster.  If funds were to become available, this organ could be restored to its former glory.

During the Second World War Saint Malachy’s was damaged during the Blitz by the German Luftwaffe.  In one raid, nearly all the windows were blown out.  The frames had been carved from solid oak but, because of the war and rationing, it was impossible to replace them with wood.  As an alternative the new window frames were made of pre-cast stone.  At the time of the restoration work 2008/9, the windows were refitted into oak frames.
Saint Malachy’s Church and the City of Belfast have been admired by many people over the years.  It has been called ‘the finest late Georgian edifice in the city’.  It’s unique décor, inside and outside, makes Saint Malachy’s Church a ‘must see’ for tourists to the city.  In recent times Belfast City Council have erected signs leading to the Church and outside the front gate.

In the silence, savour the gift of this moment. Every place of worship reminds us that God is near to us.  Its beauty and grandeur reflect the beauty and grandeur of God who dwells among us and constantly seeks to attract out attention.  As a place of worship, St Malachy’s Church has always been a sign of God’s faithful presence for all the people of the city, regardless of race, colour or creed.