The Commons

You have arrived at The Commons blog – a place to share the journey

Click on the link below to check out what is happening this month at The Commons.

JANUARY 2026

  • Behind those doors

    You can be forgiven for thinking that there is a lot of finger drumming going on while we wait for the final go ahead for work to start in the building. But the truth is far from that. Here are just some of the wonderful people who are keeping the building alive with a variety of community activities throughout each month.

    Ormeau Community Choir has had its home in The Commons since 2017. On a Monday morning the joyful sound of over 100 voices, led by Una, beautifully permeates the building, creating warm hearts in everyone, singer and listener alike. The choir reach out and perform in concerts far and wide throughout the year. 

    By Monday afternoon, the harmonies have been replaced by Ormeau Ukuleles and Maggie takes the lead in this uptempo, fun group which has grown from half a dozen members to 50 plus over the last few years. They also take their music out of The Commons, choosing to play in mostly community and charity events.

    Tuesday is bowls. This group was formed many years ago and has members from the Ballynafeigh congregation and the local community.

    On Thursday, the main hall is transformed, tables are laid and Jill is busy cooking in the kitchen for the weekly community meal. Her creativity and resourcefulness ensures around 100 meals are served each week with local volunteer groups from the Methodist congregations, other churches and the community choir helping to serve and clear up again at the end of the evening. It’s a wonderful event that brings together local residents, families, people on their own, young and older in an embracing hour of sharing of hearts and lives.

    Also on a Thursday, Una and Anne lead a children’s choir with local young people coming together to sing and have fun and most recently they had the amazing opportunity to perform with the Ulster Orchestra.

    After all the busyness of the week, what could be better than to come along on a Friday morning and stretch out all those tired muscles in John’s Pilates class.

    From time to time, Dominic and the Ormeau Community Cinema, use the sanctuary to host showings of contemporary, relevant and meaningful movies. Dominic also has a passion for bringing people together to play board games, building friendships and community in a very relaxed, fun way. Keep your eyes peeled for more news on this as the building work progresses.

    As well as being part of the community meal team on a Thursday, Pauline also hosts a Sew-cial Circle in The Commons. On the first Saturday of each month the sounds of knitting needles and sewing machines, story telling and laughter combine as members gather. More often than not Pauline has a creative project for us. The biggest of these has been the sewing and stuffing of over 600 Hearts for the Community which have been posted through the doors of our neighbours in the streets around The Commons. These pretty hearts are invitations to the community meal on Thursdays. 

    The Commons is also home to the TOV community. This is a community of local Christians living out their faith through rhythms of prayer and hospitality. David, Jill and Karen are part of this group and will strengthen this act of hospitality as they eventually live in The Commons as community hosts.

    Other regular events are happening in this community space already from youth groups to newcomer welcome lunches, women’s groups and recovery support groups. There are so many opportunities to gather with others from the local community and find a sense of connection. Some of these events will relocate temporarily during the refurbishment, so listen out for more information about those moves when the time comes.

    As you can see, there is no finger-drumming, no thumb-twiddling and no watching the pot. The Commons is already full of vibrant activity and people with heaps of passion and more plans for creative, inclusive projects reaching into the local Ormeau Community as the refurbishment continues. 

  • There’s a donkey in the room

    Have you ever had the experience of being transported back in time as you sit in an old church and let your imagination run away with you? Your eyes take in the design that an architect, long gone now, dreamed about and brought into being. The shapes, the patterns, the variety of materials all carefully planned and chosen. You can smell the richness of aged wood and the mustiness of ancient fabrics. On your skin you can feel the coldness, trapped inside the stone walls and seeping out to reach you. Your ears are aware of the echo of sounds, travelling through the expanse of space, reaching up into vaulted ceilings.

    All these sensory experiences enable you to imagine the people who have walked through the doors of the building. To imagine the weddings, the christenings, the sermons, the hymns, the friendly chatter and the laughter of children. If you get a chance, I would encourage you to take a moment in the sanctuary of the old Ballynafeigh Methodist Church and let your senses be overtaken and your imagination awakened.

    Recently I had a wonderful opportunity to spend some time with two couples who have been a part of the story of Ballynafeigh Methodist Church for over 60 years. Ian and Anne Wood met as teenagers on the Ormeau Road and were married in Ballynafeigh where Anne was already part of the congregation. In May this year they will celebrate their Diamond Anniversary. Their daughters were christened in Ballynafeigh and were involved with Brownies and Girl Guides. They recall busy Sundays when there were 4 opportunities to attend church! Sunday school at 10.30am, 11.30am morning service, 3pm Sunday school again and then a service later in the evening when the ground floor and the balcony would be packed with people.

    Green Church was fondly remembered by Ian. The hall at the back of the building with its green walls – hence the name – would be filled with teenagers from near and far. A stage was constructed from pallets, lights were hung to create a fun atmosphere and guitarists shared their music with the crowd. The festivities went up a gear on New Year’s Eve when barn dances were part of the celebrations.

    Marian Blakley has memories of weekends spent with her Granny on Sunnyside Street. Ballynafeigh Methodist Church was just a dander up the main road and Marian, aged 13 would attend wearing a big hat with a feather in it. She and Chic were married in the church in 1978 and their children were also busily involved with Brownies, Guides and Boys Brigade.

    Marian emphasised the fondness that people held and still hold for the church at Ballynafeigh. Her aunt and uncle emigrated to America many years ago but always considered the Ballynafeigh church their spiritual home. When they passed away, their ashes were returned to Belfast and a service of blessing was held in the sanctuary.

    There is history and story in every part of the building and even its contents. The communion table and other church furniture were given in donation to the church and congregation. A plaque on the pulpit remembers Rev Charles Keys who died while preaching from the pulpit.

    And what about that donkey? Ian and Anne’s children, and now grandchildren too, were mesmerised by the shape of this long-eared creature, found in the grain of the wood in the back of one of the pews.

    So if you do take a few moments in the sanctuary to sit in silence and let your senses travel back in time, don’t leave until you’ve found the donkey in the room.

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