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.