A pensioner is set to walk 25 miles to raise money to restore the former St Joseph's Catholic Church in Sailortown to its former glory.
Benny Hopkins, who was raised in the area will walk from his home in Rathcoole to Shaws Bridge and back to raise much needed funds for the restoration project.
Speaking to Belfast Live, the 87-year-old recalled his life in Sailortown before residents were displaced by the construction of the West Link.
Read more: How 'Ask for Angela' scheme works as it is introduced to Belfast music festival Belsonic BELSONIC
"When I was a kid I went to Sunday School in the building next to the church," he said.
"I lived in Nelson Street and this was all our playground.
"My mother owned a shop which we moved into just before the Second World War and I remember being in bed sleeping and being able to hear the dockers coming down the street in their hobnail boots, coming into the shop and asking for a buttered soda, a feg and a match.
"I am always out walking and last Christmas I did a walk for the foodbank in my own church, the Metropolitan Tabernacle.
"I decided, if I can do that, then I will do a walk for the restoration of this church."
Benny said that he would love to see the Sailortown area return to being a vibrant neighbourhood.
"I would love to see people moving back and somewhere for the kids to play that is off the road," he added.
Benny's walk will coincide with the first day of the Sailortown Festival which will see a number of headline acts including Aoife Scott, Matt McGinn, Wilfie and The Belfast Collective.
Terry McKeown, Project Manager at Sailortown regeneration said when Benny approached them about doing the walk, they were more than grateful that he wanted to get involved.
"Over 5,000 people used to live in this area and we have been campaigning for the restoration of the church since it closed in 2001," she said.
"Up until the start of the coronavirus pandemic we had people praying on the steps as part of the campaign to keep the church going which really started when we invited Fr Des Wilson down to say mass in the street when the church closed.
"The building was derelict until 2017 and we have started a series of interventions to bring it back into use."
Terry added that they plan to fully restore the church and the adjoining parochial house.
"We are located on the Maritime Mile so we are working quite closely with the Maritime Belfast Trust and the Harbour Commissioner to open up the waterfront and that is what this festival is really about."
This is the second year of the Sailortown Festival which brings people together to realise the potential of the area.
"When the motorway was built in the 70s, 5000 people were moved out of the area to the likes of Rathcoole or Turf Lodge and the community was dispersed," Terry added.
"The bishop decided that St Joseph's would be closed and the people felt like the last part of their identity was taken from them."
The community leased the church building from 2008 but had no funds to do anything with it.
"We started out with £200 but thankfully we have got to the stage where we have the church open for meanwhile use," Terry continued.
"These buildings are listed and it is really important that we preserve them as they are part of the fabric of our city."
Tickets for the festival can be purchased here or to donate to Benny's walk, click here.
READ NEXT:
In pictures: Demolition of iconic Co Antrim tower block begins
Phone masts and electric box set alight in Belfast arson spree
AVA Belfast: Behind the scenes look at set up for 2023 dance music festival
Co Down man labelled 'dangerous offender' jailed over stabbing
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
