’Church on a boat’ edges closer to becoming reality
The Dock at the Titanic Quarter has celebrated its 2nd birthday with news of the vessel they hope will become home to ‘church on a boat’.
The Arctic Penguin is currently moored at Inveraray Pier in Scotland and until recently was home to a Maritime Museum. The vessel is 100 ft long and 100 years old and was built in Dublin for use as a light ship.
She‘s for sale for £160,000 and The Dock team estimate that it will take another £160,000 to repair, refit and relocate her to the Abercorn Basin. It’s planned that the refurbished boat will house a coffee shop, worship space, meeting rooms and offices. Once moored, The Dock vision is that this truly shared church will become a focal point for the community of residents, workers, students and tourists filling this exciting new part of Belfast.
Chaplain to the Titanic Quarter, Revd Chris Bennett, launched the capital fundraising campaign for the boat purchase on The Dock’s 2nd anniversary party. His goal is to bring the Arctic Penguin to Belfast by the 100th anniversary of RMS Titanic’s maiden voyage in April 2012 when Titanic Belfast will open.
Watch a video of the visit to Arctic Penguin on the pulldown menu on our homepage.
Chris also announced that Tyrone Productions has been commissioned by UTV to make a documentary about The Dock Church. Speaking about the project the producer, Patricia Moore, said, “A few years ago I don’t think anyone would have believed that this could have happened in Northern Ireland, especially in recent years. What Chris is trying to do will impact on the lives and the future of an awful lot of people in the community and that can only be a good thing.”
The documentary makers will be following the progress of The Dock over the next few crucial months. The finished film is expected to be broadcast on UTV sometime in autumn 2012.
See a Flickr gallery of the 2nd birthday celebrations here.
Get in touch with The Dock through the website.