In the year 1867 the Rev. John Bristow was faced with the problem of either embarking on the task of enlarging his own Church of Knockbreda, or having another built, so increasingly populated was the district becoming. He came to the conclusion that the best way to meet the situation was to erect another Church in the adjoining Ballynafeigh, which was within his own parish. In June 1871, he issued an appeal, as a result of which £1584 was received including a grant of £600 from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. A month later the foundation stone was laid by Mr. James Bristow, the brother of the Rector of Knockbreda, who had contributed £100 to the appeal.
The site was a gift from Mr. William Fitzpatrick a builder with offices in Great Victoria street. He and his brother were the contractors for the original building costing £2500 and designed to seat between 300 and 400. Built to the design of Mr. Thomas Drew (Dublin), the bell tower was outside the contract price and built freely by the Fitzpatricks who became perhaps the most generous benefactors St. Jude’s has ever known. Mr. William Fitzpatrick also built St. Jude’s School (now demolished) on the Ormeau Road which opened on June 2 1884.
The Rev. John McNeice, M.A. curate of the Mariner’s Church, Belfast, became the first incumbent and the first service was held on Sunday, March 30, 1873. Unusually, the Church was not consecrated until just over 4 months later - Thursday, August 7, 1873 - by the then Bishop Rt. Rev. Robert Knox D.D.
Within 26 years the attendance was such that two extensions were required to accommodate those attending – one in 1889 and a second in 1899. An organ was added with the first extension in 1889.
The above information and much more can be found in the Parish History, written and researched by Mr. Norman McCarter for the Church’s centenary in 1973
