St Peter’s was the first Catholic Church in Belfast to be built in the Gothic style and its commanding position made it a conspicuous landmark on the southern and western approaches to the city.

Its impressive features included two great towers, five doorways, two porch entrances and a sculpture depicting the liberation of St Peter from prison (Acts 12:1-11)

The church was built of Scrabo stone. Apart from a series of triple-lighted windows, lighting the aisles, the western gable was illuminated by a large wheeled window.

The High Altar was described by a contemporary observer as ‘a magnificent work of art’ with the tabernacle ‘surmounted by a crocketed spire of sculptured Caen stone raising to the height of thirty three feet from the ground.

The twin spires, the distinctive feature of the church, was added in 1886. They were designed by Mortimer Thompson from Killyleagh, Co. Down.