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Holywood (in Latin, Sanctus Boscus) is recognised as an early ecclesiastical site with the first church built in the mid-seventh century, probably by St. Laiseran, a second-generation disciple of St. Comgall in nearby Bangor. While Holywood did not appear to have the significance of Bangor, it did merit an overnight stay by the English King John in 1210. The old Latin name is confirmed by the headstone in Paris of a mathematician Joannes de Sacro Bosco - John of Holywood - whose work included one of the earliest known on arithmetic.
The revived priory church, in Norman architectural style, dates back to the turn of the twelfth century. In 1572 it was burned, along with monasteries in Newtownards, Movilla and Bangor. The next century brought persecutions, Penal Laws and Cromwell to Ireland. Virtually no Catholics lived in Holywood for 150 years. 'One reputed Papist' was recorded in 1744. The novelty of this Catholic, a coachman, apparently brought the local inhabitants to their doors to look in wonder when he first drove through the town. The next recorded celebration of Mass in Holywood was in 1811 by Father Patrick Curran, parish priest of Newtownards and Holywood. Catholic Emancipation finally arrived on St. Patrick's Day when the foundation stone of a new church was laid. This was opened in 1830 on Church View and Holywood became a parish in its own right in 1866. The first parish priest was Father James O'Laverty who later built St. Colmcille's church overlooking Belfast Lough and Cavehill. Striking in white Scrabo and red Dumfries stone and with a pitch pine roof, it was solemnly dedicated on Sunday 14th June 1874, although its bell-tower was not completed until 1891.
The Church of Christ the King in Sydenham, within the boundaries of Holywood parish, was built in 1947 to cater for military families living in the area and for the convenience for some parishioners in Ballyhackamore. By the 1970s civil unrest became part of the way of life in many parts of Belfast, and the Catholic population in East Belfast was to suffer many attacks on their homes and on their churches. A bomb completely destroyed the church of Christ the King in September 1973. Although it was rebuilt and remained in use until 1991, it was then felt that there was no practical use for the building, which was sold and became a home for the elderly.
In the early hours of 24th August 1989 the parish church of St. Colmcille's was itself destroyed by a malicious fire. Only the spire was fit to be restored, using some of the stone salvaged from the old church. A new church, dedicated to St. Colmcille, was built on the site and solemnly dedicated by Bishop of Down and Connor, Dr. Patrick Walsh, on Sunday 28th May 1995.
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