William of Orange passed through Belfast on his way from Carrickfergus to the Battle of the Boyne, and had a famous sermon, Arise Great King, preached to him here.

Henry Joy McCracken, a leading member of the Society of the United Irishmen and 1798 rebellion was buried in the churchyard after being hanged, before later being moved to Clifton Street Cemetery.

[1] The movement of people out of the City Centre in the 20th century saw the congregation drop, and during The Troubles, the church was seriously damaged on a number of occasions by Provisional Irish Republican Army bombs.

St. George's continues to be noted for its liturgical and musical tradition – it has one of the few men's and boys' church choirs in Ireland.

[2][7][9] The west end, facing High Street, has a large Corinthian pillared portico, giving the impression that it is a two storied building.

The portico was originally made to order in Egypt for Frederick Hervey, 4th Earl of Bristol and Bishop of Derry, to adorn the main entrance of Ballyscullion House in County Londonderry, built in 1788.

[1] The first church organist was Edward Bunting, between 1817 and 1821, best known for his work in collecting Irish music at the Belfast Harp Festival.