Anglican Church of the Annunciation, Broome facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Anglican Church of the Annunciation, Broome |
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The church in 2019
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| Location | 21 Hamersley Street, Broome, Western Australia |
| Country |  Australia |
| Denomination | Anglican Church of Australia |
| Previous denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | 12 April 1903 |
| Consecrated | 12 June 1903 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Style | Federation Carpenter Gothic |
| Years built | 1903 |
| Construction cost | £300+ |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Broome |
| Diocese | North West Australia |
| Province | Western Australia |
The Anglican Church of the Annunciation is a very old church in Broome, Western Australia. People also call it the Pro Cathedral of the Annunciation or The Little White Church. This church was built in 1903. It is made of wood and corrugated iron. It has been used as a church ever since it opened.
Contents
What Does the Church Look Like?
This church is a single-story building. It has a wooden frame. The outside walls are covered with corrugated iron. The roof is also made of corrugated iron. It has a pointed shape called a gable roof.
There is a porch, or verandah, at the front. The whole building is lifted off the ground. It sits on strong concrete stumps. Next to the church, there is a house for the church leader. This house is called a rectory.
The church has a bell tower. In 2019, this tower was on the south side of the church. Before that, it was behind the church, on the north side.
A Look at the Church's History
The town of Broome started in 1883. At first, there were not many church services. They only happened sometimes. But in the early 1900s, Broome became very busy. This was because of the pearling industry. More people meant the town needed its own church.
People in Broome started to raise money in 1902. They decided to name the church the Church of the Annunciation. They collected more than £300 in just three months! That was a lot of money back then. Building materials came all the way from Fremantle.
The church officially opened on April 12, 1903. This was on Easter Day. Bishop Riley made it a sacred place on June 12, 1903.
Changes Over the Years
In 1910, Broome became very important for the church. It became the main center for the North West Diocese. This made the Church of the Annunciation a "pro-cathedral." This means it was like a main church for the area.
But in 1965, Broome's population got smaller. So, the main church office moved to Geraldton. The Broome church then became part of the Derby parish.
This church is very strong! It has survived many big storms called cyclones. It also survived a Japanese attack on Broome in 1944. And it has seen Broome go through good times and bad times.
The church has been repaired many times. In 1973, some doors were changed to different windows. The walls, roof, and ceiling were fixed in 1976. The bell tower was repaired in 1985. More work on the ceiling and floors happened in 1990.
The latest repairs were in 2019. Workers fixed outside panels damaged by termites. They also moved the bell tower. The church was painted its original white color. This is why it's called "The Little White Church."
The church is also a very important historical building. It was added to the Register of the National Estate in 1989. It is also on the State Register of Heritage Places since 1997.
The Church Bell's Story
The church has a special bronze bell. It weighs about 250 kilograms (550 pounds)! That's super heavy. It was made in 1902 by a famous company in England. This company also made a huge bell for St Paul's Cathedral in London.
The bell arrived in Broome in 1902. It was a gift from Siebe Gorman. This company made equipment for pearl divers. Their rival company, Heinke and Co, gave the church a "magnificent organ." These expensive gifts show how rich Broome was because of the pearling industry.
A carpenter found out where the bell came from. This happened when he was working on the church in 2019. He was helping to move the bell tower.
Images for kids
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The church in 2019
