Church of Christ, Charters Towers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of Christ |
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Church of Christ, 1996
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| Location | Anne Street, Charters Towers, Charters Towers Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1885 - 1887 |
| Architectural style(s) | Gothic |
| Official name: Church of Christ, Charters Towers, St Johannes Lutheran Church, The 'German Church | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 28 May 1999 |
| Reference no. | 601245 |
| Significant period | 1880s-1910s (historical) 1880s (fabric) |
| Significant components | tower - bell / belfry, church, views to, furniture/fittings, stained glass window/s |
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The Church of Christ in Charters Towers is a special old building. It's listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, which means it's an important part of history. This church is located on Anne Street in Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia.
It was built a long time ago, between 1885 and 1887. When it was first built, it was known as the St Johannes Lutheran Church, or sometimes "The German Church." Later, after 1915, it became the Charters Towers Church of Christ.
Contents
The Church's Story
How the Church Began
The Church of Christ building was first built as the very first Lutheran Church in Charters Towers. This happened between 1885 and 1887. Later, in 1915, the building was sold. After that, it became the home of the Charters Towers Church of Christ.
Charters Towers became a busy place after gold was found there in December 1871. Many people came to the area hoping to find their fortune. By the early 1880s, new technology helped miners find even more gold. Large mining companies started to form.
German Miners and Their Community
One successful mining company was called Day Dawn PC. It was started by a group of German miners. These miners, including Frederick Pfeiffer, Heinrich Paradies, and Carl Augustus Reidrich, became very rich. They found a huge amount of gold! Even after selling their mine in 1887, they stayed in Charters Towers and invested in other mining projects.
As more people arrived, Charters Towers became a mix of different nationalities. A small group of people from Germany settled there. They formed one of the first Lutheran communities in Queensland.
When the German Lutherans first arrived in the early 1880s, they didn't have their own church or minister. They met in private homes and later in the Oddfellows Hall. This worked for a while, but in 1885, some of the rich Day Dawn PC partners decided to help build a church for their community.
Many local German people helped pay for the new church. Mr. Christian Paradies, who started the church group, gave a lot of money. He donated over £1800 to build the brick church, which was called the St Johannes Lutheran Church. He also left another £1000 to the church in his will. Carl Riederich gave the land for the church and also helped pay for the building and its bells. Friedrich Pfeiffer and Heinrich Paradies paid for the house where the pastor would live.
The first stone for the church was laid on December 5, 1885. The church was finished in March 1886. The total cost to build it was £2500. We don't know who designed or built the church, but Mr. Zander worked on it as a bricklayer.
Pastor EO Maiser was the first pastor for the church. He came from Brisbane and officially opened the church on June 13, 1886. The bell tower, which holds two bells brought all the way from Germany, was finished in 1887.
A Community Hub
By 1897, the Lutheran Church in Charters Towers became connected with the State Church of Prussia. It became a very important place for the German community. They held language classes and community parties there.
The German Lutheran community was active until the First World War. During the war, the pastor, G Schafhirt, had to return to Germany. The church community became smaller during this time. In September 1915, the property was sold to the Church of England. Since then, the building has been used by the Church of Christ community in Charters Towers for their worship.
What the Church Looks Like
The Church of Christ in Charters Towers is a simple brick church. It has a tall, strong timber bell tower on one side. The church is located in an older part of the city, not far from the main shopping street. Because it's on a corner, the bell tower stands out among the nearby houses.
The church building is made of unpainted brick. It has a roof that slopes steeply, covered with corrugated iron. At the front, there's an entry porch. On each side of the porch, and above it, are tall, narrow windows called lancet windows. These windows have pretty borders of colored glass.
The sides of the church have brick buttresses, which are supports built into the wall. Between these supports are more lancet windows with colored glass.
The bell tower is made of strong timber beams that cross each other. It looks a bit like the tall structures used in mining in the area. It has a pyramid-shaped roof made of corrugated iron, with a decorative top. Inside, it holds two large bells.
A white picket fence runs along the front of the church property. Inside the church, you can see the exposed timber beams of the roof, which form a criss-cross pattern. The ceiling above these beams is made of wooden boards placed diagonally.
Why This Church is Special
The Church of Christ in Charters Towers is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. This means it's recognized for its historical and architectural importance.
A Glimpse into History
This church, built in 1885-1887, shows us how the Lutheran community grew in Northern Queensland, especially in Charters Towers, during the 1880s. It tells a story of the people who lived and worked there.
Beautiful Design
The church is beautiful because of its simple brick design. It has Gothic details like its steeply sloped roof and those tall, narrow lancet windows. The large timber bell tower is a striking feature in the street. It reminds people of the old mining structures that were once common in the area. The mix of the church and its unique bell tower makes the site very interesting to look at.
Important to the Community
This church has been a landmark in Charters Towers for over 110 years. For thirty years, it was a very important place for the German community's social and cultural life. It has also been a place of worship for many people for a very long time. Today, it holds special meaning for the Church of Christ community, who have used it for many years.
