Flinders Street Baptist Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Flinders Street Baptist Church |
|
|---|---|
Flinders Street Baptist Church, 1923
|
|
| 34°55′38″S 138°36′11″E / 34.927115°S 138.603171°E | |
| Country | Australia |
| Denomination | Baptist |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Dedicated | 19 May 1863 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Robert G. Thomas |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Years built | 1861 – 1863 |
| Construction cost | A£7,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Bluestone; sandstone |
| Administration | |
| Episcopal area | Australia |
The Flinders Street Baptist Church is a special old church in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. It's located on Flinders Street and is considered a very important historical building. It's part of the Australian Baptist Ministries.
Contents
History of the Church
How the Church Started
In the 1860s, a man named George Fife Angas wanted a new Baptist church in Adelaide. So, a minister named Rev. Silas Mead came to Australia in July 1861. He started holding church services in a place called White's Rooms. Soon, many people joined his group, and they decided to build a big church on Flinders Street.
Building the Church
The church was designed by an architect named Robert G. Thomas. He also designed another famous church called Pilgrim Uniting Church. The Flinders Street Baptist Church was built in a style called Gothic Revival. It was made from bluestone and sandstone. The building has fancy capitals (the tops of columns), a round rose window, and a front entrance with three arches supported by pillars.
It cost about A£7,000 to build, which was a lot of money back then! It took two years to finish. The church officially opened on 19 May 1863. The money owed for building it was paid off the next year. Later, a hall called Mead Hall was built between 1867 and 1870, and the minister's house (called a manse) was built in 1877.
Missionary Work
An important group called the Australian Baptist Missionary Society was started at this church in 1864, led by Rev. Silas Mead. In 1882, the first missionary, Ellen Arnold, was sent from this church to help people in other parts of the world.
Heritage Listing
Why it's Important
The Flinders Street Baptist Church is a very old and special building. Because of its history and beautiful design, it was officially listed on the South Australian Heritage Register on 28 May 1981. This means it's protected and recognized as an important part of South Australia's history.
The old minister's house, or manse, where Rev. Mead and other ministers lived, is now called the Baptist Church Office or Flinders House. Both the manse and Mead Hall were also added to the heritage list on 11 December 1997.
