Ithaca Presbyterian Church facts for kids
The Ithaca Presbyterian Church is a special old building in Paddington, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It's located at 100 Enoggera Terrace. This church is considered important because of its history and unique design, so it's listed on the Brisbane Heritage Register.
The land for the church was bought in 1919 by a group called the New Building Fund Committee. They worked hard to collect £8000 (about $15,000 AUD) to build the church. A well-known architecture company, Wilson Architects, designed the building. Construction started in 1927, and the church officially opened its doors on February 9, 1929.
Church Design and Style
The Ithaca Presbyterian Church stands proudly on a hill, just like many old churches in Brisbane. It's built in an early gothic style, which means it has cool features like pointed archways and a tall bell tower. The church is made of red brick, but it's covered with a special plaster that makes it look like sandstone.
The church also has a cruciform shape, which looks like a cross from above. At the back, there are two small rooms called vestries.
Inside the Church
When you step inside, the church feels warm and welcoming. It shows off the "arts and crafts" style that was popular in Brisbane in the early 1900s. You'll see tall wooden arches, beautiful stained glass windows, and detailed handmade decorations.
Inside the main area, rows of simple wooden benches (called pews) create two paths leading to the front. At the very front, there's a rounded area where the pulpit (a raised stand for speaking), the organ, and the vestries are located. The pulpit sticks out into the main seating area. This design shows that the architects believed "the word" (meaning the teachings) was very important to the Presbyterian faith.
You can also find a special "roll of honour" inside. This lists members of the church who served in World War 1. There are also leadlight windows with the letters IHS on them, which stands for "in his service." These windows remember the church members who were lost during the war.
Keeping the Church Beautiful
The Ithaca Presbyterian Church is still used as a church today. In 2009, the front of the church and the bell tower were repaired. The walls had been damaged by water, so they were re-covered with new plaster. This repair project took four months and cost $100,000. The Brisbane City Council helped by paying 15% of the cost through their Heritage Incentive Scheme. The repairs used old-fashioned materials and methods to make sure the church looked like it did originally and stayed strong against future weather.
Images for kids
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Front facade of the church
