Purga United Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Purga United Church |
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Purga United Church, 2015
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| Location | Boonah Road, Purga, City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919 - 1930s (interwar period) |
| Built | 1922 |
| Official name: Purga United Church | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 6 September 2005 |
| Reference no. | 601616 |
| Significant period | 1920s-1960s (historical) ongoing (social) |
| Significant components | furniture/fittings, church |
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The Purga United Church is a special old church located on Boonah Road in Purga, City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1922 and is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because of its historical importance. This church is unique because it was built for people of different Christian faiths to worship together.
Contents
A Church for Everyone
The Idea of a Union Church
The Purga United Church is important because it shows a unique part of Queensland's history. In the 1860s, the community of Purga started to grow. They even opened their first school in 1871. But in small country towns, there often weren't enough people of one religion to build a church just for them. Also, there weren't many religious leaders available.
So, people came up with the idea of a "union church." This was a church where different Christian groups could all worship together. This way, everyone in the community could have a place to go.
Why Purga's Church is Special
Building a union church was common in earlier times in Queensland. But it was quite unusual for one to be built as late as 1922, like the Purga United Church. This makes it a rare and special example of its kind.
The church was built and kept running by people from different faiths who all gave their time and money. Religious leaders from various denominations would lead services together. Even today, special multi-faith services are held there, even if not every week.
What Makes it a Union Church?
The church building itself shows it's for everyone. It looks like many simple country churches, with a steep roof and a pulpit. But you won't find many religious symbols or statues inside that belong to just one specific faith. This was done on purpose so that everyone would feel welcome. Most of the things inside, like the old church organ, are believed to be original from when it first opened.
A Community Hub
The Purga United Church has been a very important place for the Purga community for over 80 years. It's been a spiritual home for many families who have lived in the area for generations. In 1995, a group called the "Friends of Purga Association" even moved the church to its current spot to make sure it would be safe and not lost. This shows how much the community values it.
What the Church Looks Like
Outside the Church
The church is a small, simple building. It's shaped like a rectangle, about 8 meters long and 5.5 meters wide. It sits on a grassy block of land, about 13 meters back from Purga School Road. There are no fancy decorations on the outside.
The church stands on concrete stumps, which replaced the original timber ones. This lifts the building about one meter off the ground. The walls are made of timber weatherboards and painted white. The roof is made of corrugated iron and has a steep, gabled shape.
Windows and Doors
All the windows are tall and can pivot open from the middle. Each window has two sections, one above the other, with four clear glass panes in each section.
You enter the church from the front through a small porch. This porch has double wooden doors. At the back of the church, there's a simple wooden door. One window at the back has a red corrugated iron cover over it. There's also a green water tank and stand at the back.
Inside the Church
The inside of the church is one big room. The walls are not covered or painted, except for the window frames, which have a colored varnish. The floor is bare wood, with a long, narrow carpet running down the middle.
At the front of the room, opposite the main entrance, there's a small wooden platform and a pulpit. The pulpit is about 1.5 meters tall. It has a special panel in the middle with a beautiful carved design of a sun and flowers. Blue fabric behind the carving makes the design stand out. On top of the pulpit is a slanted rest for books, covered in blue felt.
The church has rows of simple wooden pews for people to sit on. There's also an old wooden organ, which is thought to be from when the church first opened. The white glass light fittings are also believed to be original. A newer fluorescent light is above the pulpit. You can also see framed old photos and a clock on the walls.
The Church Grounds
Around the church, there are three gardens. In the front corner, there's a memorial garden dedicated to Helen Kay Aquilina. There's also a small garden in front of the church porch. Another garden is near the entrance to the Purga Federation Community Cultural Centre, which is a second building at the back of the property. Two benches are placed along the side of the church, and another is near the memorial gardens. A wire fence goes all around the property.
Heritage Importance
The Purga United Church was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 6 September 2005. This means it's recognized as an important historical site for several reasons:
- It shows how Queensland's history developed, especially how communities dealt with having people from different religions.
- It's a rare and complete example of a union church that is still used today.
- It clearly shows the main features of a multi-denominational church, like its simple design and lack of specific religious symbols.
- It has a very strong connection with the Purga community, serving as their spiritual home for over 80 years. Many generations of families have worshipped there.
