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, Queensland, Australia. It's called a 'union church' because it was built for people from different Christian groups to worship together. This church was built in 1922. Because of its history and importance, it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on September 6, 2005.
Contents
The Story of Purga United Church
How the Church Began
The Purga community started growing in the 1860s. Their first school opened in 1871. The Purga United Church was built in late 1922. It was designed for people of all Christian faiths to worship together.
What is a Union Church?
In the past, especially in small country towns, it was common to have 'union churches'. These churches helped communities with different religious groups. They also helped when there weren't many church leaders available. Building a union church like Purga's in 1922 was quite unusual for that time.
A Special Place for Everyone
This church is a rare example of a union church that is still used today. People from different faiths in the area helped build and maintain it. Church leaders from various religions led services together. Even now, special multi-faith services are held there.
Designed for Unity
The church's design shows it was made for different groups. It looks like many simple country churches, with a steep roof and a pulpit. But it doesn't have many religious symbols that would link it to just one faith. Most of its original features, like the church organ, are still there.
A Community Hub
The Purga United Church has been very important to the local community for over 80 years. It's a place for social gatherings and spiritual comfort. Many families who still live in the area have worshipped there for generations. In 1995, a group called the Friends of Purga Association moved the church to its current spot to protect it.
What the Church Looks Like
Outside the Church
The church is a small building, about 8 meters long and 5.5 meters wide. It sits on a grassy block facing Purga School Road. The design is simple, without many fancy decorations. It has a corrugated iron roof that slopes steeply. The church is painted white.
The building stands on concrete stumps, raising it about one meter off the ground. The space underneath is filled with horizontal wooden planks. The walls are made of timber and covered with weatherboards.
Windows and Doors
All the windows are tall and pivot open from the middle. Each window has two sections, one above the other. Each section has four clear glass panes. The front entrance has a porch with double wooden doors. At the back, there's a simple wooden door.
The Porch and Sides
The entrance porch sticks out from the front of the church. It's the same height as the rest of the building. You can get onto the porch from steps on either side. It has its own gabled roof. There's a window on each side of the porch.
The two long sides of the church look exactly the same. They both have windows spaced evenly along their length. At the back, there's a wooden door on the left side. A red corrugated iron awning covers the only window on the back wall. A green water tank is also 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 wooden floor is bare, but a long, narrow carpet runs down the middle.
The Pulpit and Furniture
At the front, 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 wooden panel with a carved design of a sun and flowers. Blue fabric shows through the carved parts. A book rest, also covered in blue fabric, sits on top.
The church has rows of plain wooden pews for people to sit on. An old wooden organ, believed to be from when the church first opened, is also inside. The white glass light fittings are also thought to be original. Some framed old photos and a clock hang on the walls.
The Church Grounds
The church grounds have three gardens. At the front, there's a memorial garden dedicated to Helen Kay Aquilina. A small landscaped garden is in front of the church porch. Another garden is near the entrance to the Purga Federation Community Cultural Centre, which is at the back of the block. There are benches along the side of the church and near the memorial gardens. A wire fence surrounds the entire property.
Why Purga United Church is a Heritage Site
A Look into Queensland's Past
The Purga United Church helps us understand Queensland's history. The Purga community grew in the 1860s, and this church was built in 1922. Union churches were more common in earlier times in Queensland. They helped small towns with different religious groups and fewer church leaders. Building a union church so late in Queensland's history makes it special.
A Unique Part of Our Culture
This church is a rare and complete example of a union church that is still used today. It was built and kept going by people from different faiths working together. Church leaders from various religions led services there. Even now, special multi-faith services are held.
Showing What a Union Church Is
The building clearly shows what a multi-faith church is like. It has features common to simple country churches, like a steep roof and a pulpit. But it doesn't have many religious symbols that would connect it to just one faith. Most of its original parts, including the organ, are still there.
Important to the Community
The Purga United Church has a strong connection with the Purga community. It has been their spiritual center for over 80 years. Many generations of families in the area have worshipped there. In 1995, the Friends of Purga Association moved the church to its current spot to make sure it would not be lost.
