Scots' Church, Melbourne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scots' Church, Melbourne |
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The Scots' Church, Melbourne
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| 37°48′53″S 144°58′08″E / 37.81478°S 144.96902°E | |
| Location | 156 Collins St, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Country | Australia |
| Denomination | Presbyterian |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | 1838 |
| Founder(s) | James Forbes |
| Dedicated | 29 November 1874 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | Joseph Reed |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Years built | 1871–1874 |
| Specifications | |
| Spire height | 61 metres (201 ft) |
| Materials | Freestone |
| Administration | |
| Presbytery | Melbourne West |
| Division | Victoria |
The Scots' Church is a Presbyterian church located on Collins Street in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It was the very first Presbyterian church built in the area known as the Port Phillip District (which is now the state of Victoria). The church is home to a group of people who follow the Presbyterian faith. The building itself has been called an important symbol for over a hundred years.
Contents
Starting the Church in Melbourne
The Reverend James Forbes was asked to come to Australia as a Presbyterian minister. He arrived in Melbourne by boat on January 20, 1838. When he got there, he found that another minister, Reverend James Clow, had already started holding afternoon services. These services followed the Presbyterian style and were held in a simple building.
Clow had been a chaplain in India but had retired. He originally planned to settle in South Australia. However, after hearing good things about the Port Phillip District (Melbourne's area), he decided to visit and then stay permanently.
The First Church Buildings
James Forbes continued the Presbyterian services that James Clow had started. These services were first held in a shared building. However, another church group soon claimed this building for themselves. So, Forbes moved the services to a store on Collins Street.
In July 1838, a temporary wooden building called "The Scots' Church" was opened. It was built on land borrowed from David Fisher. This first church was basically a large room with a fireplace.
On February 3, 1838, a meeting was held to plan a new church building. They decided to raise money to build a proper church. This date is seen as the official beginning of the Presbyterian Church in Victoria and the founding of Scots' Church.
The Scots' Church received a large piece of land on the corner of Collins and Russell streets from the government. Interestingly, the church leaders at the time thought the land was "too far out of town." This shows how much Melbourne has grown since then!
The temporary wooden building also served as the Scots' Church School. In September 1839, the school moved to a new brick building on the western part of the land on Collins and Russell Streets.
The First Purpose-Built Church
The foundation stone for the first church building that was specially built for the congregation was laid on January 22, 1841. The church officially opened on October 3, 1841. It was designed to hold 500 people.
Over the years, more features were added to this first church. These included plastering, proper pews (church benches), a gallery (an upper seating area), and a vestry (a room for the minister). A tall spire was added some years later.
The first minister, James Forbes, also built a simple house for himself on the church grounds. This house was later replaced by a two-story house in 1852. This house was eventually sold, and the Assembly Hall was built there in 1914–15.
The first church building was eventually taken down. One reason was that its tower and spire had developed large cracks and were leaning. Also, the building had become too small for the growing number of people attending services. The congregation wanted a grander building that better suited their importance in the city.
The Current Church Building
The current Scots' Church building was planned to be "the most beautiful building in Australia." Its construction took place between 1871 and 1874. It officially opened on November 29, 1874, with seating for almost 1,000 people.
The church was designed by Joseph Reed from the firm Reed and Barnes. It was built by David Mitchell, who was the father of the famous singer Dame Nellie Melba. Reed and Barnes also designed many other famous Melbourne buildings. These include the Melbourne Town Hall, the State Library of Victoria, and the Royal Exhibition Building.
The Scots' Church is built in the Neo-Gothic style. It uses a type of stone called Barrabool freestone. For many years in the late 1800s, the church's spire was the tallest structure in Melbourne, standing at 61 metres (201 feet) high.
Inside the church, you can see many large and small stained glass windows. These windows show different Christian stories and themes, including the Last Supper. The church also has basalt columns, a timber-beamed roof, and a raised floor. This design gives everyone a good view of the pulpit (where the minister preaches).
Inside the church, you can also find two sets of flags from the Australian 5th Battalion, The Victorian Scottish Regiment. These flags honor their service, including the "LANDING at ANZAC."
The crest and flag of former Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies are also displayed near the lectern. Queen Elizabeth II was present in 1983 when Dame Pattie Menzies presented these items. Queen Elizabeth had also visited Scots' Church in 1961 with Menzies to unveil a war memorial mosaic.
Music at Scots' Church
Music is a very important part of Scots' Church. The Director of Music and main organist since 1984 has been Douglas Lawrence. Ria Angelica Polo is the assistant organist.
The Organ
The first pipe organ at Scots' Church was built in 1883. It was later rebuilt and made larger in 1910 and again in 1959. The current organ was built in 1998 by Rieger Orgelbau from Austria.
The Choir
The choir of Scots' Church has been led by Douglas Lawrence since 1984. The choir released their first recording in 1987. The Scots' choir includes four main singers, eight students who receive scholarships for singing, and other members. It is said that the famous singer Dame Nellie Melba began and ended her singing career in the choir at Scots' Church. Her funeral was also held there in February 1931.
Ministers of Scots' Church
The first minister of Scots' Church was the Reverend James Forbes. He was not only involved in starting Scots' Church but also helped establish other important places. These include Scotch College, the Royal Melbourne Hospital, and the Melbourne Mechanics' Institute.
The Reverend Charles Strong became the minister in 1875. He later resigned from Scots' Church.
Currently, the senior minister at Scots' Church is the Rev. Phil Campbell. The Assistant Minister is Rev. Litha Heshusius. In the past, most senior ministers at Scots' Church were trained in Scotland. However, Rev. Campbell is Australian-born, and Rev. Heshusius was born in Indonesia. This shows how the church is reflecting the diverse population of Melbourne today.
Like all Presbyterian churches, the ministers and a group of church leaders called elders (known as the session) guide and care for the church community.
Every few years, a special visiting preacher comes to Scots' Church through the Turnbull Trust. These preachers have included famous theologians like Hugh Black and James S. Stewart.
Church Services
Services are held every Sunday throughout the year.
- A traditional service takes place at 11:00 am.
- A more modern service, called "ScotsCity," is held at 5:00 pm at 156 Collins Street.
Communion, a special Christian ceremony, is held on the first Sunday of each season (autumn, winter, spring, and summer) and on Easter Sunday. The church also hosts a special service on the Wednesday before the AFL Grand Final.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, Scots' Church moved its services online. They used Zoom and YouTube so people could still participate from home. The choir recorded music during the week to be shared in these online services. You can still watch these services and musical highlights on YouTube.
On April 1, 2007, the Indonesian Christian Church joined Scots'. They now hold their services every Sunday morning at 10:30 am in the building next door to Scots' Church. This group has grown under the leadership of Rev. Tirtha.
Beliefs and Community
As part of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, the ministers and elders at Scots' Church follow the Westminster Confession of Faith. This is a major statement of Christian beliefs.
People who want to become members of the church are not required to agree with every detail of the Westminster Confession. Instead, they become members by publicly stating their faith in Jesus Christ and their commitment to the church.
Working with Other Churches
Scots' Church has taken part in many activities with other Christian churches. This is called "ecumenism." For example, two Catholic Archbishops of Melbourne have preached from the pulpit of Scots' Church. These were Sir Frank Little in 1974 and Bishop Mark Coleridge in May 2005.
In 2021, Scots' Church worked with the Salvation Army Project 614 on a campaign called "Loving the City to Life." This campaign aimed to encourage the community in Melbourne's city center after a long lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Members from both churches organized a "Festival of Buskers" and gave out free coffee to people passing by.
The Ten Commandments Discussion
In September 2008, a minister from another church, Francis Macnab of St Michael's Uniting Church, started an advertising campaign. His posters said that "The Ten Commandments" were "one of the most negative documents ever written."
In response, the leaders of Scots' Church put up a poster on their building. This poster faced St Michael's and said that the Ten Commandments were "the most positive and influential document ever written." This showed a different view on the importance of these ancient rules.
See also
- Australian non-residential architectural styles
