Scots Presbyterian Church, Fremantle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scots Presbyterian Church |
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| 32°03′23″S 115°44′58″E / 32.0563°S 115.7495°E | |
| Location | Fremantle, Western Australia |
| Country | Australia |
| Denomination | Presbyterian |
| History | |
| Dedicated | 26 November 1890 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Talbot Hobbs |
| Architectural type | Gothic |
| Years built | 1890 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 105 |
Scots Presbyterian Church is a historic church in Fremantle, Western Australia. You can find it on the corner of South Terrace and Parry Street. It was the very first Presbyterian church built in Fremantle. Later, when many Presbyterian churches joined to become the Uniting Church, this was one of only six in the area that decided to remain as it was.
Contents
Design and Special Features
The church was built in a style called Rustic Gothic. This style often includes pointed arches and tall structures that reach toward the sky. The building is made of limestone, with reddish-brown bricks used for the corners and around the windows, creating a neat pattern.
The roof is steep and was originally covered with wooden shingles made from jarrah trees. Today, it has reddish clay tiles called terra cotta. The church has a main hall, called a nave, and a smaller hall on the side.
The Tower and Entrance
A key feature of the church is its tall tower, which stands 23 metres (75 ft) high and is topped with a pointed, eight-sided spire. The main entrance is through a porch at the base of this tower. Above the entrance, you can see three long, narrow windows with pointed tops, which are filled with beautiful stained glass.
The outside of the building has a rough stone look, with the brickwork outlined in black and white mortar. This makes the details of the building stand out.
Inside the Church
The church can hold about 80 people in its main hall and another 25 in the smaller hall.
A special feature inside is the pipe organ. It was built in 1897 by a famous organ maker named Alfred Fuller. The organ has large pipes that stand on the floor on both sides of the keyboard. It has two keyboards for the hands and pedals for the feet. The organ was carefully restored in 1990 to keep it in good working condition.
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Scots Church from South Terrace
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Scots Church from Parry Street
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Scots Presbyterian Church
The Story of the Church
The Presbyterian community in Fremantle started in 1885. At first, they met in different halls, including the Fremantle Town Hall. The minister, Reverend Robert Hanlin, wanted to build a permanent church for the growing community.
Building a New Church
Rev. Hanlin worked hard to raise money. He received donations from local people and even from other states in Australia. The church also got a loan of £1,000 from a church committee in Scotland.
In 1889, the land for the church was bought from the government for £208. The famous architect Talbot Hobbs designed the building. On 26 March 1890, a special ceremony was held where John Forrest, a major political figure at the time, laid the foundation stone.
The church was built by the company J. Petrie and Company and cost £2,000 to complete. It officially opened on 26 November 1890.
Changes Over the Years
The church has been updated over time to keep it safe and modern.
- In 1902, gaslights were installed, and just a few years later, in 1905, they were replaced with electric lights.
- The roof was replaced in 1911.
- In 1975, the church received a government grant of A$15,000 to repair the brickwork and wiring.
- A wall was built around the church property in 1985, and a shed was added in 1994.
See also
- List of heritage places in Fremantle
- List of buildings designed by Talbot Hobbs
- Presbyterian Church of Australia
