Shepherd Memorial Church of St Peter, Proston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shepherd Memorial Church of St Peter |
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Shepherd Memorial Church of St Peter, 2017
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| Location | Corner of Drake Street and Wondai Road, Proston, South Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Architect | Fowell, McConnel and Mansfield |
| Official name: Shepherd Memorial Church of St Peter | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 9 November 2012 |
| Reference no. | 602813 |
| Significant period | 1939– |
| Builders | Lesleigh George Windmell Smith |
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The Shepherd Memorial Church of St Peter is a special Anglican church located in Proston, Australia. It sits at the corner of Drake Street and Wondai Road. This church was designed by famous architects named Fowell, McConnel and Mansfield. It was built between 1937 and 1939 by Lesleigh George Windmell Smith. The church is considered so important that it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on November 9, 2012.
A Church with a Unique Story
The Shepherd Memorial Church of St Peter, often called St Peter's Church, has an interesting history. It was designed by architects Fowell, McConnel and Mansfield. Another group of architects, Lucas and Cummings from Brisbane, helped supervise the building. The church was built from December 1937 to July 1939 by LGW Smith. What makes it special is that it was built using local bricks and its design was inspired by Scandinavian styles.
How Proston Grew
The town of Proston started on land that was once a large farm called Wigton in 1850. In 1910, the Queensland Government offered small pieces of land for farming. People who settled there faced challenges like thorny plants called prickly pear and not enough water.
Proston grew slowly at first. But in 1923, a railway line from Murgon opened. This made it easier to transport goods and people, helping the town grow. Soon, a public hall, school, shops, a hotel, and banks were built. By the late 1920s, the prickly pear problem was solved. In 1934, a butter factory opened, which helped Proston grow even more. Farmers in the Wide Bay district, including Proston, produced a lot of milk during this time. By 1939, Proston had many services, including a police station, post office, and a school with over 100 students.
Charles Shepherd's Gift
The land where St Peter's Church stands was surveyed in 1934. The first stone of the church was laid on May 30, 1937, by the Archbishop of Brisbane, Dr William Wand. The church was officially opened and blessed by the Archbishop on July 3, 1938.
The money for the church came from Charles Shepherd. He was a grazier (a person who raises livestock) from a place near Proston called "Aston." He passed away in 1935 at the age of 70. Charles Shepherd had no wife or children. In his will, he left most of his money, about £8,687, to the Anglican Church. He specifically asked that £3,000 be used to build and furnish a church in Proston. Later, his body was moved from the Proston Cemetery and placed in a special room under St Peter's Church. A plaque inside the church shows where he rests.
Bricks from Wondai
St Peter's Church was built using special cream-coloured bricks made locally in Wondai. The Wondai Brick and Tile Company made thousands of bricks just for this church. The architects even said the building was "a symphony in brick" because of how well the bricks were used. This church was the first big project for the Wondai Brickworks. This success helped them find good clay and build a factory. After a break during World War II, the brickworks supplied bricks all over southern Queensland.
A Modern Design
St Peter's Church is known as an important building from the 20th century. Its design was influenced by European and Scandinavian styles. It has tall walls, a low-sloping tile roof, and wide eaves.
How the Church Stays Cool
One special feature is its ventilation system. The church has very high walls, which creates a large space for air. It has windows and vents, but the windows do not open. The vents are designed to open at night to let cool night air into the roof space. During the day, warm air from the people inside rises through grilles into the roof and out through the ends of the roof. This allows cooler air to flow down, keeping the church comfortable.
Inside the Church
In 1943, a magazine called Architecture described the church. It said the church was made of local cream bricks with a tile roof. It has a long main area (nave) and a rounded section at the east end (apse). The entrance is on the south side, marked by a square tower with a special top that has columns and a weathervane shaped like St Peter's symbol.
Inside, above the entrance, there is a gallery for the organ. The font, used for baptisms, is near the entrance. The pulpit, where sermons are given, is made of brick. The windows have steel frames and special glass that helps keep the inside cool. The ceiling is made of panels, and the parts that go inwards were once brightly coloured. The furniture, like the altar and pews, were designed by the architects and made from local hardwood. The church cost about £2,755 to build.
A New Style of Church
Archbishop William Wand, who opened the church, said it was "a distinct departure from the usual design of churches." He wanted more churches built in brick and stone, like other important public buildings. He also wanted churches to move away from the old Gothic styles. He felt that Gothic pillars often blocked the view of the altar.
Most churches built in the 1930s were small wooden buildings with a Gothic look. But St Peter's Church was different. It was one of the first churches in Queensland to use a more modern style, which became popular after World War II.
"Low Church" Style
St Peter's Church also shows a "low church" or more Protestant way of Anglican worship. This style is generally simpler. In "high church" styles, the altar area is very important and decorated. "Low church" forms focus more on Bible teachings and are usually plainer.
Awards and Architects
In 1940, the architects Fowell, McConnel and Mansfield won an award for their design of St Peter's Church. This award was from the Queensland Chapter of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects.
The church's design is mainly credited to Kenneth Hamlyn McConnel. He was a talented architect who graduated from Sydney University. His firm designed many important buildings, including the British Medical Association's building in Sydney. They also designed St Anne's Church at Bondi, which also has a special cooling system.
Later Years
In 1969, another Anglican church, St George's, was moved from Tingoora to Proston. It was placed behind St Peter's Church and now serves as its church hall.
On July 3, 1988, St Peter's celebrated its 50th anniversary. The Bishop of the Western Region, Adrian Charles, led the service and planted a memorial tree.
Few changes have been made to the church over the years. The ceiling of the main area is now painted brick red, and the ceiling above the altar is blue. The original eucalyptus trees around the church have been replaced with other types of trees.
Charles Shepherd's Final Resting Place
St Peter's Anglican Church was closed in November 2015 because fewer people were attending services. When a church is closed, any human remains buried there need to be moved. Church records said Charles Shepherd's remains were in a special room under the altar. However, they were not found there.
In July 2018, an older man said he was present when Shepherd's remains were placed in another part of the church's foundations. Church authorities used ground-penetrating radar to check, and it found signs of a burial. An excavation then found part of a casket handle, a metal snuff box, and carbon material, which confirmed the burial. Charles Shepherd's remains were then placed in a new casket and buried in the Proston local cemetery.
What the Church Looks Like
The Shepherd Memorial Church of St Peter is on the corner of Drake Street and Wondai Road in Proston. The land slopes gently towards Drake Street and has some trees and a concrete path.
The church looks very simple and strong. It has four main parts: the entry/bell tower, the main seating area (nave), the altar area (chancel), and a small room for the priest (vestry). It is built with special pale, sandy-coloured bricks. The way the bricks are laid is very skilled. All the door and window openings have stepped edges, which adds to its unique look.
Outside the Church
The main seating area (nave) is tall and rectangular. It has a low-sloping roof with red tiles. Long, narrow, arched windows are on the north and south sides. These windows have fixed steel frames with yellow, blue, green, and clear glass. Below these windows are square brick panels with cross patterns. These panels are part of the church's cooling system, letting air flow in. The west side has a round vent and a large window with an arched top. Below this window is the marble foundation stone, which remembers Charles Shepherd.
The square bell tower on the south side is where you enter the church. It has brick stairs and planters. The tower has a flat roof with walls around it. On top is a round structure with eight columns, supporting a metal roof and a weathervane shaped like a rooster, which is a symbol of St Peter.
The rounded altar area (chancel) is at the east end of the nave. It also has narrow windows. Under the altar is where Charles Shepherd's remains were originally placed.
The vestry is a simple, single-story square room on the north side of the nave. It has steel-framed windows.
Inside the Church
Inside, the church's simple design is clear.
The bell tower area includes the entrance and a choir loft above it. The choir loft is a small balcony overlooking the main seating area. Opposite the entrance is a concrete baptismal font. Rows of pews, made from local hardwood, line each side of the central aisle. A brass plaque on the front pew mentions Charles Shepherd. The aisles are carpeted, and the timber floor under the seats is visible. The ceiling is made of panels, painted dark red, with ventilation panels.
The altar area (chancel) has two raised platforms covered with carpet. A large opening connects the nave to the altar area. A curved brick wall with a curtain forms the background for the altar. The pulpit is in the south-east corner, made of curved brick. The ceiling in the altar area is light blue.
The furniture in the altar area, like the priest's chair and the altar piece, are made from local hardwood. A rooster symbol is carved into the priest's kneeler. There are also shelves in the walls for a timber cross and other items.
A timber door on the north side of the altar area leads to the vestry. This room has a storage cupboard and a sink.
Why This Church is Special
The Shepherd Memorial Church of St Peter is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because it meets several important criteria.
Showing Queensland's History
The church helps us understand how Queensland developed. It shows how farming towns grew and how services like churches were built in rural areas before World War II. This growth was helped by the government's plan to settle more land and by building railway lines.
St Peter's Church was built during a time when Proston was growing fast. The town and its region were important for producing dairy products in Queensland. The church is also an early example of modern architecture in Queensland churches. This style became more popular after World War II.
Unique Design Features
The Shepherd Memorial Church of St Peter shows the main features of an Anglican church, like its shape and furniture. Its simple look and interior design also show the "low church" style of Anglican worship.
The church is rectangular. It has a main seating area for 100 people, an altar area, a square tower with a special top, an entrance, and an organ gallery. On the north side, there is a vestry. The church looks much the same today as it did when it was finished in 1939.
Beautiful and Unusual Look
St Peter's Church has strong aesthetic value, meaning it is very beautiful and interesting to look at. Its size and simple, strong design were influenced by old Romanesque buildings and 20th-century Scandinavian architecture. The modern look of the church in a rural town like Proston is quite surprising.
The church is known for its high-quality brickwork, which shows the influence of the Modern Movement popular in the 1930s. It is an excellent example of church design for its time and place. Its strong shape and high-quality brickwork show European and Scandinavian influences. The church is also special because it was designed to suit the climate, using its unique ventilation system.
Creative and Technical Achievement
St Peter's Church shows a high level of creative achievement. Its excellent and unusual architecture was recognized when it won the 1940 RAIA Queensland Chapter Award for Ecclesiastical and Institutional Buildings. This award was given every five years.
