Sinnamon Memorial Uniting Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sinnamon Memorial Uniting Church |
|
|---|---|
| Seventeen Mile Rocks Church | |
Sinnamon Memorial Uniting Church, 2014
|
|
| 27°32′18″S 152°57′06″E / 27.5382°S 152.9516°E | |
| Country | Australia |
| Denomination | Uniting |
| Previous denomination | Methodist |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | Rocks Road Sinnamon Memorial Methodist Church |
| Status | Church |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | 1888 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Chamferboard; corrugated iron |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Centenary (Middle Park) |
| Presbytery | Bremer Brisbane |
| Synod | Queensland |
The Sinnamon Memorial Uniting Church is a special old church located in Sinnamon Park, Queensland, Australia. It's known for its history and unique design. This church was built way back in 1888 by a local builder named Wilson Henry. It's also sometimes called the Seventeen Mile Rocks Church. Because of its importance, it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992, which means it's protected for future generations to see and learn from.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
How the Church Began
Before this church was built, there was a smaller, simpler chapel made of bark and shingles. That first chapel was put up in 1880. The current church building was finished in 1888. It was built by Wilson Henry, who lived nearby. He was also a cousin to the Sinnamon family. The Sinnamon family were some of the very first settlers in the Seventeen Mile Rocks area, arriving in the mid-1860s.
Early Church Services
The new church was first meant for the Church of England. However, they couldn't find a minister to lead services. So, the church was instead used by the Primitive Methodist Church from Ipswich. Their minister would even arrive by rowboat!
Moving the Church Building
By the 1950s, only a few people attended the church, mainly two sisters from the Sinnamon family, Edith and Isobel. In 1966, a new road was being built to the suburb of Jindalee. This meant the church building had to be moved. Hercules V. Sinnamon, another member of the Sinnamon family, donated land for the church's new spot. This land was part of the original family property from 1865.
A New Name and Purpose
Two years later, in 1968, the church reopened. It was renamed the Rocks Road Sinnamon Memorial Methodist Church. Even though it didn't have a regular group of people attending, it was used for special events. In 1980, to celebrate the church's 100th birthday, pine trees were planted all around it. The Sinnamon family and their relatives had been so involved with the church over the years. Because of this, it was very fitting that the church was moved and renamed to honor them.
What the Church Looks Like
Building Features
This church is a small building made of Chamferboard (a type of timber siding). It sits on concrete stumps, set back from Seventeen Mile Rocks Road. The area around it is grassy, with the pine trees planted for its centenary. The church has a simple rectangular shape with a small porch at the front.
Roof and Inside
The main roof and the porch roof used to be covered with shingles. Now, they are made of corrugated iron. Inside, the ceiling is lined with wooden boards. The walls were originally open, showing the wooden frame, but now they are covered.
Old Furnishings
The church still has some of its original furniture. These include four silver-plated kerosene lamps with tin shades. There's also a medium-sized harmonium, which is like a small organ. The pulpit, where the minister speaks, is simple and made of cedar wood. It's raised on a small platform with two steps. The church could seat about sixty people on its twelve pine pews, which are now painted. It's a great example of a typical small church from a rural area in the late 1800s.
Why the Church is Important
Heritage Listing
The Sinnamon Memorial Uniting Church is considered very important. It was listed on the Register of the National Trust of Australia (Queensland) in 1980. It was also included in the Queensland Heritage Buildings Protection Act in 1990. Then, on October 21, 1992, it was officially added to the Queensland Heritage Register. Later, in 2000, it was also added to the Brisbane Heritage Register.
Why it's a Heritage Site
When the church was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992, it met several important reasons:
- Shows Queensland's History: The church played a big part in the social and spiritual life of the Seventeen Mile Rocks area. It shows how the community grew as a close-knit farming area in the late 1800s.
- Rare Cultural Heritage: This building helps create a rare surviving rural landscape in Brisbane. It's part of a group of old farmhouses, a school, and other farm buildings from the late 1800s. This is special because it's in an area that is now mostly modern suburbs.
- Example of a Rural Chapel: The church is a good example of a small, rural chapel from the late 1800s. It still has a strong connection to the Seventeen Mile Rocks area.
- Connected to Important People: The church has a strong link to the Sinnamon family. They were among the first settlers in the area and have always been very involved in the community.
