St. Andrew's Church, Toogoolawah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Andrew's Church, Toogoolawah |
|
|---|---|
St. Andrew's Anglican Church
|
|
| Location | 2 Mangerton Street, Toogoolawah, Somerset Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1900 - 1914 (early 20th century) |
| Built | 1911 - 1930 |
| Architect | Robin Dods |
| Official name: St Andrew's Church | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600502 |
| Significant period | 1911-1912, 1930 (fabric) |
| Significant components | stained glass window/s, pipe organ, furniture/fittings |
| Builders | Donald Alexander Menzies |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
St Andrew's Church is a special old Anglican church located at 2 Mangerton Street in Toogoolawah, Australia. It was designed by a famous architect named Robin Dods. Local builder Donald Alexander Menzies constructed it between 1911 and 1912. The church cost about £839 to build. Today, it is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, which means it's an important historical site.
When it was first built, the church had a roof made of wooden shingles. Inside, there was a beautiful hand-carved altar and a screen for the choir. People at the time said it was a "welcome advance" in church design for the area. They were impressed by how creative and effective the wooden building looked.
Contents
History of St Andrew's Church
How the Church Began
St Andrew's Church was built for the Anglican community in Toogoolawah. Construction started in 1911 and finished in 1912. The land for the church was given in 1911 by Mary Elizabeth McConnel. Her family, the McConnels, were good friends with the top Anglican leader in Brisbane, Archbishop of Brisbane St Clair Donaldson.
The town of Toogoolawah, originally called Cressbrook Creek, grew when Mary's husband, JH McConnel, divided up some of his large farm land in the late 1890s. He also built a condensed milk factory there in 1898. The town got bigger when a railway line to Ipswich was finished in 1904. It grew even more after a company called Nestle bought the factory in 1907.
Before St Andrew's Church was built, church services were held at the Union Church. Later, the McConnel family built an Anglican hall in 1906 where services took place.
Who Designed the Church?
The plans for St Andrew's Church were drawn up in 1908 by Robin Smith Dods. He was the main architect for the Anglican Church in Brisbane. The McConnel family knew him well because he had designed another chapel for them in 1901.
Local builder Donald Alexander Menzies constructed the church. He built many buildings in Toogoolawah until the mid-1920s. The church was finished in January 1912. Archbishop Donaldson officially opened and dedicated St Andrew's on 12 May 1912.
Changes and Repairs Over Time
When the church was first built, it didn't have any buttresses (strong supports on the outside walls). In February 1913, a very strong windstorm damaged the church. The roof and upper parts were "severely strained." To fix this, money was raised, and tenders (offers) for repairs were called for in April 1913. By August, the church had new buttresses, which have been a key part of its look ever since.
In 1925, the St Andrew's Rectory (the house for the church's minister) was built for £1008. Bishop Henry Le Fanu officially opened it on 10 July 1925.
The original roof shingles, made of split cedar wood, were replaced in 1966 with new ones made from local iron bark and crow's ash timber.
In 1978, the old stables next to the church were moved. The Anglican Church Hall was then relocated to that spot.
The church received its baptismal font as a gift from Archbishop Donaldson's private chapel before the church was even dedicated. Today, St Andrew's also has many beautiful stained glass windows. On 12 May 2012, the church celebrated 100 years of service with a special ceremony led by Assistant Bishop Rob Nolan.
What Does St Andrew's Church Look Like?
This timber church is surrounded by old trees on a corner block. It forms the edge of McConnel Park. The church hall is on one side, and the rectory is a bit further away. The building's style shows influences from the early 1900s, around the time Australia became a federation.
Roof and Walls
The church has a very steep gable roof covered with wooden shingles. It also has parts that stick out, making it look like it has a transept (a part of the church that crosses the main body). The lower parts of the roof, called eaves, slope out from the main roof. The gables have a dark timber pattern on a white background and a cross at each end. The back room, called the vestry, has a sloped shingle roof.
The church walls are covered in dark painted weatherboards. It sits on timber stumps, lifting it off the ground. The timber buttresses you see on the outside were added later to make the church stronger. Inside, these supports are bolted to the main timber beams.
Inside the Church
The church has a rectangular shape with a section that sticks out to the south. The floor is raised in the sanctuary (the area around the altar), the pulpit (where sermons are given), and the altar itself. A timber screen with posts and beams creates two side aisles that lead to the vestry.
The roof inside is supported by special Queen-post trusses. The ceiling is made of horizontal boards under the main cross-beam. It slopes up to the edges. The ceiling also has square latticed vents. The part that sticks out (the transept) holds the organ and has a flat ceiling with two curved timber brackets.
The timber inside the church is not painted. A carved wooden cross and the organ pipes are placed above the main beam in front of the transept. The inside walls are made of vertical wooden boards. The windows are made of three tall, narrow lancets with pale green leadlight glass. Some of these windows also have colourful stained glass pictures.
The main door at the western end and the vestry doors have pointed arches. The inside of the church is very well preserved and still has its original pews (church benches), some altar furniture, and storage cupboards.
A round stone baptismal font is located at the western end of the main part of the church, called the nave. Modern lighting has been added under the main beams. The walls and ceiling of the vestry are covered with fibro panels and timber strips.
The church grounds have several old trees, especially to the south and southeast. These trees help to screen the church from McConnel Park, which has the Toogoolawah War Memorial.
Why St Andrew's Church is Important
St Andrew's Church was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992. This means it's recognized as a very important historical place for several reasons:
- Shows Queensland's History: The church helps us understand how the Anglican Church grew in Toogoolawah.
- Great Example of Design: It's a wonderful example of a timber church, special because of its size, shape, and materials. It also shows the excellent work of architect Robin Smith Dods.
- Beautiful to Look At: St Andrew's Church is a key part of a beautiful and historic area in Toogoolawah. This area includes the church, its hall, the rectory, and McConnel Park.
- Important to the Community: The church has a strong connection with the people of Toogoolawah. It's a central part of their social, cultural, and spiritual life.
- Connected to Important People: The church has a special link to the McConnel family, who played a big role in establishing the Anglican church in Toogoolawah.
See also
