St Andrew's Kirk, Launceston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Andrew's Kirk |
|
|---|---|
| St Andrew's Presbyterian Church | |
St Andrew's Kirk from St John Street
|
|
| 41°26′10″S 147°08′15″E / 41.43617°S 147.13762°E | |
| Location | St John Street, Launceston, Tasmania |
| Country | Australia |
| Denomination | Presbyterian |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | 16 October 1849 |
| Founder(s) | Sir William Thomas Denison |
| Dedication | Saint Andrew |
| Dedicated | 5 December 1850 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) |
|
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Years built |
|
| Groundbreaking | 1849 |
| Construction cost | A£3,956 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 320 people |
| Length | 38.4 metres (126 ft) |
| Nave width | 14.4 metres (47 ft) |
| Number of spires | 1 |
| Materials | Sandstone, brick, stucco |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Launceston |
| Presbytery | Bass |
| Division | Tasmania |
St Andrew's Kirk is a special church in Launceston, Australia. It belongs to the Presbyterian Church. You can find it on St John Street. This church was the second Presbyterian church built in Launceston. The first one was the Scotch National Church, built in 1831.
Contents
History of St Andrew's Kirk
How the Church Started
In 1831, Scottish people in Launceston decided they needed a place to worship. They built a small church called the Scottish National Church. It cost about £400. Reverend John Anderson MA was the first minister.
Later, in 1835, an important group called the Presbytery of Van Diemen's Land met there. This was one of the first presbyteries in Australia. By 1848, the church had many more people. It became clear they needed a much bigger building.
Building the New Church
People wanted a new, larger church closer to the city's busy area. They asked the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir William Thomas Denison, for land. He gave them a spot where an old watch house used to be.
The church committee asked for designs for a church that could fit 700 people. Many designs were sent in. The winning design was by William Henry Clayton. His plan was for a beautiful Gothic-style church. It would be made from local bricks, covered in stucco, with sandstone decorations and a tall spire. Even though it was smaller than planned, fitting 320 people, it was chosen.
On October 16, 1849, Governor Denison laid the first stone. They also put a time capsule inside. It held newspapers and coins from that time. A builder named William Tyson, who was part of the church, built it. The church cost £3,956. It was finished in 15 months. St Andrew's Kirk officially opened on December 5, 1850. The church was completely paid for within four years.
Adding More to the Church
As more people used the church, new parts were added. A big addition was St Andrew's Chambers. This was a two-story building in the Gothic Revival style. It filled a gap between the church and another building.
St Andrew's Chambers had a kitchen, a caretaker's apartment, and a Sunday School Hall. It also had offices. In 1973, the building next door was taken down. The city council thought the side of St Andrew's Chambers looked bad. So, they decided to remove it.
A new architect, William Clennett, designed a replacement. The new chambers were built in 1974. They had offices, a kindergarten, a choir room, and a church lounge. The Sunday School Hall was on the top floor. This new part cost $111,138. It was paid off by the time it opened. Later, in 1986, a new entrance area was added. More seating was put on the balcony. Sound and lighting equipment were added in 1996.
Damage to the Church
Between 1883 and 1885, Tasmania had several small earthquakes. These were linked to the Krakatoa volcano erupting far away. On July 14, 1884, an earthquake hit Launceston. It damaged chimneys and plaster in many buildings.
At St Andrew's Kirk, some stone decorations on the roof moved. One fell to the ground with great force. It made a 6-inch deep hole in the dirt. Luckily, it missed a group of children going to Sunday School. Years later, on December 30, 1929, another earthquake happened. This one caused one of the church's spires to fall.
The Church Organ
In 1933, the church got a new organ. This organ was first built in 1860 for Dr. Valentine in Campbell Town. Before coming to St Andrew's Kirk, it was used in Hobart and Latrobe.
In 1961, the organ was rebuilt and made bigger. In 2005, parts of its internal system were updated.
See also
- Presbyterian Church of Australia
