St Andrew's Uniting Church, Brisbane facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Andrew's Uniting Church |
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St Andrew's Uniting Church, 2015
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| 27°27′56″S 153°01′39″E / 27.4655°S 153.0275°E | |
| Country | Australia |
| Denomination | Uniting (since 1977) |
| Previous denomination | Presbyterian (1905–1977) |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | St Andrew's Presbyterian Church |
| Status | Church |
| Dedication | Andrew the Apostle |
| Dedicated | 27 August 1905 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | George David Payne |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Romanesque Revival |
| Years built | 1902–1905 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Brick; concrete |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Andrew's |
| Presbytery | Bremer Brisbane |
| Synod | Queensland |
St Andrew's Uniting Church is a special old church in Brisbane City, Queensland, Australia. It is located at 131 Creek Street, right on the corner with Ann Street. The church was designed by George David Payne and finished in 1905.
It was first known as St Andrew's Presbyterian Church. Later, in 1977, it became part of the Uniting Church. This happened when the Presbyterian, Methodist, and Congregational Churches joined together. The church is so important that it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992.
Contents
The Story of St Andrew's Church
St Andrew's Church was built in 1905. It was for a group of Presbyterian churchgoers. Their old church was on land now used by Brisbane Central Railway Station. The new church was designed by a clever architect named George D. Payne.
First Church Building
The Presbyterian group built their very first church in 1863. It was at the corner of Wickham Terrace and Creek Street. This building was called the Union Presbyterian Church. It celebrated different Presbyterian groups joining together.
The first minister, James Love, came from Ireland. He started preaching in the School of Arts building. The group stayed in their small stone church until 1887. Then, a bigger church was built. This new church was designed by Willoughby Powell. It looked like an early English Gothic building. It had tall buttresses, pinnacles, and a large tower.
But just ten years later, the church group learned bad news. The railway station planned to expand its lines. This meant the church's land would be taken. By 1900, plans for the railway station were firm. The church talked with the Railway Commissioner about money. They agreed on £20,000. This money was to buy new land and build a new church. The old church could be used until October 1903.
Building the Second St Andrew's Church
The church leaders found a new spot for their third church. It was at the corner of Ann and Creek Streets. The land was bought by the church trustees in 1901.
In July 1902, a meeting decided to build a new church. It would cost between £8,000 and £10,000. They held a competition for Brisbane architects to design it. The winner would get £100. The church needed seats for 500 people, with space for 200 more. It also needed an organ, choir areas, a hall downstairs, and other rooms. The building had to be made of brick or stone.
Who Designed the Church?
In October 1902, the winner of the design competition was announced. It was George D. Payne from the Public Works Department. Other architects also won prizes. Payne's design was simple and strong. Some people expected a Gothic Revival style, which was popular then. But Payne's design was different. It is now seen as one of the best examples of the Neo-Romanesque style in the Southern Hemisphere.
George D. Payne had worked in New South Wales before moving to Brisbane in 1898. He worked for the Queensland Public Works Department. He helped design important buildings like the Rockhampton Customs House. He left his job to focus on building St Andrew's Church. His work on St Andrew's made him famous as a skilled architect.
How the Church Was Built
Building the church started in late 1902. Alexander Lind and Son were the builders. The church officially opened on August 27, 1905. The first service was led by Rev. W. Sweyn Macqueen. George Payne stayed involved during the building process. This helped make sure the finished church looked just right.
When the church opened, some people criticized its look. It was very different from other churches. A Presbyterian newspaper called The Messenger said it was "unique" in Australia. It described the style as "early Christian or early Romanesque." This style uses simple, strong shapes. It focuses on impressive size and balance, not lots of fancy decorations.
What is Romanesque Style?
The Romanesque style uses bold shapes and simple designs. It has semicircular arched openings. The chancel area inside has a half-domed ceiling. The entrance area (narthex) and the hall downstairs have vaulted ceilings. Many parts are made of heavy brick. It uses only a few Celtic and Norman decorations.
During the Victorian period, most churches in Britain and its empire were built in the Gothic style. But by the late 1800s, a new trend started. It looked back to earlier church styles, like Byzantine and Romanesque. Payne's design for St Andrew's followed this new direction.
Special Features Inside
The church has many beautiful features. The most amazing are the semi-domed chancel, the organ, and the stained glass windows. The chancel ceiling is a concrete semi-dome. It was one of the first groined vaults in Queensland.
The organ is a fantastic example of work by Austral Organ Works. Its case is made of silky oak and designed by George Payne. It cost £1440. The organ's electric blower was one of the first in Australia. It uses a special rotary action to keep it quiet. The organ's importance shows how much music meant to the Presbyterian church back then.
Three stained glass windows in the narthex are very special. They were made by FW Ashwin and Co. from Sydney. The middle window shows the Burning Bush, a Christian symbol. The two windows next to it show John Knox and John Calvin. These men were important in the early history of Presbyterianism. Ashwin and Co. also made other leaded glass for the church.
People in Brisbane loved the new church. It is still one of the most interesting church buildings in Queensland.
One person said that the inside was "magnificent." They were surprised because the outside looked so simple. They loved the shining brass and silver, the grand arches, and the open space without pillars.
Very few changes have been made to St Andrew's Church since 1905. Around 1914, small changes were made. These helped with sound, air flow, and light. They added new flooring, windows, and electric fans. In 1921, a large stained glass window was added above the narthex.
After 1977, St Andrew's Church became a Uniting Church. This was when the Presbyterian, Methodist, and Congregational churches joined. Some newer changes include turning old rooms into modern offices. Another church, the Ann Street City Uniting Church, joined St Andrew's in 1981.
The first Wickham Terrace church was sold in 1903 for railway plans. But the railway work didn't happen for many years. The church was used for storage until 1929. Then it was a gym until 1942. Finally, the City Congregational Church used it until 1960. That's when the railway station expansion finally began.
What St Andrew's Church Looks Like
St Andrew's Church is a big building made of brick and concrete. It stands out on the corner of Creek and Ann Streets in Brisbane's city center. The building takes up most of its land.
The church is well-designed. Its look comes from the natural materials and strong, simple shapes. It doesn't use a lot of fancy decorations like many other churches. The architect, Payne, liked Romanesque styles. You can see this in the repeated arched openings, vaulted ceilings, and special brickwork.
The building is not perfectly even on both sides. It has main fronts facing both Creek and Ann Streets. It's built with strong brick walls. The foundation and basement are made of concrete. Concrete is also used for window frames, tracery, stairs, and inside ceilings.
The church has a traditional cruciform (cross-shaped) floor plan. This means it has a long main part (the nave) and two shorter parts (the transepts) sticking out to the sides. The roof is made of terracotta tiles and is steeply sloped. There's also a square tower at the main corner. This tower is turned at an angle. It has the main arched doorway at the bottom. The tower also has small circular windows and large arched openings near the top. A simple concrete parapet with four pinnacles sits on top of the tower.
The side of the church facing Ann Street is not symmetrical. It has the end of the western transept and an entrance porch. Between these is a wall with two brick buttresses. These buttresses create a cloister-like area next to the hall in the basement. The transept end has three tall, arched windows. The entrance porch has a semicircular arched doorway. Above it are small circular windows. The Session House (an administrative part) has a bay window on the first floor. Below it is an arched doorway and three small windows with stained glass.
The side of the building facing Creek Street is symmetrical. It has a curved part that sticks out. This part is the outer wall of a corridor behind the chancel. It has several tall, arched windows with stained glass. Below this, at street level, are three arched doorways with steel gates.
Inside the Church
The main entrance is through a large arched doorway at the base of the tower. This leads to a small round entrance room. From here, two curved concrete stairs go to the choir and vestry, and to the main church area. The entrance room has a concrete ceiling and floor. It has words around the top: "ENTER INTO HIS GATES WITH THANKSGIVING."
The main church area is called the auditorium. It is open and spacious. It has a sloped timber ceiling and arched roof trusses. These are stained a dark wood color. The transepts have large windows, some with stained glass. At the back of the church, on the northern wall, are three large stained glass windows. They show stories from the life of Christ.
The large organ dominates the inside. It is in the chancel area, which is raised. A round arch separates the chancel from the rest of the church. The organ case is made of silky oak. It has carved panels and gold lettering. It fits well with the other furniture, like the choir seats. The chancel area has different levels. The elders and minister sit on the lowest level. The choir sits above them, protected by a wrought iron balustrade.
Behind the chancel is a narrow corridor. It connects to the choir stalls and the main stairs. This corridor is dimly lit, making it feel a bit like a catacomb.
The church auditorium has high-quality and unique wooden details. The stairs, doors, windows, and their frames are all well-designed. The church seating, wainscotting, and other fittings are original and add to the building's amazing design.
The Church Hall
Beneath the church auditorium is the church hall. You can enter it from an open porch off Creek Street. The hall has two rows of large concrete pillars. On the eastern side, there is an open courtyard along the Ann Street wall.
The Session House is a two-story part of the building. It holds the church's administrative offices. The original session room and ladies' parlor are there. Even though some areas have been updated, many of the old spaces are still kept.
Why St Andrew's Church is Special
St Andrew's Uniting Church was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992 for many reasons:
- It shows Queensland's history: This large church shows how Presbyterianism grew in Queensland. It was home to one of Brisbane's biggest church groups for many years. Its building in 1905 also shows how the city area grew.
- It is a rare example of architecture: St Andrew's Church is a rare and important example of George D. Payne's work in Brisbane. Even though he worked in Brisbane for many years, no other building he designed is as famous.
- It shows a special type of church design: The church is a great example of how church architecture changed around 1900. It shows strong influences from early Christian, Romanesque, and Byzantine styles. Before this, Gothic styles were most common. St Andrew's is one of the first churches in Brisbane to use this Romanesque style.
- It is beautiful: St Andrew's Church is a landmark in Brisbane. It stands out on Ann and Creek Streets with its strong shapes, like its steep roofs and tower. It has many beautiful and historic features, including its stained glass windows, organ, and the domed ceiling in the chancel.
- It shows great skill: St Andrew's is a very well-designed building. It is creative and well-put-together. It has detailed and original features that fit perfectly.
- It is important to the community: The building has a special connection with the Uniting and Presbyterian Churches. It has been a place of worship for about 90 years. It was home to a church group that started in the 1860s.
