St Andrew's Church, Bundaberg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Andrew's Church, Bundaberg |
|
|---|---|
St Andrew's Church, 2006
|
|
| 24°52′03″S 152°20′47″E / 24.8676°S 152.3465°E | |
| Country | Australia |
| Denomination | Seventh-day Adventist |
| Previous denomination |
|
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | 24 October 1931 |
| Dedication | Saint Andrew |
| Dedicated | 3 September 1932 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | Lange Leopold Powell |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Years built | 1931–c. 1940 |
| Construction cost | A£12,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 35 metres (115 ft) |
| Width | 12 metres (41 ft) |
| Height | 22 metres (71 ft) |
St Andrew's Church is a special building in Bundaberg, Australia. It is a Seventh-day Adventist church located at the corner of Maryborough and Woongarra Streets. A famous architect named Lange Leopold Powell designed it. The church was built between 1931 and around 1940. It is so important that it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 2004.
The church started as a Presbyterian church in 1931. Later, in 1977, it became a Uniting church. Since 2004, it has been used by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Contents
A Look Back: Church History
St Andrew's Church was built in 1932. It replaced an older Presbyterian church that stood on the same spot since 1882. The land for the church was bought in 1881. It was held by three important members of the church community.
How the Church Was Built
The money for the 1932 church came mostly from the Bundaberg Presbyterian community. In 1925, the Presbyterian Women's Guild started a "New Church Fund." Over six years, they worked with other church groups to raise a lot of money. They collected about £3,500. Then, in just six months in 1931, they raised another £2,000! The last bit of money came from a loan.
Raising so much money quickly showed how well the sugar industry in Bundaberg was doing. This was true even during the Great Depression in the early 1930s. Building the church also helped create jobs for local people. The church made sure that 75% of the building money was spent on local workers and materials.
The Architect and Design
Lange L. Powell, a well-known architect from Brisbane, designed St Andrew's Church. He had designed many important buildings in Queensland. Powell described St Andrew's as having a "broad free gothic style." This style reminded him of churches from the 14th century. He also made sure the design worked well for Queensland's warm climate. All the windows could open, and the roof eaves were designed to let air flow through.
The church's design also made the most of its location. It is on a corner block, right across from Buss Park and the Anglican Church. Powell decided to face the church along Maryborough Street. This way, people could see the side of the church, and the tall tower on the eastern side stood out.
The community loved the design. Local newspapers called it the "Latest Addition to Bundaberg Architecture." They also mentioned that Powell had lived in Bundaberg as a child. His father was a Methodist Minister in the town.
Building and Opening
The foundation stone for St Andrew's was laid on October 24, 1931. This happened during the church's 50-year celebration. Powell oversaw the building work, which was done by Cornelius Johannes Vandenberg. The church officially opened on September 3, 1932. The total cost was more than £12,000.
Powell also designed some of the church's furniture. Many of the inside pieces were made from silky oak wood. The seats on the raised platform (called the dais) were made to be comfortable. There are also two beautifully carved chairs. One is for the Moderator during Communion Services, and the other is at the pulpit. The communion table and the pulpit itself were also very detailed. They had carved symbols of the Presbyterian Church. The baptismal font was a gift from before and was moved from the old 1882 church.
The Carillon Tower and Bells
The tall carillon tower was built to remember those from St Andrew's who died in the First World War. These memorials were very important after the war. Communities wanted a way to remember the many young men who were lost.
The tower holds a set of bells called a "Peal of Bells." The biggest bell has the symbol of the burning bush on it. The bells were made in England by John Taylor & Co. A woman named Miss Amy Ethel Maud Peirson donated them to remember her family. When it was built, St Andrew's was believed to be the first Presbyterian Church in Australia with a carillon. It was also one of only seven Presbyterian Churches in the world with a set of bells. The bells have become a well-known sound in Bundaberg. You can hear them ringing throughout the city center.
Changes Over Time
In the early 1970s, the church members thought about joining the new Uniting Church in Australia. After discussions, most people voted to join. The official change happened in 1977. Some members wanted to stay Presbyterian. They moved to a smaller church because there weren't enough of them to keep St Andrew's.
In 2004, the church was sold to the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
What the Church Looks Like
St Andrew's Church in Bundaberg is a large brick church. It stands in the middle of the city, at the corner of Maryborough and Woongarra Streets. It is directly across from Buss Park.
The church is built in the Gothic Revival style. Its main shape is like a cross (called cruciform). It faces north, with the main altar area (the sanctuary) at that end. The building uses different colored bricks. It also has decorative cement details on the outside walls. The roof is covered with fibrous-cement tiles. The church is built on a strong cement foundation. It measures about 35 meters long and 12.5 meters wide.
The Tower and Windows
A tall carillon tower stands on the eastern side of the church. It has a "battlement design" at the top, like a castle. The tower is about 21.6 meters tall and gets slightly narrower towards the top. Each side of the tower has decorative arched openings. The top of the tower has the cross of St Andrew on the middle battlement. Inside the tower are the bells, including one with the burning bush symbol. This bell is dedicated to the Pierson family. A special board in the tower entrance remembers those who died in the First World War. Other memorials have been added later.
The main entrance is at the southern end of the church. Above this entrance is a large stained glass window. It has four big panels with seven crosses at the top, all set within an arch. There are six stained glass windows along each side of the main hall (the nave). These windows are placed between the strong support structures called buttresses. Inside, the roof is supported by exposed arched wooden structures called trusses. These are made of dark stained pine and are a main feature of the ceiling.
Inside the Church
The raised platform, or dais, holds many wooden furnishings. These are carved from beautiful silky oak timber. They include specially designed seats, two detailed chairs for the Moderator and the pulpit, the communion table, and the pulpit itself.
There are two small rooms called vestries on either side of the dais. One is for the Minister on the eastern side, and the other is for the choir on the western side. Behind the dais, a decorative plaster panel (called tracery) hides the organ pipes. Above this panel are three small, three-leaf shaped (called trefoil) stained glass windows.
Outside Features
A low stone fence marks the eastern and southern edges of the church property. At the corner where the two fences meet, there is a small gate with a roof. This gate looks a bit like a lych gate. It is made of the same stone as the fence and has a fibrous-cement tiled roof.
Gardens are planted along the sides and southern end of the church. These include garden beds along the walls, small shrubs, and some trees. These gardens help connect the church grounds with the nearby Buss Park.
Why St Andrew's Church is Special
St Andrew's Church was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 2004. This means it is a very important historical place.
- A Sign of History: The church shows how Bundaberg was doing well in the early 1930s. This was during the Great Depression, when many other places were struggling. The community raised most of the money for the church themselves. They also made sure the money was spent locally to help create jobs. The carillon tower is also a special memorial for those who died in the First World War.
- Rare and Unique: St Andrew's Church is special because it was the first Presbyterian Church in Australia to have a carillon (a set of bells). When it was built, it was also one of only seven Presbyterian Churches in the world with a set of bells.
- A Great Example of Design: The church is a good example of a large brick church built between the two World Wars. It is in the Gothic architectural style. The famous architect Lange L. Powell designed it. It has many Gothic features, like its uneven shape and a tower without a pointy spire.
- Beautiful to See: The church is very beautiful, both inside and out. Its design is impressive and lovely. The stained glass windows, the specially made furniture, and the sound of the bells all add to its beauty. The way it was designed also worked well with Buss Park and the Anglican Church nearby.
- Important to the Community: The church is very important to the Presbyterian and Uniting communities, and to Bundaberg in general. It is a landmark in the city. St Andrew's has been a central place for social and spiritual events for these communities. The bells, in particular, have become a well-loved local feature.
