St Denys Anglican Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Denys Anglican Church, Amiens |
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St Denys Anglican Church, Amiens, 2015
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| Location | 17 Trevethan Lane, Amiens, Southern Downs Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919 - 1930s (interwar period) |
| Built | 1923 |
| Architectural style(s) | Gothic |
| Official name: St Denys Anglican Church, Church of St Denys | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 3 August 2005 |
| Reference no. | 602530 |
| Significant period | 1920s (historical) ongoing (social) |
| Significant components | church, furniture/fittings, views to |
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St Denys Anglican Church is a special old church located at 17 Trevethan Lane in Amiens, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1923 and is also known as the Church of St Denys. This church is so important that it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on August 3, 2005.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's Story
The Church of St Denys is a small church made of timber. It was built in 1923 to help the people living in a special community called a "soldier settlement" in Amiens.
What Was a Soldier Settlement?
After World War I, the government wanted to help soldiers who had returned home. They created "soldier settlements" by setting aside land for these brave men. The idea was to give them a fresh start as farmers.
In the Stanthorpe area, a large piece of land was set aside for this purpose. More than 700 returned soldiers were given blocks of land here. Amiens was one of the small railway stops in this area.
Building the Church
In 1922, a group called the Soldiers' Church of England Help Society gave money to help Reverend C. D. Gillman, who was also a returned soldier. He lived in Amiens and worked with the soldier settlements.
The church was built in 1923 using £335 from the Help Society. Some special items for the church, like the altar decorations, came from an Australian army base in Le Havre, France. People believe these items originally came from the Amiens Cathedral in France. They were given to the church in Queensland as a thank you for the Australian soldiers' bravery in France during the 1914-18 war, especially during the Battle of Amiens.
The Ladies Guild from Palmer Green, London, also donated the altar and a small table called a credence table in 1923.
A Church for the Community
The church's simple design shows how the people in the soldier settlement lived. It truly reflects the community it serves. The church was named after Saint Denys, the patron saint of France. This name, along with the gifts from France, shows the strong connection between the church in Queensland and the wartime experiences of many of its members.
Volunteers, many of whom are descendants of the original soldier settlers, have helped maintain the church over the years. Today, the church does not have a full-time priest but is part of the Stanthorpe parish. Services are held sometimes, and people find out about them from the local newspaper.
The church is still very much like it was when it was built. Only the steps to the entrance porch were replaced about 10 years ago.
What the Church Looks Like
St Denys Anglican Church sits on flat land. Behind it is a small hill covered with large granite rocks. To the east of the church, there are more rocks and some local eucalyptus trees. Amiens is in an area known as the Granite Belt of Queensland, famous for its granite formations.
Outside the Church
The church is a small, one-story building made of timber. It has a rectangular shape and sits on low, round concrete posts. The roof is very steep and covered with corrugated iron.
The main entrance is at the back of the building. It has a small, steeply pitched roof over the porch. You get to the porch by new timber steps that were added recently. The church has three small, tall, narrow windows on each side.
Inside the Church
A single arched doorway leads from the entrance into the church. The inside is simple and plain. The ceiling and floor are made of stained cypress pine wood.
The altar, which is a special table, is on a low platform. It holds a brass cross, two candlesticks, and a lectern (a stand for reading). The sanctuary area also has a wooden cabinet and a bench with a desk. The altar cloth is very important because it connects St Denys Anglican Church to the military church at the Australian base in Le Havre, France.
Why This Church Is Special
St Denys Anglican Church was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on August 3, 2005, because it meets important standards.
A Link to History
This church is important because it shows us about the soldier settlement movement after World War I. It also tells us about how the Pikedale area was settled more closely.
The church is special because it is connected to the soldiers who received land here and their families. It has a direct link to Australia's war service in France. This is shown by its dedication to St Denys, the Patron Saint of France. Also, the altar cloth and decorations came from the Cathedral in Amiens, France, and were used in the military church at the Australian base in Le Havre.
Important to the Community
St Denys Church has a strong connection with the people of Amiens and the surrounding area. It has provided spiritual care and a place for social gatherings for over eighty years. This makes it very important to the community's culture and spirit.
