St James' Church, Malanda facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St James Catholic Church, Malanda |
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St James Catholic Church, 1998
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| 17°21′13″S 145°35′21″E / 17.3536°S 145.5891°E | |
| Country | Australia |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Dedication | James, brother of Jesus |
| Dedicated | 23 January 1927 by Bishop John Heavey |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Bob Hassall |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Years built | 1925–1926 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Timber; corrugated iron |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Malanda |
| Diocese | Cairns |
St James Catholic Church is a special Roman Catholic church in Malanda, Australia. It's listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, which means it's an important historical building. The church was designed by Bob Hassall and built by Alby Halfpapp. It was finished in late 1926 and officially opened on January 23, 1927.
The church is looked after by the Malanda Parish, which is part of the Diocese of Cairns.
Contents
Discovering the Church's History
The St James Catholic Church in Malanda was built in 1926. A local resident, Mr. Bob Hassall, designed both the church building and its altar. Another local, Mr. Alby Halfpapp, was the builder. Both the church and its altar were made using timber from the local area.
The English Family's Role
The land for the church was given by Mr. James English. He was also the chairman of the church building committee. James English and his family were among the first people to settle in Malanda. They arrived in 1907 from New South Wales, looking for cedar timber.
The Queensland Government had a plan called the Group Settlement Act. This law helped groups of families or friends get land together. This encouraged early settlers to help each other. The English family was one of the first groups to get land in Malanda under this plan.
Building Malanda Town
James English set up a timber mill because there was a lot of timber on his land. He moved an old mill from Tolga and rebuilt it in Malanda. This mill provided wood for many buildings in Malanda. It supplied timber for shops on English Street, the Majestic Picture Theatre, and the Malanda Hotel.
James English also saw that travelers needed a place to stay when the Tablelands railway line reached Malanda in 1910. So, he built the Malanda Hotel. This hotel is still owned by the English family today.
Building the Church Community
In the early 1900s, Malanda didn't have any church buildings. Religious services were held in a hall next to the hotel. In 1925, the Catholic community, including the English family, decided to build a church.
They formed a committee on August 9, 1925, to plan the church. They decided to build a church big enough for 200 people. Mr. Hassall was asked to draw the plans. Mr. Halfpapp was chosen to build the church.
They first thought about a concrete floor but later changed it to a wooden floor. They also decided to add a choir gallery if it didn't make the cost too high. Timber mills from nearby towns were asked to provide wood. P. English of Malanda won the bid to supply all the timber.
Generous Donations
Many people donated money to help build the church. James English gave £100. Other committee members like Mick Lynch, Dan O'Connell, Peter and Lou Kenny, and Jack Hanrahan each gave £50.
James English also donated one acre of land for the church. This land was worth about £600 and came from his own home property. The timber for the church's altar is also believed to have come from the English family's land. The beautiful white and gold altar was designed by Mr. Hassall and built by Steve Purcell, a cabinet maker in Mareeba.
Mrs. Catherine English, James's wife, was very keen to see the church built. Sadly, she passed away before it was finished. The church was completed by November 1926. It was named St James and officially opened and blessed by Bishop John Heavey on Sunday, January 23, 1927.
What the Church Looks Like
St James Catholic Church is a small, single-story timber church. It sits on a large piece of land on Monash Avenue in Malanda. From here, you can see views of the town and the surrounding area.
The church is about 22 meters long and 12 meters wide. It has a small front entrance area that forms a porch. You can enter the church through side stairs. The roof is high and pointed, made of red corrugated iron. A Celtic cross decoration sits at the top of each pointed end of the roof.
The church is raised off the ground on short, round timber stumps. The outside walls are made of cream-colored timber boards.
Inside the Church
Double timber doors lead into a simple but beautiful inside. The inner walls are made of timber panels painted off-white. There's a false ceiling from the 1960s, but the original timber ceiling is still there underneath it. The shiny wooden floor is made from local rainforest timber called "black bean."
At the back of the church, timber stairs lead up to the original choir gallery. This area is now used for storage, but it can also hold extra seating.
A central walkway leads down to the altar. On each side of this walkway, there are nine timber pews (church benches) made from maple wood. The communion rail, which used to separate the altar area, has been removed. However, you can still see where it was on the floorboards.
Windows and Exits
The church has tall, narrow, pointed windows called 'lancet' windows on all sides. Each window has three glass panes. The bottom two panes can slide open, and they are yellow. The top pane is fixed and is green. Some windows have been replaced with clear glass over the years.
There's a single lancet window in the front entrance area, but it has fixed timber louvers instead of glass. Two single windows are on the front wall, matching the one in the entrance. Three single lancet windows are joined together to form a "Trinity window" in the front and back pointed roof sections. Along each side of the church, there are four double-lancet windows.
The church has three main exits: the double front doors and two single timber doors at the back. One of these back doors leads from the vestry (a room for the priest), and the other leads from a storage room.
The Altar
The original timber altar is very detailed and makes this simple country church feel special. The altar has a flat top supported by eight columns. Behind the columns, there's a panel carved with Gothic designs and a Celtic cross, highlighted with gold paint. Small gold designs on the panels include grape leaves, a chalice, grapes, and barley.
In the center of the altar table is a tabernacle, which is a special cabinet. Above the tabernacle is a crucifix inside a narrow pointed arch. On each side of the tabernacle, there are three decorative pointed arches with fancy timber carvings on top. The white painted carvings have gold details. A Celtic cross forms the very top of the altar, reaching towards the false ceiling.
A newer timber altar from the 1960s is placed in front of the original altar. This allows the priest to face the people during mass.
There's a small vestry room (about 3.5 x 3.5 meters) to the right of the altar. An identical room is on the left side. This room is used for storage and for preparing flowers for the church altar.
The church is located on a hill. Before the trees grew tall, it would have had amazing views of Malanda town and the area around it. The Presbytery, where the parish priest lives, is behind the church.
Why St James Church is Special
St James Catholic Church and Altar was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on July 28, 2000. This means it's important for several reasons:
- It shows Queensland's history: The church is linked to the English Family, who were important founders of Malanda. They were early settlers who came to the area in 1907.
- It's a great example of a timber church: St James Catholic Church is a beautiful example of a church built mostly from wood.
- It's beautiful and well-made: The church's simple design, with its carved details and furniture, shows high-quality craftsmanship using local timber. The main altar, which is very detailed, has been kept and adapted over time.
- It's important to the community: The church has a strong connection with the Catholic community of Malanda. Building it involved many people in the early days of the town.
- It's connected to important people: The church has a special link to the English Family, who were known as the founders of Malanda. They were early settlers who helped develop the region.
