St John's Anglican Church, Albany facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John's Anglican Church |
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Church tower 2013
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| General information | |
| Type | Church |
| Location | Albany, Western Australia |
| Coordinates | 35°01′23.7″S 117°52′59.4″E / 35.023250°S 117.883167°E |
| Official name | St John's Church |
| Type | State Registered Place |
| Designated | 9 February 1996 |
| Part of | St John's Church Group (3514) |
| Reference no. | 71 |
St John's Anglican Church, also known as St John the Evangelist Anglican Church, is a historic church. You can find it on York Street in Albany, a town in Western Australia. This church is very special because it is the oldest church in all of Western Australia.
Contents
What the Church Looks Like
The St John's Church building is made of stone. It has pointed roofs called gabled roofs, which are covered with wooden shingles. The main walkway inside the church, called the aisle, is built from very thick stone blocks. These blocks are about 22 centimeters (9 inches) thick and were made in England.
The church walls are also very thick, about 54 centimeters (21 inches) wide. The building stands on strong stone foundations. The stone used for the church probably came from nearby hills like Mount Melville and Mount Clarence. Because the walls are so thick, the church does not need extra supports called buttresses.
The original part of the building is now the nave, which is the main area where people sit. A gallery, which is like a balcony, was added behind the nave in 1852. The church's tower and the entrance porch were finished in 1853. The tower has decorative battlements at the top, which look like the walls of a castle.
A Look at the Church's History
How the Church Was Built
The people of Albany worked together to build St John's Church. Construction started in 1841 and was completed in 1844. The church was officially opened and blessed on October 25, 1848. Bishop Augustus Short from Adelaide performed the ceremony. He also introduced John Ramsden Wollaston as the church's first clergyman. At that time, the church was big enough to hold everyone in Albany, which was about 170 people.
The Rectory Building
The rectory, which is the house where the church's priest lives, began being built in 1850 and was finished in the same year. It was first a single-story stone building. Later, in 1875, a second story was added to it. A new rectory was built behind the old one in 1980.
Special Events and Recognition
The first recorded Anzac dawn service was held by this church in 1930. This special service remembers soldiers who served their country.
In 1978, the church, the rectory, the church hall, and even some peppermint trees on the property were added to the list of the National Trust. This means they are important historical places that should be protected.
Canon Edward Argyl became the parish priest in 2011. He served the church until he passed away in 2015.
