St John's Anglican Church, South Townsville facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John's Anglican Church, South Townsville |
|
---|---|
![]() St John's Church & Hall, 2003
|
|
Location | 30–34 Macrossan Street, South Townsville, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia |
Design period | 1900–1914 (early 20th century) |
Built | c. 1907–c. 1911 |
Official name: St John's Anglican Church Precinct | |
Type | state heritage (landscape, built) |
Designated | 21 October 1992 |
Reference no. | 600880 |
Significant period | 1900s–1910s (historical) |
Significant components | views to, trees/plantings, church, church hall/sunday school hall, residential accommodation – rectory |
Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
The St John's Anglican Church Precinct is a special group of buildings in South Townsville, Australia. It includes a church, a hall, and a house for the priest (called a rectory). These buildings were mostly built between 1907 and 1911. They are important because they show how the area grew and how the church kept going despite big challenges. The precinct is now protected as a heritage site.
Contents
What is St John's Church Precinct?
The St John's Anglican Church Precinct is a heritage-listed area. This means it's officially recognized as important to Queensland's history and culture. It's located at 30–34 Macrossan Street in South Townsville. The site has a timber church, a timber rectory (the priest's home), and a small church hall. These buildings are some of the oldest Anglican church buildings still standing in the Diocese of North Queensland.
A Look Back: History of the Church
Early Days of Townsville
Townsville started in the mid-1860s. It was a port for new farms in the Kennedy District. The town grew quickly, especially after gold was found nearby in 1867. By the 1870s, Townsville was a busy port and business center.
The Church of England (Anglican Church) set up in Townsville early on. They opened St James' Church in 1871. In 1878, the Diocese of North Queensland was formed. This new church area covered a large part of northern Queensland. Bishop George Henry Stanton arrived in 1879 and helped set up new churches.
Building the First Churches
Ross Island, now called South Townsville, grew into a busy suburb. In 1883, it became part of Townsville. Bishop Stanton bought land on Macrossan Street for a church. The first St John's Church opened there in August 1884. It was described as "a pretty little church." A house for the priest was likely built around 1889.
Surviving the Cyclones
The area faced tough times. In January 1896, Cyclone Sigma hit. It destroyed the first St John's Church and the priest's house. A new church was built and opened in 1898.
But disaster struck again. On March 9, 1903, Cyclone Leonta destroyed the second church and rectory. Photos from that time show just a pile of wood and metal. The church's furniture was saved by the priest.
The church faced money problems after the cyclone. Bishop George Frodsham traveled overseas to raise money. People from many countries helped. It took almost four years to rebuild.
The Current Church: A Smart Design
The third and current St John's Church opened on February 17, 1907. It was designed by Charles Dalton Lynch. He was a well-known architect in North Queensland. Lynch designed the church to be cool in the tropical climate. He added large sliding doors along the sides of the main area (the nave). These doors open onto covered walkways (verandahs). When the doors are open, air flows freely through the church. This was a clever way to keep the building comfortable. The third rectory and the church hall were also built around this time.
South Townsville remained a busy working-class area for many years. St John's Church is still used for services today.
What Does the Precinct Look Like?
The St John's Church, Church Hall, and Rectory are on Macrossan Street. They are across from the South Townsville State School.
St John's Church Building
The church is in the middle of the property. It's a simple, nice-looking timber building. It has a traditional church style but is also designed for the warm climate.
The church sits high up on concrete posts. It has a corrugated iron roof that slopes down on two sides (a gabled roof). This roof extends over verandahs on both sides. A small bell tower is at the front. The front of the roof has simple timber decorations.
The verandahs have timber posts with fancy tops and supports. They have a simple timber railing. There's a small entrance porch at the front. It has a cross on top. The porch used to have openings on both sides, but now stairs are only on one side. The church has tall, narrow windows (lancet windows) at the front and back.
Inside, the main area (nave) is separated from the altar area (sanctuary) by a wide arch. The walls along the nave have two large openings. These have sliding timber doors. When open, they let air move through the church. The ceiling is made of timber boards. The wooden beams supporting the roof can be seen. The church still has its old timber pews (benches).
The Church Hall
The church hall is a simple timber building. It also sits high on concrete posts. Its outside walls are covered with fibrous cement sheets. It has a gabled roof like the church. It has a small entrance porch with timber stairs. The hall has four pairs of stained glass windows on each side.
The Rectory (Priest's House)
The rectory is the priest's house. It's a single-story timber building. It has a gabled roof made of corrugated iron. The house has an L-shape. It has covered verandahs at the front and back. These verandahs have been enclosed with modern materials. The house has old double-hung timber windows.
The Church Grounds
The church grounds slope downwards. They are covered in grass. Concrete paths connect the church and the hall. There are some important trees on the site. These include a native Terminalia tree and mature Frangipani trees. There's also a tall metal flagpole. A low concrete wall and steps are at the front of the property. These show how the buildings might have been arranged a long time ago. The whole area looks nice and fits well with the school across the street.
Why is St John's Special? (Heritage Listing)
St John's Anglican Church Precinct is important for several reasons. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992.
- Shows History: The precinct helps us understand how Townsville grew. It shows how the working-class area of South Townsville developed in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The church and rectory are among the oldest Anglican church buildings in North Queensland.
- Good Example of Design: St John's Church is a great example of its type. It shows how traditional church designs were changed to suit the warm North Queensland climate. The building is still very much like it was when built. It has its original features, like the special windows and sliding doors. It's also an excellent example of the work of architect C.D. Lynch. The whole precinct shows what a religious site looked like in the early 1900s.
- Looks Beautiful: The church has a beautiful design. It mixes traditional European church styles with Queensland's high-set timber buildings and deep verandahs. The group of simple timber buildings in their garden setting looks very pleasant. It also makes the street look better, matching the school across the road.
- Connected to the Church: The precinct has a special link to the Anglican Church's work in North Queensland. The fact that this is the third church and rectory built on the site shows how strong the church was. It kept rebuilding even after facing big problems like cyclones, long distances, and money shortages.