St Luke's Church of England, Brisbane facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Luke's Church of England, Brisbane |
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Former St Luke's Church of England, 2020
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| Location | 18 Charlotte Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1900–1914 (early 20th century) |
| Built | 1904 |
| Architect | John Smith Murdoch |
| Architectural style(s) | Romanesque |
| Official name: Pancake Manor, St Lukes Anglican Church | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600083 |
| Significant period | 1904 (fabric) 1904–1910, 1904–1950s, 1977, 1979 (historical) |
| Significant components | tower, hall |
| Builders | John Steward & Co |
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St Luke's Church of England in Brisbane is a very old building with a rich history. It used to be a church, but now it's a popular restaurant called Pancake Manor. You can find it at 18 Charlotte Street in Brisbane City, Queensland, Australia.
This special building was designed by an architect named John Smith Murdoch. It was built in 1904 by John Steward & Co. Because of its history and unique design, it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.
A Look Back: St Luke's History
Building a New Church
The land for St Luke's Church was bought in 1903. The Church of England wanted a new "mission church" here. Before this, the mission group had to rent different rooms around Brisbane. St Luke's became their first permanent home.
On 3 February 1904, an important ceremony took place. Sir Herbert Chermside, who was the Governor of Queensland, laid the foundation stone. This stone is like the first brick of a building.
A Temporary Cathedral
For a few years, St Luke's served a very important role. It was a temporary cathedral from 1904 to 1910. This was while the main St John's Cathedral was being built.
The architect, John Smith Murdoch, was chosen to design St Luke's. He was a very busy architect. He worked for the Queensland Works Department and later became a chief architect for the Australian government. He even took time off work to design St Luke's.
The Mission Headquarters
St Luke's was built especially to be the main office for the Anglican Church Mission. It even had meeting rooms in its basement. John Steward & Co built the church. It was officially opened on 14 August 1904.
On 21 December 1904, a special event happened. St Clair George Alfred Donaldson became the Bishop of Brisbane right there in St Luke's. Many important church leaders attended. The church could only fit 402 people, so only those with tickets could get in.
Helping the Community
After 1910, St Luke's became the full-time home for the Anglican Church Mission. This mission group helped people in need. They gave food and shelter to those who didn't have much. They also helped areas that didn't have their own churches.
The mission ran several clubs for young people. One was the Newsboys Club. It offered a place for socialising and spiritual guidance. In 1908, the Overseas Girls Club started. Later, the hall was used by the Girls Friendly Society for meetings and fun activities.
During the World Wars
During World War I, a chaplain named Canon David John Garland worked at St Luke's. He helped soldiers through the Soldiers Church of England Help Society. The Mission also wrote letters to servicemen fighting overseas.
An Anzac Club was opened at St Luke's for soldiers returning from the war. The hall was used for Sunday teas and dances. On 18 June 1917, a special board was put up in the church. It honoured the nurses who served in World War I.
During World War II, St Luke's continued to be a meeting place. Soldiers stationed in Brisbane would come for Saturday night dances.
A New Chapter
St Luke's remained the Mission Headquarters until the 1950s. It was also where the main church meetings (called the Synod of the Diocese) took place until 1977. After that, the church was no longer needed for its original purpose.
In 1979, St Luke's Church was changed into a restaurant. It became the Pancake Manor, which it still is today!
What St Luke's Looks Like
St Luke's is a beautiful brick building. It's built in a style called Romanesque. A big archway with tall windows is a main feature. The roof is quite interesting, with different shapes like hips and gables. There's also a small, eight-sided tower near the entrance. The roof is made of rolled iron.
The brickwork is simple but has bands of different coloured bricks. Stone is sometimes used around the windows and doors. The building has a unique design for its entrances. It has doors on both levels at the chancel end (the part of the church near the altar). This helped make the best use of the small space. The main entrance to the upper church level has a special recessed porch.
Even though the building is now a restaurant, much of its original look is still there. Both the outside and inside are very well preserved.
Why St Luke's is Special
St Luke's was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992. This means it's considered an important historical site. Here's why:
Showing Queensland's History
St Luke's was built to help the Church of England Mission. It provided Christian charity and helped communities without churches. It shows how the church helped people in Queensland's past.
It was also the temporary main church (Pro-Cathedral) from 1904 to 1910. It was the Mission Headquarters for many years. It was also a fun place for Anglican youth groups and veterans from World War I and II.
A Great Example of Design
The building's colourful brickwork and interesting roof shapes make it very appealing to look at. It's a successful example of a building designed for two purposes: a mission headquarters and a church.
Beautiful to Look At
The quality of its brickwork and unique roof designs make the building visually attractive. It fits in well with other old brick buildings nearby, like John Mills Himself.
Creative and Skilled Building
The building shows a high level of creative design and building skill for its time. Its colourful brickwork and interesting roof are good examples of this.
Important to Groups and People
St Luke's has a special connection to the Anglican Church Mission. It was their main base for a long time. It also helped soldiers and young people.
The church was designed by John S Murdoch. He was a very important architect in Queensland's history.
