St Mark's Anglican Church, Rockhampton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mark's Anglican Church, Rockhampton |
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St Mark's Anglican Church, 2009
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| Location | 36 Larnach Street, Allenstown, Rockhampton, Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1900–1914 (early 20th century) |
| Built | 1900 |
| Architect | Louis Spier Robertson |
| Architectural style(s) | Gothic |
| Official name: St Marks Church | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 28 July 2000 |
| Reference no. | 602031 |
| Significant period | 1900s (historical) 1900s (fabric) ongoing (social) |
| Significant components | views to, stained glass window/s, furniture/fittings, baptistry, church |
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St Mark's Anglican Church is a historic building in Allenstown, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by architect Louis Spier Robertson and built in 1900. This church is special because it shows how towns grew and how churches helped communities. It is also important for its unique design features.
The church was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 28 July 2000. This means it is a protected building because of its historical and architectural importance.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's Story
When Was St Mark's Church Built?
St Mark's Anglican Church was built in Allenstown in 1900. The architect who designed it was Louis Spier Robertson from Rockhampton.
The first stone of the church was laid on 14 October 1900. This special event was done by Mrs. Dawes. She was the wife of the first Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Rockhampton, Bishop Nathaniel Dawes. The church was finished quickly and held its first service on Sunday, 23 December 1900.
How Allenstown Got Its Name
St Mark's Church is on Larnach Street. This street was likely named after J.A. Larnach. He was an early church leader in Rockhampton in the 1860s.
The area of Allenstown was the first suburb south of the Fitzroy River. It got its name from William Allen. He was a merchant and an important member of the Primitive Methodist Church. Around 1864, William Allen divided his land into smaller blocks. He sold these blocks to working men for a low price. People started calling the area "Allen's Town" because of him.
St Mark's: A Unique Survivor
St Mark's Church is one of two identical buildings. Both were built in 1900 by the Anglican Cathedral Parish. They were made to serve people living in Rockhampton's suburbs. The other church, located in Wandal, has since been taken down. This makes St Mark's special because it is the only one left. It still looks much like it did when it was first built.
The Start of Anglican Churches in Rockhampton
The first Anglican church leader to visit Rockhampton was Bishop Edward Tufnell. He was Queensland's first Anglican Bishop. He came in November 1860. Before that, lay ministers (people who were not priests) held Anglican services in Rockhampton in the late 1850s.
After Bishop Tufnell's visit, Reverend Thomas Jones arrived. He was a popular early Anglican rector. In 1862, he encouraged his church members to raise money. They raised enough to build a small timber church. This church was built where the Cathedral Hall and Offices are today.
Later, more money was raised for a new, bigger church. Plans were drawn, and construction began on St Paul's Church in 1872. This building was not fully finished until 1883. In 1892, the Church of England Diocese of Rockhampton was formed. St Paul's Church then became the main church, known as the Cathedral Church of Saint Paul the Apostle. Bishop Nathaniel Dawes became the first bishop on 30 November 1892.
What is the Oxford Movement?
St Mark's is the only church building in south Rockhampton that still uses the old timber style. Its inside also shows the influence of the Oxford Movement. This movement changed how churches were set up.
The Oxford Movement started in the early 1800s. It was a group of Anglican thinkers who wanted to focus more on spirituality. They believed the church should be more about faith and rituals. This movement changed church interiors. It made the altar (where communion is held) the main focus, rather than the pulpit (where sermons are given).
One example of this influence is the rood screen. A rood screen is a decorative screen. It stands across the entrance to the chancel (the area around the altar) in a church. It often has carvings and paintings.
The Rood Screen at St Mark's
The rood screen inside St Mark's is thought to have been put up in the 1920s. Many rood screens in the Rockhampton Anglican Diocese were built as memorials after World War I. St Mark's does not have a plaque to confirm this, but it is believed to be a war memorial.
Besides St Mark's, other churches in the Rockhampton Anglican Diocese with rood screens are in Mount Morgan, Jericho, and Barcaldine.
The inside of St Mark's is mostly original. However, the sanctuary (the area around the altar) was changed in the 1960s. The altar decorations are from the 1960s. There is also an Icon of Saint Mark. This was given to the church by the Greek community in the 1950s.
The Church's Sale in 2021
The church building was sold on 22 April 2021. A couple from Townsville bought it for $140,000. The real estate agency said many people were interested in buying it. However, the rules about its heritage listing made some buyers not want it.
What Does St Mark's Church Look Like?
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St Mark's Anglican Church is on Larnach Street in Allenstown. It fits in well with the other timber houses in the area.
Building Materials and Design
The church is made of timber (wood). It has a frame covered with tongue and groove hardwood. Some parts of the wood frame can be seen from the outside. The windows have pointed arch tops, which is a style often seen in Gothic buildings. The roof has a pointed shape (gabled) and is covered with corrugated iron.
Outside Features
The front of the church, facing the street, has a part that sticks out. This is the baptistery, where baptisms take place. On either side of the baptistery are two porches. There is also a small vestry attached to the northern side of the sanctuary at the east end. A vestry is a room where clergy prepare for services.
Inside Features
Inside the church, there is a rood screen across the chancel. The sanctuary has an apsidal shape, meaning it is rounded or curved. St Mark's also has a nave (the main part of the church where people sit). The pews (church benches) and the baptismal font (a basin for baptism) are still in their original form. There is also stained glass in the baptistery, which adds beautiful colors to the light.
Why St Mark's is a Heritage Site
St Mark's Anglican Church was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 28 July 2000. It met several important rules to be listed.
Showing Queensland's History
St Mark's Anglican Church helps us understand how Rockhampton's suburbs grew. It also shows how the Church of England helped meet the needs of people in these new areas, like Allenstown. Allenstown was Rockhampton's first suburb south of the Fitzroy River.
A Rare Church Feature
St Mark's is special because it has a rare feature inside: a rood screen. This screen is an example of how the Oxford Movement influenced church design. It is not common to find these screens still in place today.
Beautiful Gothic Architecture
This church is a great example of timber Gothic-style architecture from 1900. It is the only timber church building left in Rockhampton on the south side of the Fitzroy River. Its design adds to the beauty of Larnach Street. It is valued by both the local community and people from further away.
Important to the Community
This church has a strong connection with the Anglican community in Allenstown and Rockhampton. It is important to them for social gatherings and spiritual reasons.
Connected to Important Work
St Mark's is also linked to the work of the Anglican Diocese of Rockhampton. It shows how the diocese helped serve the people living in Rockhampton's suburbs.
