St Mark's Anglican Church, Rockhampton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mark's Anglican Church, Rockhampton |
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
St Mark's Anglican Church, 2009
|
|
| 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 |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
St Mark's Anglican Church is a special old building in Allenstown, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by an architect named Louis Spier Robertson and built in 1900. This church is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, which means it's an important historical place.
Contents
History of St Mark's Church
St Mark's Anglican Church was built in Allenstown in 1900. The architect who designed it was Louis Spier Robertson, who lived in Rockhampton.
The first stone for St Mark's Church was laid on October 14, 1900. This was done by Mrs. Dawes, whose husband, Bishop Nathaniel Dawes, was the first Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Rockhampton. The church was finished quickly and held its first service on December 23, 1900.
The street where the church is located, Larnach Street, was likely named after J.A. Larnach. He was an important member of the Anglican Church in Rockhampton in the 1860s.
How Allenstown Got Its Name
Allenstown was the first suburb south of the Fitzroy River in Rockhampton. It was named after William Allen, a merchant and a leader in the Primitive Methodist Church. Around 1864, William Allen divided his land into smaller blocks. He sold these blocks to working men, allowing them time to pay. People started calling the area "Allen's Town" because of him.
St Mark's Church in Allenstown was one of two identical churches built in 1900. The Anglican Cathedral Parish built them to serve people living in Rockhampton's suburbs. St Mark's still looks much like it did when it was built. The other identical church, located in Wandal, was later taken down.
The Church's Unique Features
St Mark's is the only church building in south Rockhampton that still shows its original timber style. Inside, the church has kept its original layout and special church items. It has a rood screen across the chancel, which is a rare feature. A rood screen is like an open, often decorated, screen that separates the main part of the church from the altar area. St Mark's also has an apsidal sanctuary, which means the area around the altar is rounded.
The rood screen in St Mark's was likely put in during the 1920s. Many other rood screens in the Rockhampton Anglican Diocese were built as memorials after World War I. While St Mark's doesn't have a special plaque, it's thought that its screen might also be a memorial.
Besides St Mark's, only a few other Anglican churches in the Rockhampton Diocese still have rood screens. These are found in Mount Morgan, Jericho, and Barcaldine.
Inside, St Mark's is mostly in its original condition. The altar area was changed a bit in the 1960s with new coverings. The altar furnishings are from the 1960s. There is also an Icon of Saint Mark that was given by the Greek Community in the 1950s.
The church building was sold on April 22, 2021, to a couple from Townsville. Even though many people were interested, the rules about its heritage listing made some buyers hesitate.
What St Mark's Church Looks Like
_-_side_view.jpg)
St Mark's Anglican Church is on Larnach Street in Allenstown. It fits in well with the other timber houses in the area.
The church is made of timber and covered with tongue and groove hardwood. Some parts of the timber frame can be seen from the outside. The windows have pointed arch tops. The roof is gabled (shaped like an upside-down V) and covered with corrugated iron.
The front of the church, facing the street, has a part that sticks out called a baptistery. On each side of this, there are two porches. At the back, on the northern side of the sanctuary, there's a small room called a vestry.
Inside, as mentioned, there is a rood screen across the chancel and a rounded sanctuary. St Mark's also has a nave (the main part of the church), pews (church benches), and a baptismal font (a basin for baptisms), all in their original style. The baptistery also has beautiful stained glass windows.
Why St Mark's is a Heritage Site
St Mark's Anglican Church was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on July 28, 2000. This means it meets certain important standards.
Showing 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 living in these new areas, like Allenstown, which was Rockhampton's first suburb south of the Fitzroy River.
Rare Features
St Mark's is special because it has a rare rood screen inside. This type of church decoration is linked to a religious movement called the Oxford Movement.
Beautiful Design
This church is a great example of timber Gothic-style architecture from 1900. It's the only timber church building of its kind remaining in Rockhampton on the south side of the Fitzroy River. Its design also adds to the beauty of Larnach Street, and it's valued by both the local community and people from further away.
Community Connection
This church has a strong connection with the Anglican community in Allenstown and Rockhampton. It's important to them for social and spiritual reasons.
Important Work
St Mark's is also connected to the work of the Anglican Diocese of Rockhampton. It shows how the church helped serve the people living in Rockhampton's suburbs.
