St Mary's Anglican Church, Kangaroo Point facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Anglican Church, Kangaroo Point |
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St Mary's Anglican Church, West Front, 2017
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| Location | 455 Main Street, Kangaroo Point, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s–1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1873 |
| Architect | Richard George Suter |
| Official name: St Marys Anglican Church | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600244 |
| Significant period | 1873, 1879, 1889, 1892–93, 1901, 1931 (fabric) |
| Significant components | stained glass window/s, gate – entrance, church, trees/plantings, furniture/fittings, hall, wall/s, memorial/monument, residential accommodation – rectory, pipe organ, tower – bell / belfry |
| Builders | Alfred Grant |
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St Mary's Anglican Church is a historic church in Kangaroo Point, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Richard George Suter and built in 1873 by Alfred Grant. This beautiful church is located at 433, 447 & 449 Main Street. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992, meaning it's an important part of Queensland's history and culture.
Contents
A Look Back at St Mary's History
The Church of St Mary's in Kangaroo Point was built in 1873. It was designed by Richard G. Suter, who was an architect for the church. Before this stone church, there was an older wooden church built in 1849 closer to the river.
Laying the First Stone
The very first stone for the current church was placed on 30 April 1872. This special event was attended by the Queensland Governor, George Phipps, 2nd Marquess of Normanby. The Anglican Bishop of Brisbane, Edward Tufnell, was also there. Inside this cornerstone, there's a time capsule. It holds a bottle with a signed paper from the Governor and Bishop, church plans, a newspaper from that day, and some old coins.
Opening the Church Doors
The church was officially opened and dedicated to St Mary the Virgin on Wednesday, 5 November 1873. Bishop Tufnell led the dedication ceremony. A few years later, in 1879, the Sunday School building was opened by Bishop Matthew Hale.
Surviving a Storm
In 1892, a big cyclone hit the area. It caused a lot of damage to the church's roof and its small bell tower. You can still see parts of the church that look unfinished. This suggests that a vestry (a room for clergy) or a larger bell tower might have been planned but never built.
Queensland's Oldest Pipe Organ
St Mary's is home to the oldest pipe organ in Queensland. It was made in the early 1800s and brought over from a church in London in 1876. The organ was built by H.C. Lincoln. More parts were added in 1961 by a Brisbane company. Today, experts maintain it, and there are plans to fully restore it in the future.
Other Important Buildings
The church hall was built in 1879. The rectory, which is the house where the church's priest lives, was finished in 1889. It was designed by another church architect, John Hingeston Buckeridge.
A Special Connection
St Mary's was a favorite church for the governors of Queensland when they lived at Old Government House. It has always been known as the naval chapel in Queensland. It even used to have stairs connecting it to the Naval Stores below the cliffs.
Remembering Heroes
After Reverend William Maitland Woods passed away in 1926, a bell tower was built to remember him. He was a former priest at the church and served as an army chaplain during World War I. The bell tower has a plaque and inscriptions on its bells dedicated to him.
In 1950, the Warriors' Chapel was dedicated. It has a special memorial for those who died on HMAS Voyager in 1964. You can also find other plaques and monuments in the church gardens that remember naval heroes.
What St Mary's Looks Like
St Mary's is built in the Gothic style, which means it has pointed arches and tall windows. It sits high up on a hill overlooking the Kangaroo Point quarries and the river. The church is made from a type of stone called Brisbane tuff. It has a cross shape, but with smaller side sections. The roof was originally made of timber shingles but is now covered with ribbed metal. A small stone bellcote sits at the front of the roof.
Inside the Church
Inside, the main part of the church, called the nave, has exposed timber beams that support the roof. The area around the altar, called the sanctuary, is plastered. Its ceiling has three beautiful paintings by a famous artist named R. Godfrey Rivers.
The Hall and Rectory
The church hall is a timber building on concrete supports. It also has a cross shape and a stage. Its roof is made of corrugated iron and has a central vent. The rectory is a large, single-story brick house. It has verandahs on three sides and stands on brick pillars. The verandahs have timber posts and railings.
St Mary's Studio: A Place for Art
In the basement of the church hall, there was a place called St Mary's Studio. From 1950 to 2010, it was a hub for many artists, art classes, and art groups. It played a big role in developing Brisbane's art scene. Famous artists like Betty Churcher, Roy Churcher, Margaret Cilento, Jon Molvig, and Mervin Moriarty taught classes there. The Half Dozen Group of Artists used the space as their studio from 1975 until they moved to Sherwood.
Why St Mary's is Important
St Mary's Anglican Church is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because it's very important to Queensland's history and culture.
- It has always been known as the naval chapel in Queensland.
- It contains the oldest pipe organ in Queensland and beautiful religious art by Godfrey Rivers.
- It's one of the few early church sites that still has its original church, hall, and rectory all together.
- It's also one of only two stone churches designed by the architect R.G. Suter that are still standing.
- The church is a well-known and beautiful landmark in Kangaroo Point.
- It has a special connection with the naval community and other groups in Queensland.
