St Paul's Anglican Church, Maryborough facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Paul's Anglican Church, Maryborough |
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St Pauls Anglican Church and Hall, 1997
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| Location | 178–202 Adelaide Street, Maryborough, Fraser Coast Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s–1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1878–1921 |
| Architect | Francis Drummond Greville Stanley |
| Official name: St Pauls Anglican Church and Hall | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600705 |
| Significant period | 1870s (historical) 1870s, 1880s, 1920s (fabric) |
| Significant components | church, stained glass window/s, church hall/sunday school hall, tower – bell / belfry |
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St Paul's Anglican Church is a historic church located at 178-202 Adelaide Street in Maryborough, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by a famous architect named Francis Drummond Greville Stanley. The church was built over many years, from 1878 to 1921. It is now protected as a heritage site on the Queensland Heritage Register.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's History
St Paul's Anglican Church was the third Church of England building in Maryborough. It was built on the same spot where an older wooden church once stood. The main church building was designed by a well-known Queensland architect, FDG Stanley, in 1879. Later, in 1921, a large hall was added to the church site. This hall was designed by local architect P.O.E. Hawkes.
How Maryborough Grew
The first Maryborough settlement was not in its current location. It was originally on the north side of the Mary River. This early settlement started around 1847–1848, mainly for shipping wool. In 1850, a surveyor named Hugh Roland Labatt suggested a new, better spot for the town. From the early 1850s, the town grew in this new location, which is where it is today.
The First Churches
The very first Church of England in Maryborough was a simple wooden building. It was built in 1852 at the early settlement. Much of the building work was done for free by local people. Reverend E. Tanner was the first pastor to arrive in Maryborough that year. In 1853, the Maryborough church area became part of the Diocese of Newcastle.
When the town moved, the first wooden church was taken apart. It was then rebuilt on land in Lennox Street. This land is still owned by the Church of England today. After being rebuilt, a wooden bell tower with bells was added to the church.
This second wooden church was used for ten years. It was replaced by another wooden church in 1866. This church was named St Paul's Episcopal Church. It was designed by Maryborough architect William Montgomerie Davenport Davidson. He was a church warden and offered his design services for free.
Maryborough's Gold Rush Boom
Maryborough became very busy in the late 1860s. This was because gold was found in Gympie in 1867. Maryborough was the main port for sending supplies to the gold fields. This led to new businesses and a big increase in people living in the town. More people moved to Maryborough in the 1870s.
Building the Current Church
By 1877, the church decided to build a new, stronger building made of stone. The first stone for the foundation was laid in March 1878. They asked the Colonial Architect, Francis Drummond Greville Stanley, to design the church. Stanley was a government architect, but he was allowed to do private projects too.
Stanley's design for St Paul's Church was very similar to another church he designed. This was the Holy Trinity Church of England in Fortitude Valley. Both churches were built with brick on stone foundations. They had a similar layout with a main nave, side aisles, and a rounded chancel.
St Paul's Church of England officially opened on August 30, 1879. The bishops of Brisbane and North Queensland were there. The building cost about £6000. A local newspaper said it was like Queensland's cathedral. They thought it was bigger and grander than other churches built in Queensland at that time.
The newspaper also described the inside of the church. It mentioned the special roof in the chancel. It also talked about the windows. Some were made of new diamond glass, and the stained glass windows were imported. Other windows were made in Maryborough.
Local builders constructed the church. Mr Caldwell did the stone work, and Mr Taylor did the carpentry. In 1883, an organ gallery was added. It was also designed by FDG Stanley.
The Bell Tower and Hall
A large, separate bell tower was added in 1887. It was built near the church. This tower has nine bells. They were made by Mears White Chapel Bell Founders in London. The tower cost £3500, which was given by ET Aldridge. He suggested building it to remember his wife, Maria. This bell tower is believed to have the only full set of bells in Queensland.
Another big addition was made in 1921. This was a memorial hall, designed by local architect POE Hawkes. The hall was built to honor those who died in World War I. Its foundation stone was laid in August 1920. This happened when the Prince of Wales (who later became King Edward VIII) visited Maryborough.
The hall was designed to match the church. It had a main hall with a stage and dressing rooms. It also had wide verandahs for supper and outdoor classrooms. Local builder WE Ferguson built the hall for £5980. POE Hawkes was a creative local architect. He designed many beautiful buildings in Maryborough.
Inside the church, two special chapels were added later. The Warrior's Chapel was dedicated in 1960. Our Lady's Chapel was dedicated in 1963. Both the church and the hall are still mostly in their original condition.
What Does the Church Look Like?
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St Paul's Anglican Church and Hall are easy to spot in Maryborough. They are on the corner of Lennox, Ellena, and Adelaide Streets. The site has three main parts: the church, the hall, and a tall bell tower.
The Church Building
St Paul's Church is a large building from the 1800s. It is built in the Gothic revival style. It uses face brick with different colored bricks and stucco (a type of plaster). The church has a traditional cross shape. It has a main nave with aisles along the sides. There are also shallow transepts (the arms of the cross) and a rounded chancel at one end. The roof is very steep and covered with a modern metal material.
The front of the church has a central entrance with a porch. This entrance has a pointed arch doorway. On either side of the doorway are tall, narrow windows. These windows, like others on the church, have contrasting brick and stucco details. The church's main section has strong supports called buttresses. These go above the roofline and end in decorative pinnacles. Above the main entrance is a large window with four narrow sections and three foiled windows above.
Inside, the church has a nave and aisles. These are separated by arches supported by cast iron columns. The roof is supported by wooden trusses. Many windows in the side aisles have beautiful stained glass. The chancel is separated from the nave by a pointed arch screen. The chancel has a semi-domed wooden ceiling and four panels of old stained glass.
The Bell Tower
The tower next to the church is three stories tall. It has a flat, castle-like top, but it is missing a spire (a pointed roof). Strong buttresses are at the corners of the tower. It has many narrow windows, often in groups of two or three. These windows also have stucco details. The top of the tower has a decorative edge above a molded cornice.
St Paul's Hall
St Paul's Hall is a big brick building. It is similar in size and shape to the church. It has a central auditorium with a steeply pitched roof covered in terracotta tiles. The hall has side aisles and transept-like sections. The front of the hall has a central porch. The building uses brick with stucco details. The side of the building has semi-open verandahs. Above these verandahs are large arched windows. Small vents stick out from the roof. Some modern additions have been made to one end of the hall.
Why is it a Heritage Site?
St Paul's Anglican Church and Hall were added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992. This means they are important for several reasons:
A Glimpse into Queensland's Past
The church shows how Maryborough grew in the 1800s. Its large size and beautiful design prove how important Maryborough was as a port and a center for the Burnett region back then.
Unique Features
The hall is a special example of a memorial hall built with a church. The bell tower is very rare because it has the only full set of bells in Queensland. Both the church and the hall are beautiful buildings in Maryborough.
A Great Example of Its Kind
The church is a perfect example of a large 19th-century Gothic revival church building.
Connected to Important People
These buildings are linked to important Queensland architects. These include FDG Stanley and POE Hawkes.
