St Paul's Anglican Church, East Brisbane facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Paul's Anglican Church |
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View from Balmoral Terrace, 2015
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| 27°29′08″S 153°02′41″E / 27.4856°S 153.0447°E | |
| Country | Australia |
| Denomination | Anglican Church of Australia |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | 23 March 1924 |
| Founder(s) | Archbishop Gerald Sharp |
| Dedication | Saint Paul |
| Dedicated | 21 September 1924 by Archbishop Gerald Sharp |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | Atkinson & Conrad |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style |
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| Completed | 1924 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Paul's, East Brisbane |
| Diocese | Brisbane |
St Paul's Anglican Church is a special church in East Brisbane, Australia. It was built in 1924 and designed by the famous architects Atkinson and Conrad. This church is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because it's an important part of history and has beautiful design. It also has a columbarium, which is a place to keep the ashes of people who have been cremated.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's Story
St Paul's Church was built during a time when the Anglican Church in Queensland was growing fast. Many new churches were built then, especially in the Brisbane area.
Early Days in East Brisbane
East Brisbane was once a quiet, rural area. In the mid-1880s, it started to become a residential suburb. When electric trams arrived in 1897 and 1901, more people moved to the area. This helped the suburb grow steadily from the 1910s to the 1930s.
Anglican church services began in East Brisbane in 1887. They were first held in a building called "The Grange." Later that year, a timber (wooden) church was opened at 559 Vulture Street East. This first church was also used for Sunday School.
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For many years, priests from other churches helped lead services at St Paul's. In 1912, the church community started raising money for a new, bigger church. World War I caused some delays, but fundraising continued.
Building a New, Permanent Church
In 1921, Gerald Sharp became the Archbishop of Brisbane. He encouraged a big expansion for the Anglican Church. Over the next ten years, 57 new churches were built in the Brisbane area. Many older wooden churches were replaced with stronger brick ones.
By 1922, the church decided to build a new brick church. This was seen as a more "permanent" building. In 1923, a new, higher piece of land was bought for the church. This spot was chosen because it was "nearer the tramline and in a more conspicuous position," meaning it was easier to see and get to.
Designing St Paul's Church
In January 1924, the church's architects, Atkinson and Conrad, created the design for the new St Paul's. This firm was very well-known and designed many churches and schools for the diocese.
The new St Paul's Church was designed with a main hall called a nave, and a rounded area at the east end called a chancel. It also had a side porch, small rooms called vestries for the organ and choir, and a belfry (bell tower). The church could hold up to 250 people.
The design used dark red-brown bricks with white bands, a style sometimes called "blood and bandage." It also featured a lych gate at the entrance, which is a covered gateway. This was one of the first lych gates for a church in Queensland. The words "Seek and ye shall find" were carved above the gate.
The architects used a modern style for churches in the 1920s. This style mixed traditional church elements with simpler designs. They used brick because it was considered a permanent material, allowing the church to be "consecrated" (officially set apart for sacred use).
Architect Arnold Conrad believed that churches should help people feel closer to God. He said they should "create the right spiritual emotion by surrounding the worshippers with beauty." He liked using brick, simple interior walls, large windows, and heavy timber roofs. The timber roof in St Paul's looks like the inside of a ship, which is a traditional symbol for the church guiding its members.
Construction and Opening
The builder, J Hood, started work in early 1924. The foundation stone was laid on March 23 by Archbishop Sharp. Construction took about six months.
St Paul's was one of eleven new Anglican churches built in Brisbane in 1924. This was a time of great growth and prosperity in the city.
Archbishop Sharp officially dedicated St Paul's on September 21, 1924. He was very happy to dedicate a church that was "adequate and permanent." The church was praised for its "pleasing and dignified design" and its good ventilation system, which helped keep the building cool.
Many people donated items to the new church. Mrs. J Tritton bought a bell for the belfry. The Girls' Guild donated a timber altar in memory of soldiers from World War I. A brass eagle lectern came from England. Stained glass windows were added in 1931.
The church was officially consecrated on August 29, 1937. This happened after the church was debt-free and the property was officially owned by the Synod (the church's governing body).
Community Life and Changes
St Paul's became a busy place for the community. Many groups met there, and it was a very popular place for weddings.
In 1949, heavy rain damaged a stone wall, which was later replaced. In 1952, an illuminated cross on the church was sadly destroyed.
In 1954, a columbarium was built at the back of the church. This was a new idea for churches at the time. A columbarium is a wall with small spaces (niches) where the ashes of people who have been cremated can be kept. Cremation was becoming more common in Australia. The columbarium at St Paul's was one of the earliest of its kind in Queensland. It was seen as a modern version of a church graveyard.
Over the years, some changes have been made to St Paul's. A brick hall was built next to the church. The original chairs were replaced with timber pews. In 1993, a pipe organ was installed. The church's roof was replaced in 1997.
Today, St Paul's Anglican Church continues to be an active place of worship for the East Brisbane community.
What St Paul's Church Looks Like
St Paul's Anglican Church stands out on a high spot where Vulture Street and Balmoral Terrace meet. The church grounds include the beautiful brick church, a wooden lych gate, stone walls, and the brick columbarium.
Church Building Design
The church has a traditional shape with a pointed roof. The main part of the church is called the nave. At the back (symbolic east), there's a rounded section called the chancel with a cone-shaped roof. Near the front entrance, there's a porch. On the sides, you'll find two smaller rooms called vestries and a tall bell tower.
The church's design mixes different styles like Gothic, Romanesque, and Arts and Crafts. It uses dark red-brown bricks laid in a special pattern called Flemish bond. White plaster details highlight parts of the building like the edges of walls and windows. Strong supports called buttresses help hold up the outside walls. The roof is covered with metal sheets and has wide, decorative edges. The bell tower has fixed wooden louvres and a concrete dome on top.
Inside the Church
The inside of the church is very detailed, with dark wooden features. The ceiling is made of lighter-colored wood boards. Strong wooden arches, called trusses, support the ceiling. These arches look like the inside of a ship's hull. The rounded chancel ceiling tapers to a point. There are special wooden and metal grilles in the ceiling and window sills that were part of the original ventilation system.
All the doors are made of wood, and most still have their original handles and hinges. Some side doors open onto concrete balconies.
The nave is lit by tall, wooden-framed windows with colored glass and rounded tops. These windows have interesting designs, including religious symbols like "alpha," "IHS" (a symbol for Jesus), and "omega." The stained glass windows in the chancel show scenes from the Bible and remember church members. The floors are made of red concrete, except for the chancel, which has tiles.
Church Furnishings
Most of the church furniture is made of dark wood. The altar table has carved panels and says, "TO THE DEAR MEMORY OF THOSE WHO SERVED IN THE GREAT WAR 1914–18." A special lamp hangs above the altar. You can also see old wooden chairs, tables, and boards for psalms and hymns.
The wooden altar rails are still in the chancel. A stone laid in the wall marks the church's founding, and a concrete plaque remembers its consecration in 1937. On one side of the chancel steps is a raised brick pulpit (where sermons are given), and on the other side is a movable brass lectern shaped like an eagle. The wooden pews are simple and light-colored. A granite baptismal font (for baptisms) with a wooden lid is in the middle of the nave. The organ is on a raised platform in one corner.
Some newer additions inside the church include carpet, fluorescent lights, and ceiling fans.
Lych Gate and Columbarium
The lych gate is the main entrance to the church grounds. It's made of heavy timbers with a pointed roof and has the words "Seek and ye shall find" carved above the archway. Steps lead from the street up to the gate and then to the church entrance.
The columbarium is in a corner of the church grounds. It's a small, open courtyard with tall brick walls. These walls have small spaces, or niches, where ashes are kept behind brass name plaques. There are also small garden beds inside.
Why St Paul's is a Heritage Site
St Paul's Anglican Church and Columbarium was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 2014 for several reasons.
Showing Queensland's History
St Paul's Church shows how the Anglican church grew in Queensland, especially during the 1920s when many new churches were built. It also shows the fast growth of Brisbane's buildings during that time.
The columbarium, built in 1954, is important because it's one of the first of its kind in Queensland. It shows how cremation became more accepted.
Unique Church Features
St Paul's shows the main features of Anglican church architecture from the 1920s. This includes its shape, outside details, and how the inside is laid out. It was designed by famous architects Atkinson and Conrad and is known for its simple but strong brick design. The church has traditional spaces like the nave, chancel, and vestries, along with colored glass windows and church furnishings. The lych gate and stone wall show how old traditions were brought back during this period.
The 1954 columbarium also shows the main features of its type: it's a quiet space within the church grounds with walls that have niches for ashes.
Beautiful and Important Design
St Paul's is considered beautiful because of its unique design. It uses different shapes, strong brickwork, and simple decorations. The inside, with its dark bricks and big wooden roof, feels peaceful and spiritual. All the parts of St Paul's work together to create a lovely and detailed building.
Because it's on a high spot, St Paul's stands out and adds to the look of Vulture Street and the East Brisbane area.
