St Paul's Uniting Church, Mackay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Paul's Uniting Church, Mackay |
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St Paul's Uniting Church, in 2009
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| 21°08′31″S 149°11′01″E / 21.142°S 149.1836°E | |
| Country | Australia |
| Denomination | Uniting (since 1977) |
| Previous denomination | Presbyterian (1897–1977) |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | St Paul's Presbyterian Church |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | c. 1897 |
| Founder(s) | Reverend James Gibson |
| Dedication | Paul the Apostle |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | Walter Carey Voller |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Arts and Crafts |
| Years built | 1898–1918 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Timber |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Paul's, Mackay |
| Presbytery | Carpentaria |
| Synod | Queensland |
St Paul's Uniting Church is a special old church in Mackay, Queensland, Australia. It is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, which means it's an important historical building. The church is located at 21 MacAlister Street.
It was designed by an architect named Walter Carey Voller. Building work happened between 1898 and 1918. Before it became a Uniting Church in 1977, it was known as St Paul's Presbyterian Church.
History of St Paul's Church
This large, single-storey church is made of timber. It first opened its doors as St Paul's Presbyterian Church in 1898.
Early Days of the Church
The Presbyterian community in Mackay started in 1872. They built their first church in 1875. A house for the minister, called a manse, was built three years later.
In 1895, Reverend James Gibson became the new minister. Under his leadership, the church community grew a lot. Soon, they decided to build a bigger, new church.
Building the New Church
The design for the new church was chosen from an architect named Walter Carey Voller from Brisbane. Construction started in 1897. Reverend Gibson was very involved, even saying he helped hammer in many of the nails himself!
Reverend Gibson was a very important person in the church in Queensland. He later became the main leader for the whole Presbyterian Church in Australia.
The Boys' Brigade Starts Here
An interesting fact is that the very first Boys' Brigade group in Queensland began at this church in 1897. The Boys' Brigade is a Christian youth organization that helps young people develop good character.
Surviving the 1918 Cyclone
In 1918, Mackay was hit by a terrible cyclone. It was the worst storm in the city's history. Many buildings were destroyed, including other churches.
St Paul's Church was damaged, but it survived. After the cyclone, repairs were made. During these repairs, a special area for the choir and a meeting place for church leaders were added. Later, in 1953, a large pipe organ was installed inside the church.
What the Church Looks Like
St Paul's Uniting Church is a single-storey building made of timber. It sits on low timber and concrete stumps. The outside walls are covered with special timber boards called chamferboards. The roofs are very steep and covered with corrugated iron.
The church is located on a street with many old trees. It stands between two other buildings of similar size: the Sunday School hall (built in 1919) and the Youth Centre (built in 1958).
Church Layout and Design
The church has a shape like a Latin cross when you look at it from above. This means it has a long main part called the nave. It also has two shorter parts sticking out on the sides, called transept wings. At the front, there's a chancel area where the choir loft is. There are also smaller rooms for the organ and for private use.
The main entrance to the church is at the western end of the nave, facing the street.
Entrances and Bell Tower
The front of the church has a tall, pointed wall called a gable. Below it, there's a lower roof and wall that connects to two entry areas called vestibules. These two entry areas are on the front corners of the nave. Each one has arched timber doors and a few steps leading up to them.
The church looks the same on both sides, except for one special feature. Over the left entry area, there's a beautifully detailed timber belfry. A belfry is a tower where bells are kept. This one has a steep, unique roof. There are also two more entry porches on the eastern side of the transepts.
Inside the Church
When you enter through the vestibules, you step into the large nave. It has a very high, arched ceiling with lovely exposed timber beams. At the end of the nave, a large arch frames the organ and the choir loft. In front of the choir area, there's a raised platform called a dais with low timber railings. The pulpit, where the minister speaks, and the baptismal font, used for baptisms, are on this dais.
The transepts are separated from the main crossing area by timber columns and decorative timber arches. The church has tall, narrow arched windows. These windows often have panels of colored glass. On the front of the church, there are three stained glass windows with more modern designs. From the outside, the windows have timber frames that follow the arch shape.
Most of the church's original fittings are still there, and the building is very well preserved. Any small additions made over time fit in well with the church's original style.
Why St Paul's Church is Special
St Paul's Uniting Church was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on August 21, 1992. This means it's recognized as an important historical place for several reasons.
A Rare Old Timber Church
This church is special because it's a rare example of a timber church from the 1800s that is still in great condition in North Queensland. It's also one of the few public buildings in Mackay that survived the huge cyclone in 1918.
A Good Example of Church Design
St Paul's Uniting Church shows what a typical timber church from the 1800s in a country town looked like. Its design, with its different parts and beautiful details, is considered very well done.
Important to the Community
The church has a strong connection with the Presbyterian community and, later, the Uniting Church community in Mackay. It has been a central place for people to gather for religious and social reasons for many years.
Connected to an Important Person
The church is also important because of its link to Reverend James Gibson. He was the one who started the project to build this new church.
