St Stephen's Presbyterian Church and Manse, Queanbeyan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Stephen's Presbyterian Church, Queanbeyan |
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| St Stephen's Presbyterian Church and Manse | |
| Queanbeyan Presbyterian Church | |
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St Stephen's Presbyterian Church, 2011
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| 35°21′08″S 149°13′52″E / 35.3521°S 149.2311°E | |
| Location | 2 Morisset Street, Queanbeyan, New South Wales |
| Country | Australia |
| Denomination | Presbyterian |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | October 1871 |
| Founder(s) |
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| Dedication | Saint Stephen |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) |
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| Architectural type | Victorian Gothic Revival, with some Early English features |
| Years built | 1872–1883 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Queanbeyan |
| Presbytery | Illawarra |
| Division | New South Wales |
St Stephen's Presbyterian Church and Manse is a special place in Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia. It includes a church and a house for the minister, called a manse. Both buildings are important because of their history and design. They are listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register, which means they are protected for future generations.
Contents
History of St Stephen's Church
Early Beginnings
The first Presbyterian church services in Queanbeyan started in 1838. However, it took many years for the town to have its own minister. In the early 1850s, Reverend William Ritchie, who lived in Yass, began holding services four times a year. These services took place in the old Kent Hotel.
Around this time, in 1852, the local Presbyterian community received a special gift: a piece of land at the corner of Morisset and Lowe Streets. This land was meant for a church, a school, and a manse.
Building the Church
In 1861, Dr. Andrew Morton, a doctor in Queanbeyan, called a meeting to start building a church. People promised to donate money, and by May 1862, they had about A£400. But the project stopped for a while because the community had problems finding a permanent minister.
Things changed in March 1870 when Reverend William Mackenzie arrived from Scotland. He helped restart the church building project. He also encouraged building churches in Canberra and Bungendore.
At a meeting in June 1870, people promised more money, including A£100 from Charles McKeahnie and A£50 from Dr. Morton. They thought they would need about A£750 in total. A Church Building Committee was formed with Dr. Morton as chairman.
The Architect: Alberto Dias Soares
In August 1871, the committee had enough money to hire an architect. They chose Reverend Alberto Dias Soares, who was the local Church of England minister. He offered to design the church for free.
Soares was born in London in 1830. He studied engineering and had a talent for drawing. He came to Australia in 1852. In 1855, he decided to become an Anglican minister. He became the minister in Queanbeyan in 1857.
Soares was very good at design. He designed a new Christ Church in Queanbeyan in 1859–60. Church leaders soon realized his talent. In 1863, he became the Honorary Diocesan Architect for the Anglican Diocese of Goulburn. Over nearly 30 years, Soares designed at least 16 churches. St Stephen's was the only Presbyterian church he designed. He also designed other buildings like rectories and school buildings.
Church Design and Construction
Soares finished the plans for St Stephen's by October 1871. The committee wanted the church to look more decorative, so Soares added buttresses. These were for looks, not for holding up the building, and they added A£100 to the cost. Four members of the church paid for this extra cost.
The church was described as a "neat gothic structure with a bell tower surmounted by a lofty spire." The walls were made of stone. In February 1872, Reverend Mackenzie asked for builders to bid on the project. The committee chose Thomas Priest for the stonework and Thomas Jordan for the carpentry.
Other local builders worked on the church too. John Evetts did the plastering, Augustus Ferdinand Helmund did the painting, and John Kealman did carpentry. Kealman made the window frames, pews, and the fence. He also designed and built the pulpit for free.
Opening the Church
On May 16, 1872, Elizabeth McKeahnie, Charles McKeahnie's wife, laid the foundation stone. Building work was very slow. The church finally opened for its first service on March 8, 1874, even though it wasn't completely finished. The windows were covered with cloth because the stained glass hadn't arrived. The fence and pews were also not finished.
Even so, the church had enough money to cover all its building costs, which were about A£583.
The new church was built in the Victorian Ecclesiastical Gothic style. It could fit 150 people. It had a main area called a nave, a porch at the front, and a room at the back. There were ten tall, narrow windows called lancet windows. A large round window was behind the pulpit. The stonework by Thomas Priest was considered excellent.
The church had a low bell-tower with a spire. A bell was donated, but it wasn't big enough. Two women then bought a "much larger and finer toned" bell, which was installed in April 1874.
Changes Over Time
St Stephen's Church has stayed mostly the same since it was built. However, some changes have been made.
- Organs: The church got a reed organ in 1885. This was replaced in 1904, and then with a more expensive Estey organ in 1913. This Estey organ still works today.
- Windows: In 1896, a storm destroyed the round window at the back of the church. A new stained-glass window was put in its place. It shows a burning bush and has a Latin phrase meaning "and yet it was not being consumed."
- Memorials:
* In 1910, a stained-glass window and a memorial tablet were put in the church to remember Amy Steel, the minister's wife, who passed away young. * Charles Henry McKeahnie donated a special stone font for baptisms in 1910. It was in memory of his parents and two daughters. * In 1915, a plaque was put up to remember 31 church pioneers. * During World War I, two "Honor Boards" were placed in the church. They listed the names of men from the area who joined the army.
- Other Additions: A hymn board was donated. The church also got a gas supply. In 1936, special chairs and a new communion table were bought with money donated by Archibald McKeahnie.
Church Halls
In 1924, St Stephen's Hall was built behind the church. It was designed by J. D. McConnell and built by volunteers. It was used for Sunday School and could also be rented out.
In 1963, a new hall called "Fallick Hall" was built. Reg Fallick, a long-time church member, donated money for it. This hall is used for a pre-school and other community activities.
The spire on the bell tower was blown down in a storm in 1956. A new spire was built with money from George McInnes.
St Stephen's Manse
A manse is a house where the church minister lives. The St Stephen's Manse is special because it was designed by James Barnet, a very important architect in New South Wales. He designed it for his eldest daughter, Amy Steel, and her family. Amy's husband, Robert Steel, became the minister in Queanbeyan in 1881.
Barnet designed the manse for free in 1881. It was a six-room brick house. It took a while to start building because the church committee didn't have enough money. They even tried to cut costs by changing the plans.
Eventually, they hired John Kealman, a local builder who was also a member of the church. Kealman had done carpentry for the church and even built the pulpit for free. He was a skilled builder who made his own high-quality bricks.
Construction of the manse started in February 1883. The foundation stone was laid in March 1883. The house was finished in November, and the Steel family moved in.
The manse still looks very similar to how it did when it was built. It has its original fireplaces, door frames, and some special metal ceilings. The main change is that the original roof was replaced, and an extension was added to the back of the house.
What the Buildings Look Like
St Stephen's Church
The church is a small, country-style Gothic Revival building. It is made of stone and has a steep roof. The outside walls have buttresses that are just for decoration. There is a low bell tower at one corner with a spire on top.
The church is shaped like a rectangle. It has a main area (nave), a porch at the front, and a room at the back. There are ten tall, narrow windows. The window and door frames are made of oak wood. The round stained-glass window at the back was added in 1896. The ceiling inside the church is curved and made of wooden boards.
The Manse
The manse is a single-story brick house. It has a roof that slopes on all sides, covered with corrugated iron. It has two chimneys and a front porch with wooden posts. The front of the house has a large bay window. The bricks on the front and side are laid in a pattern called English bond, while the back uses a different pattern called Colonial bond. Inside, many original features like fireplaces and decorative ceilings are still there.
Condition of the Buildings
As of April 2023, the church is in excellent condition. It had electrical upgrades in 2020, which included new lighting and a projection system. However, it needs some work to stop water from getting through the stone walls.
The manse is in good condition and the current minister lives there. It recently had maintenance work done to its outside, including fixing the bay window.
Why They Are Important
St Stephen's Presbyterian Church and Manse are important because they are a complete and beautiful church area.
The church is special because it was designed by Reverend Alberto Dias Soares. He was the only minister who also worked as an architect in New South Wales. He designed many churches, but St Stephen's was his only non-Anglican one. The church is also a great example of a simple, well-built Presbyterian church from the 1800s.
The manse is special because it is the only house still standing that was designed by James Barnet. He was a very important government architect. He designed the manse for his daughter, which shows a different side of his work compared to the many government buildings he created. The manse looks welcoming and dignified, fitting for a minister's home.
Both buildings show important parts of New South Wales' history and architecture.
See also
- Australian non-residential architectural styles
- List of Presbyterian and Reformed denominations in Australia
