St Stephen's Presbyterian Church and Manse, Queanbeyan facts for kids

{{Infobox church | icon = | icon_width = | icon_alt = | name = St Stephen's Presbyterian Church, Queanbeyan | fullname = St Stephen's Presbyterian Church and Manse | other name = Queanbeyan Presbyterian Church | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = St Stephen's Presbyterian Church in Queanbeyan (1).jpg | image_size = 240px | alt = | caption = St Stephen's Presbyterian Church, 2011 | coordinates = 35°21′08″S 149°13′52″E / 35.3521°S 149.2311°E / -35.3521; 149.2311 | location = 2 Morisset Street, Queanbeyan, New South Wales | country = Australia | denomination = Presbyterian | previous denomination = | tradition = | churchmanship = | membership = | attendance = | website = | former name = | bull date = | founded date = October 1871 (1871-10)

| founder =

| dedication = Saint Stephen | dedicated date = | consecrated date = | cult = | relics = | events = | past bishop = | people = | status = Parish church | functional status = Active | heritage designation = | designated date =

| architect =

| architectural type = Victorian Gothic Revival, with some Early English features | style = | years built = 1872–1883 | groundbreaking = | completed date = | construction cost = | closed date = | demolished date = | capacity = | length = | width = | width nave = | height = | diameter = | other dimensions = | floor count = | floor area = | dome quantity = | dome height outer = | dome height inner = | dome dia outer = | dome dia inner = | spire quantity = | spire height = | materials = | bells = | bells hung = | bell weight = | parish = Queanbeyan | benefice = | deanery = | archdeaconry = | episcopalarea = | archdiocese = | metropolis = | diocese = | province = | presbytery = Illawarra | circuit = | district = | division = New South Wales | subdivision = | nonstipendiaryminister = | minister = | assistant = | seniorpastor = | pastor = Robert McMullan | chaplain = | archdeacon = | deacon = | deaconess = | logo = | logosize = | logolink = | logoalt = | embedded =

St Stephen's Presbyterian Church and Manse, also known as Queanbeyan Presbyterian Church, is a special historical site in Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia. It includes a church and a house for the minister, called a manse. Both buildings are very old and have a lot of history.

The church was designed by Alberto Dias Soares, and the manse by James Barnet. They were built between 1872 and 1883. Today, this property is owned by the Presbyterian Church of NSW Property Trust. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on May 24, 2019, which means it's officially recognized as an important historical place.

Contents

• How the Church Began

• Getting Land for the Church
• Starting the Building Project
• Raising More Funds

• About Alberto Dias Soares
• Designing and Building St Stephen's Church

• Changes to the Church Over Time

• St Stephen's Manse

• Building the Manse
• Manse Appearance and Changes

• What the Buildings Look Like

• St Stephen's Church
• The Manse

• Condition of the Buildings

• Changes to the Manse

• Why It's a Heritage Site
• See also

How the Church Began

The first Presbyterian church services in the Queanbeyan area happened in 1838. But it took many years for the town to have its own minister. In the early 1850s, Reverend William Ritchie, who lived in Yass, started holding services four times a year in the old Kent Hotel.

Getting Land for the Church

In 1852, the local Presbyterian community received a land grant for a church, school, and manse. This land was at the corner of Morisset and Lowe Streets. It included four plots, with two for the church, one for a school, and one for the manse.

Starting the Building Project

In December 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. However, the project stopped for a while.

The Presbyterian community faced some challenges and couldn't find 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.

Raising More Funds

After Mackenzie became the minister in June 1870, his brother, Reverend Simon Mackenzie, helped raise more money. They received promises of A£275, including A£100 from Charles McKeahnie and A£50 from Dr Morton. They estimated they needed about A£750 in total. A Church Building Committee was formed with Dr Morton as chairman.

Six months later, in August 1871, a new effort was made to get the project going. Enough money was collected, and the committee hired an architect. The architect chosen was Reverend Alberto Dias Soares, who was the local Church of England minister. He offered his services for free.

About Alberto Dias Soares

Alberto Dias Soares was born in London in 1830. He studied engineering in London. Even though he was an engineer, he had a talent for drawing and art. In 1855, he decided to become an Anglican minister. He became a priest in 1857 and was assigned to Queanbeyan.

When Soares arrived in Queanbeyan, he saw that the existing Christ Church was not very good. So, he designed a new one in a Romanesque style, which was built in 1859–60. Church leaders noticed his talent. When the Anglican Diocese of Goulburn was formed in 1863, he was made the Honorary Diocesan Architect.

During his nearly thirty years as an architect, Soares designed at least sixteen churches. He also designed extensions to St John the Baptist Church, Reid in the ACT. St Stephen's in Queanbeyan was the only Presbyterian church he designed. All his other churches were for the Church of England.

Soares also designed nine parsonages (houses for ministers), three school buildings, and two church halls. He did some private work too, like the Hibernia Lodge in Queanbeyan. He also helped with extensions to Duntroon House. An architectural historian, Morton Herman, called Soares "an amateur architect of no mean ability."

Designing and Building St Stephen's Church

Soares finished the plans for St Stephen's by October 1871. His first design was simple. The Church Building Committee asked for a more decorative look. Soares added buttresses to the design. These were for looks, not for holding up the building. They added A£100 to the cost, which was covered by four church members.

The church was described as a "neat gothic structure with a bell tower surmounted by a lofty spire." The walls were to be made of stone. In February 1872, Reverend Mackenzie asked for builders. In April, the committee hired 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.

The foundation stone was laid on May 16, 1872, by Elizabeth McKeahnie. Building work was slow because there was no set schedule for the builders. The church opened for its first service on March 8, 1874, even though it wasn't fully finished. The windows were covered with cloth because the stained glass hadn't arrived. Also, the fence and pews weren't finished due to a lack of wood. The church had to borrow seats from other places for the opening.

The good news was that all building costs were paid for. The total cost was about A£583, not including the extra A£100 for the buttresses.

The new church was in the Victorian Gothic Revival style, with some Early English features. It could seat 150 people. It had a main hall (nave), a porch at the front, and a room at the back. There were ten tall, narrow windows (lancet windows) in the main part of the church. The porch had two smaller ones, and the back room had one. The window and door frames were made of oak. The ceiling was curved and made of pine boards. Thomas Priest's stonework was considered the best in the area at the time.

A low bell-tower with a zinc-covered spire rose from one corner. This wasn't as tall as first planned. A bell was donated, but it wasn't loud enough. Two women then bought a "much larger and finer toned" bell, which was installed in April 1874. At the same time, Kealman was building the picket fence.

Changes to the Church Over Time

St Stephen's has mostly stayed the same since it was built, but some changes have been made.

• Organs: A reed organ was added in 1885, replaced in 1904, and then by a better Estey organ in 1913. The Estey organ still works today.
• Windows: In 1896, a storm destroyed a circular window. A new stained-glass window was put in its place. It shows a burning bush and says "nec tamen consumebatur" in Latin, which means 'and yet it was not being consumed'. It was made of 394 pieces of glass.
• Memorials:

* In 1897, Amy Steel, the minister's wife, passed away. In 1910, a stained-glass window and a memorial tablet were put in the church to remember her. * In 1910, Charles Henry McKeahnie gave a baptismal font (a basin for baptisms) made of special limestone. This was in memory of his parents and two daughters. * In 1915, a memorial plaque for 31 church pioneers was put up. It was made of marble and weighed a lot. * During World War I, two "Honor Boards" were put up. These listed the names of men from the church who joined the army.

• Other Additions:

* The church organist, Miss Violet Knox, donated a hymn board. * 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 be rented out. * In 1963, a new hall called "Fallick Hall" was built. Reg Fallick, a church member, donated money for it. This hall is also rented out for community use.

• Spire and Roof: In 1956, the spire on the bell tower blew down in a storm. A new one was built. At some point, the roof was also changed from shingles to corrugated iron.
• Pulpit and Ramp: In 1964, the pulpit was moved to make it easier to get to the back room. A concrete ramp was added to the front of the church more recently.

St Stephen's Manse

The manse is the house where the minister lives. It's special because it's one of the very few private buildings designed by James Barnet. He was a famous architect who usually designed government buildings in New South Wales.

Barnet designed the manse for free in 1881 for his eldest daughter, Amy Steel, and her husband, Reverend Robert Alexander Steel. When Reverend Steel became the minister in Queanbeyan, there was no suitable house for his family. So, a Manse Building Committee was formed.

Building the Manse

Barnet created the plans for the manse by September 1881. It was designed as a six-room brick house with a kitchen and a servant's room. However, building didn't start right away because there wasn't enough money. The plans were changed a bit to lower costs.

After more than a year, they finally had enough money to hire a builder. They chose the cheapest builder, but this wasn't a good idea. The builder couldn't do the job. So, the committee turned to a trusted local builder, John Kealman. Even though his price was higher, Kealman was known for his good work. He was also a member of the church and had built the church's pulpit for free.

Kealman was very skilled. He had learned to make high-quality bricks and had built many other important buildings, including additions to the Queanbeyan Court House and the Queanbeyan Post Office. He used his own high-quality bricks for the manse.

Barnet himself approved of Kealman's work. He had inspected Kealman's work on other government buildings and was very happy with it. Kealman signed the contract to build the manse in January 1883. Some small changes were made to the plans, probably to save money. For example, different brick patterns were used on different sides of the house.

Building started in February 1883 and went quickly. The foundation stone was laid on March 22, 1883. By May, the roof was on. But they still needed more money to finish. Reverend Steel asked for donations from other Presbyterian communities. His appeal worked, and the manse was finished in November, allowing his family to move in.

Manse Appearance and Changes

A photo from around 1886 shows the manse shortly after it was built. It looks very similar today, except for the front fence, which was changed from picket to brick. The roofline, chimneys, bay window, and verandah are still the same. The inside of the house also has many original features, like fireplaces and decorative ceilings.

The original roof has been replaced with a new corrugated iron roof. The biggest change is an extension added to the back of the house on the eastern side. This extension was built to match the original brickwork and windows. It might have been added in the late 1880s or early 1890s, perhaps by Kealman, to make space for the Steels' growing family, as they eventually had seven children.

Even though the manse is a private home, it looks a bit like some of the smaller government buildings Barnet designed. However, it has a more welcoming and homely feel, while still looking dignified and respectable.

What the Buildings Look Like

St Stephen's Church

The church is a small, country-style Gothic Revival building. It's made of stone with a steep corrugated iron roof (it used to have shingles). The outside walls have decorative buttresses that don't hold up the building but make it look nicer.

A low bell tower rises from one corner. It has a spire on top, which was rebuilt in 1956 after the original one was blown down.

The church is a rectangular building. It has a main hall (nave), a porch at the front, and a room at the back. There are ten tall, narrow windows in the main part of the church, and smaller ones in the porch and back room. The window and door frames are made of oak wood. Above the windows and doors, there are decorative carvings of leaves and faces. At the back of the main hall, there's a large circular stained-glass window that was put in in 1896. The ceiling inside is curved and made of shiny pine boards.

The Manse

The manse is a single-story brick house with an attached kitchen and servant's room. It has a sloped roof covered with corrugated iron, which is not the original material. There are two chimneys with decorative brickwork, fancy wooden trim, and a pointy decoration on the roof. The front has a verandah (porch) with a sloped roof supported by thin wooden posts and decorative brackets.

The front of the house has a large rectangular bay window that sticks out. The bricks on the less visible sides of the house are laid in a pattern called Colonial bond, while the front and eastern sides use English bond. Inside, the house still has original features like fireplaces, door frames, some decorative metal ceilings, and mantelpieces. However, the fireplaces have been covered up recently to stop drafts.

Condition of the Buildings

As of April 2023, the church is in excellent condition. Its electrical system was updated in 2020, giving it new lighting and a projection system. However, it needs some work on its stone walls to stop water from getting in.

The manse is in good condition and is currently lived in by the minister. It recently had maintenance work done on its outside, including restoring its bay window.

Changes to the Manse

The manse was extended at the back in the late 1880s or early 1890s. This addition matched the original brickwork and windows. Another extension was added to its northern side possibly in the 1990s.

Why It's a Heritage Site

St Stephen's Presbyterian Church and Manse are important to the history of New South Wales. They are a small, well-preserved group of church buildings.

The church is special because it was designed by Reverend Alberto Dias Soares. He was the only church minister who also worked as an architect in New South Wales. He designed many churches and houses for ministers across southern NSW. St Stephen's is unique because it's the only non-Anglican church he designed. It's also a great example of the simple, well-built Presbyterian churches from that time.

The manse is also very important because it's the only surviving private house designed by James Barnet. He was the NSW Colonial Architect from 1865 to 1890 and designed many government buildings. Barnet designed this house for his eldest daughter, Amy Steel, and her family. The manse shows a different side of Barnet's work, being more homely and welcoming than his official buildings, while still looking dignified. It shows his strong family devotion and religious beliefs.

St Stephen's Presbyterian Church and Manse were added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on May 24, 2019, because they meet several important criteria:

• Historical Importance: The church is important because it was designed by Reverend Alberto Dias Soares, the only cleric-architect in NSW.
• Association with Important People: The church is linked to Soares, who designed 31 buildings, mostly churches. It's special because it was the only non-Anglican church he designed. The manse is linked to James Barnet, a famous architect, and is the only private house he designed that still exists. He designed it for his daughter.
• Beauty and Design: The church shows beautiful features of the Gothic Revival style, like its quality stonework and stained-glass windows. The manse also has beautiful design elements, like its roof, chimneys, bay window, and verandah, which all combine to create a harmonious look.
• Rarity: The church is rare because it's the only non-Anglican church designed by Reverend Alberto Dias Soares. The manse is rare because it's the only private house designed by James Barnet that still stands.
• Good Example: The church is a great example of a modest Presbyterian church built in country areas of NSW in the 1800s. The manse is a fine example of a minister's home designed by a very distinguished architect. It also shows Barnet's work outside of government buildings.

See also

• Australian non-residential architectural styles
• List of Presbyterian and Reformed denominations in Australia