Uniting Church, York, Western Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Uniting Church, York |
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| York Uniting Church | |
Uniting Church and chapel
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| 331°53′12.649″S 116°45′59.216″E / 31.88684694°S 116.76644889°E | |
| Country | Australia |
| Denomination | Uniting (since 1977) |
| Previous denomination | Methodist (1888 – 1977) |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | Wesleyan Church |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | 25 April 1888 |
| Founder(s) | Mrs J H Monger |
| Dedicated | 22 August 1888 by Rev. Thomas Bird |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Alfred McBain Bonython |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Administration | |
| Synod | Western Australia |
The Uniting Church in York is a special church building in Grey Street, York, Western Australia. It's part of the Uniting Church today. This church was first built in 1888 by the Methodist Church and was known as the Wesleyan Church. Both the church and its older chapel are important historical buildings in the town of York.
Contents
The First Chapel
The first pastor in York was Reverend John Smithies. He helped start the idea for the first church building, a chapel, in 1853. John Henry Monger Snr, a local businessman and former engineer, was in charge of finding builders for the chapel. He likely designed the building too.
Local people raised money, about £200, to help build the chapel. The government also gave some money. John Henry Monger Snr himself won the bid to build it. By August 1853, the chapel was being built quickly.
The chapel officially opened on 5 April 1854. Over 120 people came to the opening. The total cost to build this chapel was £317/12/4. This chapel was the second church ever built in York.
The chapel originally had a balcony inside, but this was later taken out. In 1859, a musical instrument called a harmonium was bought for the chapel. People who attended paid a small fee to sit in the pews. This money helped pay for the chapel's running costs, like candles for light.
Building the New Church
In 1878, Reverend Thomas Bird arrived in York. He quickly realized that the old chapel was too small for everyone. He started making plans for a much bigger, new church. The old chapel would then be used for Sunday School and other meetings.
By March 1888, most of the money needed for the new church had been raised. The building contract, worth £945, was given to Pringle and Moscrip from Perth and Adelaide.
The first stone of the new church was laid by Mrs J H Monger on 25 April 1888. This special stone was made of beautiful Sydney sandstone. A bottle containing a list of church members and some coins was placed under the stone. Mrs Monger was given a silver trowel for the ceremony.
After the stone laying, a concert was held to raise more money. It was a big success and added £17 to the building fund. Even though the church was expected to cost £1,000, only £236 had been raised at first. However, donations kept coming in, and local people even brought stones for the church.
By June 1888, the church was almost finished. It was expected to be ready by the first Sunday in August.
Opening Day
The last services in the old chapel were held on 19 August 1888. The new church officially opened on Wednesday, 22 August 1888, at 3:45 pm. Reverend Thomas Bird led the first service.
The local newspaper, the Eastern Districts Chronicle, said the new church was a great addition to York. It praised the builders, Pringle and Moscrip, for their excellent work. The newspaper also mentioned that the church had great acoustics, meaning sound traveled well inside. About 300 people attended the opening, including many from other towns.
Church Design
The person who designed the church was Alfred McBain Bonython. He was only 23 years old when he designed it. He also designed other churches in Fremantle and Albany.
The church is built in a style called Victorian Academic Gothic Revival. This style includes features like a very steep roof, decorative wall tops called parapets, strong stone walls, and tall, narrow windows. It also has a porch with a Gothic arch, which was added later.
The Church Organ
In 1895, Mrs Florence Monger started a fund to buy a new organ. This organ was built by Alfred Monk in London. It is one of only two Alfred Monk organs in Australia. Many people believe it is the best 19th-century organ in Western Australia. It is known for its warm, bright sound that can fill the whole church.
At first, someone had to pump the organ by hand to make it work. The organ pumper had to be very careful to keep the air flowing evenly. If the musician played loudly, the pumper had to pump faster! The names of some of the old organ pumpers are even scratched into the back of the organ.
In 1925, an electric blower was installed, so no one had to pump it by hand anymore. The organ was repaired in 1981-82 and cleaned again in 2001.
The church originally planned for the choir to sing from a balcony. However, once the large pipe organ was installed, the choir moved to the front of the church instead.
The Church Bell
The church bell was made in London in 1905 by John Warner & Sons. The bell is 510 millimetres (about 20 inches) wide and weighs about 91 kilograms (about 200 pounds). Mr E. R. Parker donated the bell to the church.
The bell was first placed in a wooden tower behind the old chapel. When that tower became unsafe, it was replaced with a metal one. In November 2010, the bell was moved to its current tower. This new tower was paid for by donations from the public.
