Warwick Uniting Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Warwick Uniting Church |
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Warwick Uniting Church, 2008
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| 28°12′50″S 152°01′49″E / 28.214°S 152.0302°E | |
| Country | Australia |
| Denomination | Uniting (since 1990) |
| Previous denomination | Presbyterian (1869–1990) |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | St Andrew's Presbyterian Church |
| Status | Church |
| Dedication | Saint Andrew |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Years built | 1869–1922 |
| Completed | 20 November 1870 |
| Construction cost | A£1,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Sandstone |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Warwick Killarney |
| Presbytery | The Downs |
| Synod | Queensland |
The Warwick Uniting Church is a special old church in Warwick, Australia. You can find it on Guy Street, right on the corner of Fitzroy Street. This church was built a long time ago, between 1869 and 1922. It used to be called St Andrew's Presbyterian Church.
The church is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register since 2000. This means it is an important historical building. Before it became a Uniting Church, it was a place of worship for the Presbyterian Church of Australia.
Contents
History of the Church
The Warwick Uniting Church is a simple building made of sandstone. It stands on the corner of Fitzroy and Guy Streets in Warwick. This church is the second one built on this spot.
This site has a long history with the Presbyterian church in the Darling Downs area. The first Presbyterian minister arrived in Warwick in 1851. Before that, ministers traveled around the region. Early church services were held in the local court house.
Choosing a Location
In 1857, the government gave land on Alice Street for a church. But the church decided to buy a different spot instead. They bought the land on Fitzroy and Guy Streets for £36. A simple church made of wood and shingles was built there in 1858. This was only the second Presbyterian church in Queensland.
Building a New Church
The church community in Warwick grew bigger. In 1867, they decided to build a larger and nicer church. The old wooden church was sold and moved. It was then used as a home.
Work on the new sandstone church started in March 1869. The stone came from a quarry near Rosehill. The roof was made of shingles. John McCulloch was the builder. He was a famous stonemason in Warwick. His brother was the church's minister at the time.
Warwick's Sandstone Buildings
Warwick had a lot of good quality sandstone nearby. This stone was used for many of the city's best buildings. It gives Warwick a special look. John McCulloch was a very important stonemason in the town. He built many churches and other important buildings. These included the Court House and the Town Hall.
The Church Opens
The new church opened on Sunday, November 20, 1870. The first service was led by Reverend Isaac Mackay. He was a Scottish preacher. He gave sermons in both English and Scottish Gaelic. The church cost £1000 to build and was not quite finished.
The local newspaper said the church floor was made of "cement." This was unusual for the time. The newspaper noted it was cheaper than wood. It was also cool, clean, and quiet to walk on. The paper called the church "one of the best ornaments the town possesses."
Changes Over Time
The church building has changed over the years. In the 1880s, the roof was made stronger. Pinnacles were added to the top of the buttresses. In 1897, a stone entry porch was built at the front. Local builders Wallace and Gibson likely did this work.
A new church hall was opened in 1904. In 1922, a vestry and choir room were added to the church. A pipe organ was bought in 1924 as a memorial for soldiers. A new manse (minister's house) was opened in 1940.
The entry porch was changed again around 1950. The main roof was probably tiled then. The pinnacles on the buttresses were also removed. More big changes happened inside the church in 1964-65. The pipe organ was moved. New pews and choir seating were put in.
Becoming the Uniting Church
In 1990, the Wesley and St. Andrew's Uniting Church groups joined together. They chose St. Andrew's church as their main place of worship. That's when it became known as the Warwick Uniting Church.
The old Williams Memorial Hall was sold in 1998. A new hall, also called Williams Hall, was built in 1999. A modern link made of steel and glass was built to connect the church to the new hall. The old manse is now used as office space.
What the Church Looks Like
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The Warwick Uniting Church is a simple building made of sandstone. It has a rectangular shape. There is a stone entry porch at the front, on the eastern side. The church is built with strong, rough-faced sandstone blocks.
The sides of the church are divided into six sections. These sections are separated by buttresses (stone supports). Between each buttress are tall, pointed arched openings. Each opening has two pointed windows with a round window above them. Most of these windows have beautiful stained glass. Others have diamond-patterned leadlight windows.
The large opening at the eastern end has three rose windows and five pointed windows. These are partly hidden by the entry porch. The western end of the church has a single rose window.
The entry porch is also made of rough sandstone. It has a pitched roof with tiles. There are two arched wooden doors for entry. Above the doors is a small rose window. The church's roof is very steep and covered with red terracotta tiles. There are small decorative stone pinnacles at each corner. A small metal flèche (like a tiny church spire) is on the roof ridge at the western end.
The vestry and choir room are at the western end of the church. They are made of masonry and have a pitched roof.
Inside the Church
Inside, the church has an open roof structure. The ceiling is lined with painted wooden boards and acoustic tiles. The walls are lined with hardboard that looks like stone blocks. There is also a wooden panel at the bottom of the walls.
Glass and wooden doors separate the porch from the main part of the church, called the nave. The nave has carpet and a central aisle. It has modern wooden pews (church benches). The choir and organ are in the chancel area. This is also where you find the pulpit, baptismal font, and communion table. There are also carved wooden memorial chairs and war memorial boards. The organ pipes are at the back of the chancel. They are covered by a wooden grille.
One window on the southern side was removed. It was replaced with a door. This door leads to a covered walkway. The walkway connects the church to the new hall. A courtyard with terracotta tiles is between the church and the hall. The eastern and northern parts of the church grounds are covered with grass. A wide concrete path leads to the entry door of the porch. It is lined with mature trees, including two large Silky Oaks.
Why the Church is Important
The Warwick Uniting Church was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 2000. This means it is important for several reasons:
- Shows Queensland's History: The church helps us understand how the Presbyterian church grew in the Darling Downs. It also shows how religious buildings developed in Warwick.
- Looks Beautiful: This early sandstone church adds to the beauty of Warwick. The city is known for its sandstone buildings. The church is on an important corner, near the Warwick Courthouse and Leslie Park. It makes the street look special.
- Important to the Community: The church has been a main place of worship for over 140 years. It is very important to the Presbyterian and Uniting Church communities in Warwick. It has social, cultural, and spiritual meaning for them.
