All Saints Anglican Church, Brisbane
Encyclopedia
All Saints Anglican Church, Wickham Terrace, Brisbane is the oldest Anglican Church in the City of Brisbane
, first founded in 1862. The existing structure dates from 1869. For most of its history, it has been identified with the High Church or Anglo-Catholic tradition within Anglicanism.
. However, in 1864, the congregation of the Wickham Terrace Church (as it was then known) decided to become independent of St John's.
As the congregation grew in number, the church became too small and it was decided to extend the building and raise the roof by increasing the height of the existing walls. Unfortunately the original rubble walls could not support the additional weight of the increase and so the old walls were demolished, resulting in an almost entirely new building (the present church) being constructed. The name All Saints was proposed by Bishop Tufnell
and the foundation stone was laid in April 1869.
The present church, the oldest existing Anglican Church in Brisbane, was opened for worship on the Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 8 September 1869, although some alterations were still taking place into the early 1870s. Its style is nineteenth century Gothic Revival
, with buttress
ed walls of rough faced rubble
, porphyry
and sandstone
, and a metal clad roof. The interior has a fine example of a hammer-beam ceiling
, which is rare in Australia.
All Saints' Church has played a significant part in the story of Brisbane's development into a city of culture and significance. Well-known identities who worshipped at All Saints' in the nineteenth century included Sir Robert Ramsey Mackenzie
, Sir James Dickson
, (both of whom served as Premiers of Queensland, the latter becoming Minister of defence in the first Commonwealth Government), Mrs Mary Peattie, and the Hon. John Douglas. To this day, All Saints' is regarded by many as the "Parish Church of the City of Brisbane".
It contains the oldest stained glass in Queensland as well as other significant art works, such as the first public work of the acclaimed Brisbane sculptor, Daphne Mayo
(the 14 Stations of the Cross).
All Saints' parish maintains a small choir which sings from the west end gallery. The choir's repertoire consists largely of traditional plainsong and Renaissance polyphonic music (including motets by Byrd, Palestrina and Victoria) but some more recent music is performed as well. The church has an 1873 TC Lewis organ which was originally installed in St John's Pro-Cathedral in William Street. It was installed in All Saints' in the 1950s. Between 2002 and 2007, it was substantially rebuilt and enlarged by Brisbane organ builder, WJ Simon Pierce.
.
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, first founded in 1862. The existing structure dates from 1869. For most of its history, it has been identified with the High Church or Anglo-Catholic tradition within Anglicanism.
History
The land was acquired in about 1860 for a sister church for the congregation of St John's Church of England. A church building was constructed and the first service was conducted on 23 Feb 1862 by Bishop TufnellEdward Wyndham Tufnell
Edward Wyndham Tufnell was the first bishop of Anglican Diocese of Brisbane.-Early life:Tufnell was born on 3 October 1814 in Bath, Somerset and educated at Eton and Wadham College, Oxford...
. However, in 1864, the congregation of the Wickham Terrace Church (as it was then known) decided to become independent of St John's.
As the congregation grew in number, the church became too small and it was decided to extend the building and raise the roof by increasing the height of the existing walls. Unfortunately the original rubble walls could not support the additional weight of the increase and so the old walls were demolished, resulting in an almost entirely new building (the present church) being constructed. The name All Saints was proposed by Bishop Tufnell
Edward Wyndham Tufnell
Edward Wyndham Tufnell was the first bishop of Anglican Diocese of Brisbane.-Early life:Tufnell was born on 3 October 1814 in Bath, Somerset and educated at Eton and Wadham College, Oxford...
and the foundation stone was laid in April 1869.
The present church, the oldest existing Anglican Church in Brisbane, was opened for worship on the Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 8 September 1869, although some alterations were still taking place into the early 1870s. Its style is nineteenth century Gothic Revival
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
, with buttress
Buttress
A buttress is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall...
ed walls of rough faced rubble
Rubble
Rubble is broken stone, of irregular size, shape and texture. This word is closely connected in derivation with "rubbish", which was formerly also applied to what we now call "rubble". Rubble naturally found in the soil is known also as brash...
, porphyry
Porphyry (geology)
Porphyry is a variety of igneous rock consisting of large-grained crystals, such as feldspar or quartz, dispersed in a fine-grained feldspathic matrix or groundmass. The larger crystals are called phenocrysts...
and sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
, and a metal clad roof. The interior has a fine example of a hammer-beam ceiling
Hammerbeam roof
Hammerbeam roof, in architecture, is the name given to an open timber roof, typical of English Gothic architecture, using short beams projecting from the wall.- Design :...
, which is rare in Australia.
All Saints' Church has played a significant part in the story of Brisbane's development into a city of culture and significance. Well-known identities who worshipped at All Saints' in the nineteenth century included Sir Robert Ramsey Mackenzie
Robert Mackenzie (Queensland politician)
Sir Robert Ramsay Mackenzie, 10th Baronet was premier of Queensland, Australia from August 1867 to November 1868.-Early life:...
, Sir James Dickson
James Dickson
Sir James Robert Dickson, KCMG was an Australian politician and businessman, the 13th Premier of Queensland and a member of the first federal ministry....
, (both of whom served as Premiers of Queensland, the latter becoming Minister of defence in the first Commonwealth Government), Mrs Mary Peattie, and the Hon. John Douglas. To this day, All Saints' is regarded by many as the "Parish Church of the City of Brisbane".
It contains the oldest stained glass in Queensland as well as other significant art works, such as the first public work of the acclaimed Brisbane sculptor, Daphne Mayo
Daphne Mayo
Daphne Mayo MBE is a significant 20th century Australian artist, most prominently known for her work in sculpture, particularly the tympanum of Brisbane City Hall.-Early life:...
(the 14 Stations of the Cross).
Worship
In keeping with the Anglo-Catholic heritage of the Parish, services which include celebration of the Eucharist are styled "Mass". There is currently a Low Mass with hymns at 7:30am and a High Mass at 9:30am each Sunday. Said Masses are held on weekdays in the Lady Chapel in the south-eastern corner of the church. Choral Evensong (followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament) is held on the first Sunday of each month at 6:30pm.All Saints' parish maintains a small choir which sings from the west end gallery. The choir's repertoire consists largely of traditional plainsong and Renaissance polyphonic music (including motets by Byrd, Palestrina and Victoria) but some more recent music is performed as well. The church has an 1873 TC Lewis organ which was originally installed in St John's Pro-Cathedral in William Street. It was installed in All Saints' in the 1950s. Between 2002 and 2007, it was substantially rebuilt and enlarged by Brisbane organ builder, WJ Simon Pierce.
Location
The Church is located at 1 Wickham Terrace, just a short distance from St John's CathedralSt John's Cathedral, Brisbane
St John's Cathedral is the Anglican cathedral of Brisbane and the metropolitan cathedral of the ecclesiastical province of Queensland, Australia...
.