Addresses
Type of place
Church
Period
Interwar 1919-1939
Style
Romanesque
This is an image of the local heritage place known as Brisbane Christadelphian 'Old Paths' Ecclesia
Brisbane Christadelphian Old Paths Ecclesia
Addresses
Type of place
Church
Period
Interwar 1919-1939
Style
Romanesque
The Brisbane Christadelphian ‘Old Paths’ Ecclesia was built in 1924 as the Lutwyche Methodist Church. It was the second brick Methodist Church to be built on the site after the first church struggled to cope with the expanding congregation during Lutwyche’s rapid development in the early twentieth century. In 1977, the Methodist, Congregational and Presbyterian churches were amalgamated under the Uniting Church, who sold the building in 1995. It was purchased by the Brisbane Christadelphian Lightstand Ecclesia, whose forebears brought the Christadelphian movement to Brisbane in 1896.
Also known as
Lutwyche Methodist Church (former)
Lot plan
Key dates
Local Heritage Place Since —
Date of Citation —
Construction
Roof: Corrugated iron;Walls: Face brick
People/associations
Cook and Kerrison - 1960s alterations to vestibule (Architect)Criterion for listing
(A) Historical; (E) Aesthetic; (G) SocialInteractive mapping
Also known as
Lutwyche Methodist Church (former)
Lot plan
Key dates
Local Heritage Place Since —
Date of Citation —
Construction
Roof: Corrugated iron;Walls: Face brick
People/associations
Cook and Kerrison - 1960s alterations to vestibule (Architect)Criterion for listing
(A) Historical; (E) Aesthetic; (G) SocialInteractive mapping
History
The site of the church fronted what was, by the 1870s, the major thoroughfare between Brisbane and the goldfields of Gympie and development followed along the fringes of this track. The first Methodist services were held in the area prior to 1871 but it was not until 1873 that the decision was take to erect a church to cater for the needs of the local congregation. Prominent local resident Mr. J. Rees, part of the land colloquially known as Rees Paddock, donated this site. On it a little sand brick church was built in 1874 at an initial cost of £341, thanks to the generosity of the proprietors of a number of local brick kilns. The church formed part of the Valley Circuit under the direction of the Rev. John Gardiner. However, as the population grew in suburbs closer to the centre of the city and other Methodist churches were formed in the district, it became part of the Wooloowin circuit.. It later became a centre of outreach and the centre of what became known as the Lutwyche circuit.
In the first decades of the twentieth century, Lutwyche developed rapidly, a development spurred by the establishment of tram services from the city in 1914 and then the extension of the service to the Lutwyche cemetery by May 1925. The original Church proved unable to cope with the needs of its ever-increasing congregation. For a time in the early 1920s, Sunday School was held regularly in the Imperial Picture Pavilion across the road from the Church. In 1923, plans were drawn for a new Church and a contract for £2,750 was let to Mr. J. Currie who was instrumental in the design of the Church as well as being a trustee. It was anticipated that the cost of completion including furnishings would be in the vicinity of 3,000. The foundation stone was laid on 26 April 1924 and the opening ceremony, with the President of the Methodist Conference the Rev. A.A. Little officiating, was held on Sunday 9 August 1924.
As both the congregation and its financial resources grew, further building occurred. In 1927 a Parsonage was added and in 1932 a large School hall erected. Immediately after World War II an application was made to the Brisbane City Council for an extension to the church. The Rev. A.A Mills M.C. as President of the Conference laid the Foundation Stone for this extension on 21 February. With F. C. Upton listed as builder, the extension was completed by June 1948.
In the early 1960s, land at the front of the property was resumed for road widening purposes.
Architects Cook & Kerrison & Partners were appointed to draw up plans for the alteration of the vestibule and doors and the re-construction of the entrance. T.F. Woollam & son Pty Ltd were the successful tenderers. The additions that incorporated a Memorial Stained Glass Window to the Pioneers of the Church were completed just prior to Christmas 1963.
When amalgamation of the Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregational Churches occurred in 1977 and the Uniting church was formed, the property was divested from the Corporation of the Methodist Church in Queensland and vested in the Uniting Church of Australia Property Trust in June 1979. A subsequent review of Uniting Church services and facilities prompted the sale of the Church in the Village in the mid 1990s. Since its purchase in late 1995 by the Brisbane Christadelphian Lightstand Ecclesia, a religious group whose forebears brought the Christadelphian movement to Brisbane in 1896, the property has been used once again for religious purposes.
Statement of significance
Relevant assessment criteria
This is a place of local heritage significance and meets one or more of the local heritage criteria under the Heritage planning scheme policy of the Brisbane City Plan 2014. It is significant because:
References
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Rev R S C Dingle ed Annals of Achievement: A Review of Queensland Methodism 1847- 1947, Queensland Book Depot, Brisbane, 1947
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Uniting Churches in South East Queensland, file, John Oxley Library
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Lutwyche Methodist Church: Centenary Souvenir: 1874 - 1974. Brisbane
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Brisbane City Council Water Supply & Sewerage Detail Plans
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Queensland Post Office Directories
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Queensland Certificates of Title
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Windsor and Districts’ Historical Society, historical material relating to churches in the district
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Personal communication with the Brisbane Christadelphian Lightstand Ecclesia
Citation prepared by — Brisbane City Council (page revised June 2022)