St John's Presbyterian Church

Perhaps due to the economic revival of the mid-1880s and accompanying influx of population, the church began to again expand in country and metropolitan centres. The new Brisbane suburb of Thompson Estate was one such area in which Presbyterians sought to arrange their worship locally. A Sunday School began operations at the home of local resident John Galbraith early in 1885. Later that year a meeting of resident Presbyterians decided to procure a site for a Presbyterian church in the suburb. Reverend D.F. Mitchell of nearby Park Church purchased the land on behalf of the parish.

It was originally proposed that 'gratuitous labour' might erect the church, however tenders were finally called and Mr Kraus' offer of £150 was accepted. The size of the church was settled after a great deal of discussion amongst the parishioners, and it was to measure 30 feet by 25 feet. Very short of funds, the Thompson Estate Church Committee asked the Committee of Park Church for the pulpit from their old Grey Street church. By April 1886, the building of the church was well under way, however financial difficulties led to the decision that the construction of the church door be delayed 'till required'. The church was finally opened on 16 May 1886. The church building and land remained in the ownership of Reverend Mitchell until September 1889 when it was agreed that the congregation should take possession.

The church continued to serve the congregation until after World War I. Early in 1922 the Reverend A. Duff suggested that a building fund be established for a new church, and the idea flourished. Reverend Duff organised a lecture on 'Scottish Jacobite Songs', with the songs performed by two parishioners. An entrance fee was charged and the lecture was so popular that it was repeated, netting the first £25 for the building fund. Funds continued to be raised until 1929, at which time the congregation decided to proceed with the erection of a new church.

The architect employed was George Trotter, a member of the congregation, and Mr Kirby was the builder with the whole scheme costing £3,500. The members of the congregation gave many gifts, ranging from the pulpit to door mats. In 1929, the new church was completed, and the old church reused as a parish hall. Both buildings remain in use on the site.

The asymmetrical fronted building is rectangular in form with an entry porch attached to the north eastern end and vestry wings projecting approximately 2 metres beyond both sides at the western end.

The church is timber framed, supported on concrete piers and sheeted externally with weatherboards up to door head height and with stucco render above extending up to the eaves. Gable ends to the main building and entry porch are sheeted with timber shingles. Timber dentils line the transition between stucco and shingles.

The weatherboard sheeting is extended down four boards below floor level, providing a skirt to the floor framing and increasing the height of weatherboarding to improve proportioning of weatherboards to stucco.

The eaves overhang is lined with tongue and groove boarding fixed to the top of exposed rafters. Eaves ventilation to the roof is provided by a continuous gauze vent extending along both sides of the building.

A stucco render has been applied to the external concrete piers with vertical timber battening providing an enclosure between the piers.

The steeply pitched roof, slightly splayed out at the eaves, is sheeted with terracotta tiles and is surmounted by a small steeple at the eastern end. The steeple, containing louvre ventilation is sheeted with shingles and is capped with a finial.

Windows are generally lead lighted double casements capped with a gothic type arch containing coloured glass. The windows at the eastern end are extended vertically to form lancets.

Access to the entry porch is either by way of an L-shaped set of concrete steps extending from the street alignment or by way of a concrete ramp.

The main entrance doors are constructed of framed tongue and groove, vertical joint boarding.

The simple timber framed gable roof garage is of complementary design to the church, with weatherboard sheeted walls rising from base walls of rendered concrete. The roof is sheeted with terra cotta tiles.

1880s Church Hall

The church hall is a simple Victorian Carpenter Gothic style building. This timber framed weatherboard sheeted hall, which was originally rectilinear in plan form, has been widened by the addition on the northern side, extending the building closer to the alignment.

The building is supported on concrete piers with vertical timber battening enclosing the space between piers across the front.

The steeply pitched gabled roof is sheeted with corrugated iron and is terminated at the eastern and western ends with timber finials. The gable end overhangs have exposed rafters and are unlined. Roof ventilation is provided by fixed timber louvres in the apex of the eastern and western gables.

Windows along the southern side wall are timber framed vertical pairs of hoppers with clear glass, the upper hoppers having a triangulated head. Elsewhere the windows are timber framed casements of either 3, 4 or 6 panes. Doors are generally framed tongue and groove vertical joint boarding.

Main entry to the hall is through a small protruding porch at the eastern end which is accessed by a small flight of timber steps on the northern side. Disabled access is provided by way of a concrete ramp on the southern side of the building. The building is supported on concrete piers. Vertical timber battening encloses the space between piers across the front.

 

Toilet facilities have been provided at the western end of the building. These are constructed of concrete masonry and aluminium framed sliding glass windows. Screening to the entries has been provided by vertical timber battening.

1. Bardon, R. 1949, The Centenary History of The Presbyterian Church of Queensland, Brisbane

2. St John's Presbyterian Church, Thompson Estate, Brisbane. Jubilee Souvenir 1885 - 1935