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St Mary's Anglican Church, Waverley

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Coordinates: 33°53′46″S 151°15′18″E / 33.8962°S 151.2551°E / -33.8962; 151.2551
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St Mary's Anglican Church
St Mary's Anglican Church and Pipe Organ
St Mary's Anglican Church, Waverley, in 2007
St Mary's Anglican Church is located in Sydney
St Mary's Anglican Church
St Mary's Anglican Church
Location of St Mary's Waverley, in Greater Sydney
33°53′46″S 151°15′18″E / 33.8962°S 151.2551°E / -33.8962; 151.2551
Location240 Birrell Street, Waverley, Waverley Municipality, New South Wales
CountryAustralia
DenominationAnglican
Websitewww.bondichurch.org
History
StatusChurch
Founded6 June 1863 (1863-06-06)
Founder(s)Rev. Stanley Mitchell
Consecrated19 May 1864 (1864-05-19) by Bishop Barker
Architecture
Functional statusComplete
Architect(s)Edmund Blacket
Architectural typeGothic Revival
Years built1863–1864
Administration
DioceseSydney
ParishAnglican Parish of Bondi and Waverley
Clergy
RectorRev. Martin Morgan
Laity
Organist(s)Kurt Ison
Official nameSt. Mary's Anglican Church and Pipe Organ; Gern Pipe Organ
TypeState heritage (built)
Designated2 April 1999
Reference no.160
TypeChurch
CategoryReligion
Builders
  • W. Bailey (church)
  • August Gern (pipe organ)

St Mary's Anglican Church is a heritage-listed Anglican church building and associated facilities located at 240 Birrell Street, Waverley, Waverley Municipality, New South Wales, Australia. The church was designed by Edmund Blacket and built between 1863 and 1864. The building is also notable due its pipe organ, designed and built by August Gern. The church complex is also known as St. Mary's Anglican Church and Pipe Organ and Gern Pipe Organ. The property is owned by Waverley Anglican Parish; part of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney. The complex was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.[1]

History

Waverley

Waverley the suburb's name comes from the book title by Sir Walter Scott, famed Scottish author and poet. It was given thus by Barnett Levey (or Levy, 1798–1837) who came to Sydney in the 1820s to visit his brother. Seeing how prosperous the city was he settled and set up business in George Street as a general merchant. He was influential in bringing theatre to Australia, establishing the Theatre Royal in part of his building off George Street. In 1831 he was granted a 60-acre (24 ha) piece of land in the area of today's Waverley, bounded by Old South Head Road, Birrell Street, Hollywood Avenue and Paul Street. He built a substantial two-storey home on Old South Head Road in 1827, naming it Waverley House after the novel of that name.[1]

In 1837 Waverley House was taken over for a Catholic school or orphanage. It was demolished in the early 20th century.[2][1]

In 1857 a small stone church was built in Church Street, Waverley for the local Anglican congregation, now the site of St Clare's College, Waverley.[3] It was soon found to be inadequate and the construction of the present building commenced with the laying of its foundation stone on 6 June 1863.[4] It was built on a 0.4-hectare (0.99-acre) site donated by T. D. Edwards, that was part of original grant to Barnett Levey.[3][1]

The building was consecrated on 19 May 1864 by Bishop Barker. The church was built by W. Bailey. The original design envisaged a tower and spire, which were never built.[3][1]

Porches and the organ chamber were added in 1872.[3] In the 1870s it was extended by 5.2 metres (17 ft) to its present size. The church was designed in the Gothic Revival style by Edmund Blacket, a prominent Australian architect of the Victorian era. The stained glass windows are some of the earliest to be made in the colony, the two in the first bay of the south wall of the nave being the earliest windows to be commissioned in New South Wales. In 1888 the pipe organ was added.[1][3][4]

The Church is listed on the now defunct Register of the National Estate, Waverley Local Environmental Plan and the NSW State Heritage Register and extensive restoration to the fabric of the building has taken place since the 1980s. In 1993 a gallery was added and the organ relocated.[1][4]

Description

Grounds

Sited on the highest point in Waverley, the group is a visually prominent feature of the streetscape, derived mainly from the stone church and wide frontage to Birrell and Council Streets.[1][5]: 5  Grey sandstone wall along Birrell Street frontage (possibly c. 1925) together with mature landscape elements, Canary Island date palms, are significant visible elements. Existing plantings fronting Birrell Street provide a dense visual screen.[1][5]: 5  The church and hall are set in attractive garden surrounds.[1]

It appears little of the original landscape features remain from the Victorian period. Possibly the driveway layout is original (now concreted). An impressive grey sandstone wall along Birrell Street frontage exists, possibly from c. 1925. The bank of hydrangea (H.macrophylla cv.) shrubs along the southern wall of the church probably dates from the same period. There are mature Canary island date palms (Phoenix canariensis), near the adjacent former Church Hall and within the grounds. These are notable landscape elements to about 13 metres (43 ft) high, dating probably from c. 1920.[3] Other mature plantings include Lord Howe Island palm (Howea fosteriana), low hedging of box (Buxus sp.).[6][1] The central lawn is of buffalo grass. Traditional central and edge bordering flower beds punctuate the lawn.[1][4][6]

A columbabium (c. 1970) exists on the north side of the church, screened by a mature cypress (Cupressus sp.) possibly from c. 1920.[1][4][6] Interwoven by circulation pathways and established landscaped grounds. Generally characterised by formal manicured gardens with a number of mature plantings.[1][5]: 5 

Built elements

Church

One of Edmund Blacket's earlier churches. Both modest and attractive, and essentially intact. Impressive stone church in the ecclesiastical Gothic Revival style. Long nave with chancel, vestry and two side porches. Dressed sandstone with concrete tiled roof (originally shingled). Paired lancet windows between buttresses. Stained glass with label moulds over. Good belfry above western parapet gable.[1][3]

Hall (now St. Mary's Child Care Centre)

Federation Gothic style hall c. 1900s, rectangular of dark face brick construction with a hipped roof form clad in terracotta tiles, partially-concealed behind a series of rendered masonry battlements. Has a series of entry points on the southern and eastern elevations. The western elevation has a skillion lean-to awning providing cover to mechanical and electrical plant equipment. Largely intact exterior although evidence of previous alterations and additions, retains a hhigh degree of architectural embellishment. External walls are divided into three sections: lower portion to the rendered masonry window sills is face brick, the central portion is rendered masonry with face brick lancet-shaped window openings and a face brick upper portion to ceiling level, before being finished with a series of rendered masonry battlements. Original windows and doors are typically of timber joinery.[1][5]: 4 

Rectory

c. 1930s masonry construction.[1][5]: 10 

Condition

As at 24 July 2015, essentially intact. Generally in good condition.[1][3]

Modifications and dates

It appears little of the original landscape features remain from the Victorian period. Possibly the driveway layout is original (now concreted). An impressive grey sandstone wall along Birrell Street frontage exists, possibly from c. 1925. The bank of hydrangea (H.macrophylla cv.) shrubs along the southern wall of the church probably dates from the same period. There are mature Canary island palms (Phoenix canariensis), near adjacent former Church Hall and within grounds. These are notable landscape elements to about 13 metres (43 ft) high, dating probably from c. 1920.[1]

The central lawn is of buffalo grass. Traditional central and edge bordering flower beds punctuate the lawn.[1]

A columbabium (c. 1970) exists on the north side of the church, screened by a mature cypress possibly from c. 1920.[3][1]

Heritage listing

The St Mary's Anglican Church and Pipe Organ was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 having satisfied the following criteria.[1]

The place is important in demonstrating the course, or pattern, of cultural or natural history in New South Wales.

One of Edmund Blacket's earlier churches. Of considerable historical interest. One of the oldest buildings in the Waverley Council area, and notable for its association with Bishop Barker and important local families. Sited on the highest point in Waverley and set in attractive garden surrounds.[1]

The place has a strong or special association with a person, or group of persons, of importance of cultural or natural history of New South Wales's history.

Notable for its association with Bishop Barker and important local families.[1]

The place is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in New South Wales.

Architectural and aesthetic; value for its design, siting, on the highest point in Waverley and streetscape/landscape value, set in attractive garden surrounds.[1]

The place has a strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group in New South Wales for social, cultural or spiritual reasons.

Cultural and social values[1]

The place possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.

Rarity value for its age, design and intactness.[1]

The place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of cultural or natural places/environments in New South Wales.

Representative example of a Gothic Revival church design by Edmund Blacket.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab "St. Mary's Anglican Church and Pipe Organ". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H00160. Retrieved 1 June 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC BY 4.0 licence.
  2. ^ Pollen & Healy, 1988, 266
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i LEP, 1996
  4. ^ a b c d e "Parish History". About Us. St. Mary's Anglican Church, Waverley. 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d e Edwards Planning, 2015.
  6. ^ a b c Stuart Read, pers.comm., 24 July 2015.

Bibliography

  • Pollen, Frances; Healy, Gerald, eds. (1988). "Waverley". The Book of Sydney Suburbs.
  • "Parish History". About Us. St. Mary's Anglican Church, Waverley. 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  • Perumal Murphy P/L (1990). Waverley Heritage Study.

Attribution

This Wikipedia article was originally based on St. Mary's Anglican Church and Pipe Organ, entry number 00160 in the New South Wales State Heritage Register published by the State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) 2018 under CC-BY 4.0 licence, accessed on 1 June 2018.

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