The Porch and Vestibule Windows of St John’s Anglican Church – Downey Street, Alexandra
In the 1890s members of the parish of St. John's Church discussed the prospects of replacing the wooden church they used for worship, that was erected in 1868, with a more substantial structure, but no definite action was taken. The proposal was afterwards revived on various occasions, but it was not until the early 1930s that a preliminary sketch plan of a new building was prepared. However, in the Great Depression era, finance held the project up until 1936, when a definite move was made to erect a new Anglican Church on a site in Downey Street on the same block as the rectory.
The St John’s Anglican Church that we see today on Downey Street, Alexandra, opposite the State Offices, is the result. Plans for a notable improvement in local church architecture were prepared by Mr. L. R. Williams of Melbourne, and a contract awarded to Mr. George. A. Payne of Alexandra. The new church is built in Spanish Mission style and is constructed of the 1930s wonder building material; concrete. The current church building, which has a stuccoed treatment to its walls, is a notable landmark in the town because of its elegant lines, its elongated shape and the very tall belfry that stands above the single and double-storey buildings in its immediate vicinity. It has architectural features typical of the Spanish Mission style, including; groups of narrow arched windows, ornamental grillework over some of the windows, decorative parapets on the belfry, a hipped roof and Spanish style tiles. Together with interior furnishings, St John’s Anglican Church cost about £2,400.00.
Many pieces of the church’s furnishings, windows and supporting structures were gifts from the generous local community. The memorial gates leading onto the street were given by Mr. and Mrs. George. A. Payne in memory of their mothers – Mrs. Phoebe J. Payne and Mrs. M. A. Haning. Mr. George A. Payne also generously donated over £100.00 in order to provide for a more expensive terracotta tiled roof, instead of the cheaper alternative iron roof, which was provided for in the contract. The tiles give added beauty to the building. The pulpit, altar, and choir rails are outstanding examples of local craftsmanship, and are made from Ruoak timber obtained from the Rubicon forest close by. Mrs. G. Hall, contributed the cost of the pulpit, and the late Mr. Gordon Payne, the altar and rails. Both were dedicated to memory of their parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. G. Payne, of "Summerview," Messrs. Clark and Pearce provided and fixed the dado. The ladies' club supplied the carpet. Mr. G. Sapsford paid for the choir stall, which was dedicated to memory of his mother, the late Mrs. Mary Jane Payne. A Miss Magee had a stained glass window dedicated to the memory of her brothers and sister. A Mr. George A. Payne's family also dedicated a stained glass window, in memory of their mother, Phoebe J. Payne. Mr. E. Trenerry donated a prayer desk and seat. Mr. G. Grant donated a credence table. Miss L. Maddox donated a set of communion cruets. Mrs. Melville gave a pedestal and Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Webb dedicated a pedestal to the memory of their daughter Winifred.
St John’s Anglican Church was dedicated on a Saturday afternoon in 1937 by the Bishop of Wangaratta, the Right Rev. J. S. Hart, in the presence of over 350 people, who came from near and far to take part in an historic event of great in interest to the Anglican community around Alexandra. At 2.30 p.m. the choir and members of the clergy marched round the building, singing the hymn, "Through all the changing scenes of life." At the main entrance the Bishop was presented with a petition, on behalf of the congregation, praying that the building be dedicated. After prayers had been said the Bishop blessed the baptismal font, pulpit and altar, and dedicated the pulpit and altar. The church and various gifts were also dedicated, and the Bishop, in his address, said the old structure had outlived its usefulness, and now the people had given a beautiful present to the glory of God in a new church After referring to preliminary steps taken by the Rev, L. G. Ball, the Bishop said that under the able guidance of the present rector, the Rev. Douglas Blake, the work had been planned and carried out. The rector had the real gift of leadership, combined with common sense and artistic taste. The architect had given of his best, and the contractor had realised his dream of building a worthy structure. The visiting clergy included two former rectors – Cannons Scott and Rowed, the Revs. Robertson and Brown (Violet Town and Mansfield respectively) and Mr. Purbrick, Registrar of the Diocese. All present were afterwards entertained by the ladies in the church hall, where a bountiful supply of refreshments was provided.
The Spanish Mission style was typically a style that emerged in California during the interwar years and spread across the world.
Alexandra is a town in Victoria, Australia. It is located at the junction of the Goulburn Valley Highway (B340) and Maroondah Highway (B360), 26 kilometres west of Eildon. The town was settled in the late 1860s, with a Post Office opening on 15 March 1867 (known until 24 April 1867) as Redgate. The town was originally known as Redgate, or Red Gate Diggings. The current name either derives from Alexandra of Denmark (Queen’s Consort to King Edward VII of England) when given a stature of her to the shire; or from three men named Alexander (Alesander, McGregor, Alexander Don, and Alexander Luckie) who discovered gold in the area in 1866. Charles Jones born Herefordshire also discovered Gold on the Luckie Mine in 1866. He bought a Hotel with John Henry Osborne and was the proprietor of the New York and London Hotel Grant Street Alexandra. The railway to Alexandra arrived in the town via Yea from Tallarook in 1909, and closed on November 18, 1978. The Rubicon Tramway connected Alexandra with the village of Rubicon, at the junction of the Rubicon and Royston Rivers. Today many tourists pass through Alexandra on their way to the Mount Buller ski resort from Melbourne. The town contains the Timber Tramway and Museum (located at the Alexandra Railway Station), and the National Trust classified post office and law courts. There is a local market on the second Saturday of each month from September to May, an annual art show at Easter, an agricultural show and rose festival in November, and the annual Truck, Rod and Ute Show in June.
The Porch and Vestibule Windows of St John’s Anglican Church – Downey Street, Alexandra
In the 1890s members of the parish of St. John's Church discussed the prospects of replacing the wooden church they used for worship, that was erected in 1868, with a more substantial structure, but no definite action was taken. The proposal was afterwards revived on various occasions, but it was not until the early 1930s that a preliminary sketch plan of a new building was prepared. However, in the Great Depression era, finance held the project up until 1936, when a definite move was made to erect a new Anglican Church on a site in Downey Street on the same block as the rectory.
The St John’s Anglican Church that we see today on Downey Street, Alexandra, opposite the State Offices, is the result. Plans for a notable improvement in local church architecture were prepared by Mr. L. R. Williams of Melbourne, and a contract awarded to Mr. George. A. Payne of Alexandra. The new church is built in Spanish Mission style and is constructed of the 1930s wonder building material; concrete. The current church building, which has a stuccoed treatment to its walls, is a notable landmark in the town because of its elegant lines, its elongated shape and the very tall belfry that stands above the single and double-storey buildings in its immediate vicinity. It has architectural features typical of the Spanish Mission style, including; groups of narrow arched windows, ornamental grillework over some of the windows, decorative parapets on the belfry, a hipped roof and Spanish style tiles. Together with interior furnishings, St John’s Anglican Church cost about £2,400.00.
Many pieces of the church’s furnishings, windows and supporting structures were gifts from the generous local community. The memorial gates leading onto the street were given by Mr. and Mrs. George. A. Payne in memory of their mothers – Mrs. Phoebe J. Payne and Mrs. M. A. Haning. Mr. George A. Payne also generously donated over £100.00 in order to provide for a more expensive terracotta tiled roof, instead of the cheaper alternative iron roof, which was provided for in the contract. The tiles give added beauty to the building. The pulpit, altar, and choir rails are outstanding examples of local craftsmanship, and are made from Ruoak timber obtained from the Rubicon forest close by. Mrs. G. Hall, contributed the cost of the pulpit, and the late Mr. Gordon Payne, the altar and rails. Both were dedicated to memory of their parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. G. Payne, of "Summerview," Messrs. Clark and Pearce provided and fixed the dado. The ladies' club supplied the carpet. Mr. G. Sapsford paid for the choir stall, which was dedicated to memory of his mother, the late Mrs. Mary Jane Payne. A Miss Magee had a stained glass window dedicated to the memory of her brothers and sister. A Mr. George A. Payne's family also dedicated a stained glass window, in memory of their mother, Phoebe J. Payne. Mr. E. Trenerry donated a prayer desk and seat. Mr. G. Grant donated a credence table. Miss L. Maddox donated a set of communion cruets. Mrs. Melville gave a pedestal and Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Webb dedicated a pedestal to the memory of their daughter Winifred.
St John’s Anglican Church was dedicated on a Saturday afternoon in 1937 by the Bishop of Wangaratta, the Right Rev. J. S. Hart, in the presence of over 350 people, who came from near and far to take part in an historic event of great in interest to the Anglican community around Alexandra. At 2.30 p.m. the choir and members of the clergy marched round the building, singing the hymn, "Through all the changing scenes of life." At the main entrance the Bishop was presented with a petition, on behalf of the congregation, praying that the building be dedicated. After prayers had been said the Bishop blessed the baptismal font, pulpit and altar, and dedicated the pulpit and altar. The church and various gifts were also dedicated, and the Bishop, in his address, said the old structure had outlived its usefulness, and now the people had given a beautiful present to the glory of God in a new church After referring to preliminary steps taken by the Rev, L. G. Ball, the Bishop said that under the able guidance of the present rector, the Rev. Douglas Blake, the work had been planned and carried out. The rector had the real gift of leadership, combined with common sense and artistic taste. The architect had given of his best, and the contractor had realised his dream of building a worthy structure. The visiting clergy included two former rectors – Cannons Scott and Rowed, the Revs. Robertson and Brown (Violet Town and Mansfield respectively) and Mr. Purbrick, Registrar of the Diocese. All present were afterwards entertained by the ladies in the church hall, where a bountiful supply of refreshments was provided.
The Spanish Mission style was typically a style that emerged in California during the interwar years and spread across the world.
Alexandra is a town in Victoria, Australia. It is located at the junction of the Goulburn Valley Highway (B340) and Maroondah Highway (B360), 26 kilometres west of Eildon. The town was settled in the late 1860s, with a Post Office opening on 15 March 1867 (known until 24 April 1867) as Redgate. The town was originally known as Redgate, or Red Gate Diggings. The current name either derives from Alexandra of Denmark (Queen’s Consort to King Edward VII of England) when given a stature of her to the shire; or from three men named Alexander (Alesander, McGregor, Alexander Don, and Alexander Luckie) who discovered gold in the area in 1866. Charles Jones born Herefordshire also discovered Gold on the Luckie Mine in 1866. He bought a Hotel with John Henry Osborne and was the proprietor of the New York and London Hotel Grant Street Alexandra. The railway to Alexandra arrived in the town via Yea from Tallarook in 1909, and closed on November 18, 1978. The Rubicon Tramway connected Alexandra with the village of Rubicon, at the junction of the Rubicon and Royston Rivers. Today many tourists pass through Alexandra on their way to the Mount Buller ski resort from Melbourne. The town contains the Timber Tramway and Museum (located at the Alexandra Railway Station), and the National Trust classified post office and law courts. There is a local market on the second Saturday of each month from September to May, an annual art show at Easter, an agricultural show and rose festival in November, and the annual Truck, Rod and Ute Show in June.