Bundaberg, QLD - St John's Lutheran

History and Architecture:

Lutheranism in Bundaberg was established in 1873. Lutheran Pastor Carl Hellmuth of Maryborough visited Bundaberg to preach, administer Holy Communion, and baptise - the first formal Lutheran services in Bundaberg. In 1877 monthly services commenced in a shop in Bundaberg and in 1882 Bundaberg's first Lutheran church was built in Tanitha Street.

The first Church was erected in 1882 while the second was erected in 1982 at a cost of £400. It measured 40 x 25 feet.

Tenders for the construction of the new St John's Lutheran Church, Bundaberg were called in 1957 and a tender of £35,140 from Brisbane-based J Hutchinson and Sons was accepted. A ground-breaking ceremony took place 19 January 1958. It was designed by Karl Langer.

The church is rectangular in plan, 41 metres (135 ft) long and 17 metres (56 ft) wide, with the entrance front facing north. It is set back from George Street fronted a small, grassed forecourt with palms and shrubs. The building has a box-like body sheltered by a large, gable tiled roof. A tall, slender, square-based spire sheeted with copper rises to almost 44 metres (144 ft) above the ground. The copper cross atop extends a further 2.7 metres (8 ft 10 in) and is lit by fluorescent tubes. The northern and southern sides of the spire have fixed copper louvres at the level of the hanging bell.