Paynesville, VIC - St Peter's by the Lake Anglican

History and Architecture:

No information currently available. Submissions welcomed.

The land upon which the Church of Peter-by-the Lake is built, was a grant from the Crown to th Church of England Trusts Corporation, for the Diocese Melbourne, on December 15, 1892. At the time Anglican services being held in the Methodist Church.

When Reverend G.F.D. Smith, (who later became Canon of the Diocese of Gippslan( was appointed to the Parish ( Bairnsdale, he inspired the peop of Paynesville to build their ow church. It was his idea to build church with nautical feature similar to one he had seen in England, the Church of S Leonards-on-sea, in Surrey. After being cleared by a bulldozer, the site was inspected by E architect, Mr Wystan Widdows who drew up the plans resulting in the tender of Messrs Lemchens and Skulte being accepted for approximately £11,500.

Construction work began in April 1960.

A plaque reads, ST-PETER-BY-THE-LAKE This church was dedicated on The Feast of the Annunciation 25th March 1961 by The Right Rev. David A. Garnsey M.A. Th.D. Fifth Bishop of Gippsland. Rector The Rev. Canon G.F.D. Smith Th. D. Church wardens: K.W. G. Billings A.H.A. Cox A.J. Freeman Architect: Wystan Widdows Builders: Lemchens and Skulte.