Sorrento, VIC - St Andrew's Presbyterian

History and Architecture:

The Foundation stone was laid on 17 October 1888 by Hon J Balfour M.L.C.

The original section of the church was first built in 1888 and is said to be the current transept, which is the parapet walled section nearest the street and a limestone porch was added in the following year. The current nave, the east wing attached to the hall, was added in 1906, built by Charles Haslett.

St Andrew's is a squat limestone building with a more picturesque Norman than Gothic influence in its arched fenestration and chunky corbels at the base of parapets. A small porch echoes the broad central nave with a transept wing to the west and a larger wing extension on the opposite side of the nave which adjoins Ellen Grant Hall. The two tall arched windows in this wing are boarded up, as is the round high light or vent in the nave. The window in the porch is diamond leadlight while the front western window in the nave contains a stained glass depiction of a shepherd.

The street side walls are rendered in concrete to a height of approximately 1.2 metres presumably as damp treatment.

There is a generous grassed area to the west of the building and a brick extension with hip roof to the rear of the church.