Townsville, QLD - St Andrew's Presbyterian
Year Built: 1974
Denomination: Presbyterian
Saint: Andrew
Address: 119 Wills Street, Townsville, Queensland, 4810
Architect: Unknown
Traditional Owners: Bindal, Wulgurukaba people
Last Updated: 12/08/2024
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History and Architecture:
The first meeting of the Committee was held in the Town Hall on 20th March, 1884. Robert Philp presided. (Mr. Philp later on became Premier of Queensland and 'Sir Robert'). At a subsequent meeting held on 22nd April, the Committee decided to proceed with the building of a Church on the land already purchased, cost of same when completed to be about $6,000.
The first Minister of the Charge was Rev. Thos. J. Riddle. He was a Minister of the Irish Presbyterian Church, who began work in Queensland in 1883 at Gladstone, where he served for a few months before coming to Townsville. He conducted Services in the old Town Hall, organised the work in general and built up a Congregation. He opened a Sunday School about August, 1884. Mrs. Riddle ably assisted as one of the teaching staff. She also played the organ in the Church Services.
After putting in two months of hard work, Mr. Riddle received a Call from the Congregation, which he duly accepted, and the Induction took place on 12th October, 1884. On the 23rd October, Mr. Edward Hart's tender of $4,188 for building a Church was accepted. Mr. Andrew Brandt was the Architect. The brick Church building was commenced, the foundation stone being laid, according to one record, by Mrs. J.F. Richardson on 1st November, 1884. "A substantial and beautiful Church was erected". Cyclones and other storms notwithstanding, until cyclone "Althea" severely damaged it in December, 1971.
On 19th November 1973 the congregation authorised the Committee of Management to proceed with the arrangement of a contract for the construction of a new church on a price basis of $100,000 plus or minus 10%. On the 14th of January 1974 the Committee resolved to enter into a contract with J.M. Keily Pty Ltd of Rockhampton at a contract price of $99,121.00.
A plaque reads, " This Church dedicated to the Glory of God. Was opened by the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Queensland R.T. Rev K.J. Gardiner on Saturday 12th October 1974. This structure replaces the substantial and beautiful church which was built by the congregation of St Andrew's on this site in 1884. Extended in 1929 renovated in 1965 and severely damaged during Cyclone Althea on 24th December 1971. The site and congregation were re dedicated to the service of our Lord on Sunday 10th March 1974. Minister B.E.G. Napper Session Clerk R.W. Gerard".
Clergy:
This list may not contain every serving cleric, past or present, for this church.
Further submissions welcomed.
| Years | Name | Annotation | D.o.B | D.o.D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1884 - 1887 | Rev Thomas J. Riddle | |||
| 1888 - 1897 | Rev Alex M. Gauld | |||
| 1897 - 1900 | Rev Richard Kerr | |||
| 1900 - 1903 | Rev D. G. Baillie | |||
| 1904 - 1907 | Rev J. L. King | |||
| 1906 - 1906 | Rev James Love | 1869 | 1910 | |
| 1911 - 1915 | Rev George Kinlock Kirke | 1873 | 1947 | |
| 1912 - 1914 | Rev Alexander Duff | Home Mission Asst | 1885 | 1973 |
| 1915 - 1917 | Rev David Ringland Hamilton | 1875 | 1945 | |
| 1915 - 1918 | Mr Hubert Robinson | Asst | ||
| 1916 - 1917 | Rev Malcolm McDermant | Asst | 1888 | 1961 |
| 1917 - 1928 | Rev John Sinclair | 1879 | 1951 | |
| 1925 - 1929 | Mr James Beaty | Home Mission Asst | 1897 | 1990 |
| 1928 - 1931 | Rev Robert Ritchie Martin | Asst | 1902 | 1972 |
| 1929 - 1933 | Rev H. C. Wilson | |||
| 1931 - 1933 | Mr A. W. Cossart | Asst | ||
| 1933 - 1937 | Rev Daniel Alexander Brown | 1888 | 1951 | |
| 1937 - 1939 | Mr Ronald Edward Pashen | Asst | 1914 | 1987 |
| 1937 - 1942 | Rev Donald McLeod | 1896 | ||
| 1938 - 1939 | Rev Ronald Everitt | Asst | 1905 | 1972 |
| 1939 - 1940 | Mr T. Robinson | Asst | ||
| 1942 - | Rev H. Corbett | |||
| 1942 - | Rev W. R. Glasgow Denning | 1914 | 1956 | |
| 1942 - | Mr Walter Arthur Pordage | 1971 | ||
| 1942 - 1946 | Rev Samuel Eric Mckay | 1901 | 1984 | |
| 1946 - 1950 | Rev William Charles Richard Moore | 1893 | 1960 | |
| 1947 - | Mr I. W. Graham | Asst | ||
| 1947 - | Mr K. Bowen | Asst | ||
| 1949 - | Rev Peter Lawrence Gordon | Asst | 1928 | 2004 |
| 1950 - 1959 | Rev W. M. McPheat | |||
| 1950 - 1959 | Mr I. Taylor | Asst | ||
| 1950 - 1959 | Mr K. Gardner | Asst | ||
| 1950 - 1959 | Mr G. Davis | Asst | ||
| 1950 - 1951 | Rev Kenneth Joseph Gallagher | Asst | ||
| 1950 - 1959 | Mr A. MacNicol | Asst | ||
| 1950 - 1959 | Mr S. McCaferty | |||
| 1950 - 1959 | Rev William McPheat | 1902 | 1986 | |
| 1951 - 1954 | Rev Allan Gordon McLaren | Home Mission Asst | ||
| 1952 - 1954 | Rev Ian Graham Davis | Home Mission Asst | 1929 | 2005 |
| 1955 - 1957 | Rev Hugh John Gallagher | Asst | ||
| 1959 - 1972 | Rev K. C. Stevens | |||
| 1959 - 1972 | Mr F. Rixon | Asst | ||
| 1959 - 1972 | Mr G. Mackness | Asst | ||
| 1959 - 1972 | Mr R. Clark | Asst | ||
| 1959 - 1972 | Mr I. Gorrie | Asst | ||
| 1959 - 1972 | Mr K. Thomas | Asst | ||
| 1959 - 1972 | Mr D. Reid | Asst | ||
| 1959 - 1972 | Mr G. Dickson | Asst | ||
| 1959 - 1972 | Mr A. O'Hara | Asst | ||
| 1959 - 1972 | Miss Noela Henderson | Asst | ||
| 1959 - 1972 | Mr E. Jackson | Asst | ||
| 1959 - 1972 | Mr G. Huswitt | Asst | ||
| 1961 - 1962 | Rev Ronald Clem Clark | 1934 | 2018 | |
| 1966 - 1969 | Rev Alan Alfred O'Hara | |||
| 1973 - 1981 | Rev Bruce Edmund George Napper | |||
| 1975 - 1976 | Rev J. Negus | Asst | ||
| 1981 - 1982 | Rev K. C. Stevens | |||
| 1982 - | Rev A. MacNicol | |||
| 1983 - | Rev C. L. Miller |
Organ:
No information currently available. Submissions welcomed.
Source:
1. The Mathew Index CHR-CIV
2. St Andrew's Prebyterian Charge Townsville Queensland The First Hundred Years 1884 - 1984. L.C. 285.294 SAI
3. Ryerson Index.
4. Biographical Register of Presbyterian Ministers in Australia 1901-1977 New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia with permission Rowland Ward and Malcolm Prentis.