St James Cathedral is a heritage-listed
cathedral
A cathedral is a church that contains the '' cathedra'' () of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually specific to those Christian denominatio ...
of the
Anglican Diocese of North Queensland
The Diocese of North Queensland is a diocese of the Anglican Church of Australia, founded in 1879. It is situated in the northern part of the state of Queensland, Australia. As part of the Province of Queensland, it covers the Torres Strait Isl ...
at 36 Cleveland Terrace,
Townsville
Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Queensland, Australia. With a population of 180,820 as of June 2018, it is the largest settlement in North Queensland; it is unofficially considered its capital. Estimated resident population, 3 ...
,
City of Townsville
The City of Townsville is a local government area (LGA) located in North Queensland, Australia. It encompasses the city of Townsville, together with the surrounding rural areas, to the south are the communities of Alligator Creek, Woodstock an ...
,
Queensland
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, establishe ...
, Australia. It was designed by
Arthur Blacket and was built in 1887 by MacMahon & Cliffe. It was added to the
Queensland Heritage Register
The Queensland Heritage Register is a heritage register, a statutory list of places in Queensland, Australia that are protected by Queensland legislation, the Queensland Heritage Act 1992. It is maintained by the Queensland Heritage Council. A ...
on 21 October 1992.
Built atop
Melton Hill the large red-brick structure is a well-known landmark of the
Townsville central business district
Townsville City is a coastal Suburbs and localities (Australia), suburb at the centre of the City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. In the , the suburb of Townsville City had a population of 2,910 people.
It is the city's central business d ...
.
History
![StateLibQld 1 159926 St](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ab/StateLibQld_1_159926_St._James%27_Church_of_England_in_Townsville%2C_ca._1875.jpg)
St James Cathedral was erected in two stages, 1887–1892 and 1959–1960, for the Anglican Diocese of North Queensland.
Prior to the construction of a church, Anglican services in Townsville were conducted at the court house.
The first Anglican church was established on
Melton Hill, purchased with the aid of parishioners at a sale of crown lands and work began on the on 24 May 1871. The structure was constructed of
weatherboard
Clapboard (), also called bevel siding, lap siding, and weatherboard, with regional variation in the definition of these terms, is wooden siding of a building in the form of horizontal boards, often overlapping.
''Clapboard'' in modern Americ ...
with a
shingle roof
Roof shingles are a roof covering consisting of individual overlapping elements. These elements are typically flat, rectangular shapes laid in courses from the bottom edge of the roof up, with each successive course overlapping the joints below. ...
.
When Townsville was established in the mid-1860s, its Anglican parishioners were part of the
Diocese of Sydney. In 1878 the diocese of North Queensland was created, based at St James' Church in Townsville. The new diocese's first bishop
George Henry Stanton was appointed on 24 June 1878. Stanton did not immediately go to Townsville but spent several months in England, trying to raise funds and attract clergy for the new diocese. He finally arrived in Townsville in May 1879, preaching his first service on 21 May 1879. Having become the cathedral of the new diocese, St James' Church was enlarged, extending the
nave
The nave () is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-type ...
and north and south
aisle
An aisle is, in general, a space for walking with rows of non-walking spaces on both sides. Aisles with seating on both sides can be seen in airplanes, certain types of buildings, such as churches, cathedrals, synagogues, meeting halls, par ...
s in 1880 and an
organ, donated by a Miss SE Holland (an English friend of Bishop Stanton), was added to the church in 1884.
Plans for a new and larger cathedral began on 5 August 1883 when members of the church formed a committee to raise the funds. The proposal to build a cathedral was approved by a church
synod in 1884 and the Cathedral Building Committee was appointed. The intention initially was to have the cathedral designed by
John Horbury Hunt
John Horbury Hunt (1838 – December 30, 1904) was a Canadians, Canadian-born Australian architect who worked in Sydney and rural New South Wales from 1863.
Life and career
Born in Saint John, New Brunswick, the son of a builder, Hunt was tra ...
. However, in 1885, Arthur Blacket of
Sydney, son of
Edmund Blacket
Edmund Thomas Blacket (25 August 1817 – 9 February 1883) was an Australian architect, best known for his designs for the University of Sydney, St. Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney and St. Saviour's Cathedral, Goulburn.
Arriving in Sydney from Engl ...
(he
New South Wales colonial architect) was commissioned to design a building to be erected on the church land behind the existing weatherboard structure. The initial designs called for a cathedral constructed of sandstone with granite columns which would hold 1000 parishioners. The
nave
The nave () is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-type ...
would be wide,
transepts
A transept (with two semitransepts) is a transverse part of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In cruciform churches, a transept is an area set crosswise to the nave in a cruciform ("cross-shaped") building withi ...
would be wide and the total interior length from
chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar, including the choir and the sanctuary (sometimes called the presbytery), at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building. It may terminate in an apse.
Ov ...
to bell tower would be . Many features of these designs were rejected upon review by the diocese and three revisions were necessary before a final plan was approved. The final design was for a church built in stone, with a low wide central tower which would act as a ventilation shaft, and a single tower at the northern door. It was to cost £24,000, but would be built in sections.
Early in 1887 the diocese called for tenders for the construction of the cathedral. The foundation stone was laid on the Golden Jubilee of
Queen Victoria
Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days was longer than that of any previo ...
on 27 June 1887, and the building was erected by Townsville contractors MacMahon & Cliffe. Subsequent financial constraints forced changes to the design, and the cathedral was constructed in brick, with concrete facings, a temporary roof and no towers.
With the completion of the building's foundations in November 1887, building work stalled due to a lack of funding. Following protracted dispute between the Sydney architect and the church building committee, Arthur Blacket's services were dispensed with in 1890. Work resumed in 1891 with the Townsville architect
Walter Morris Eyre
Walter may refer to:
People
* Walter (name), both a surname and a given name
* Little Walter, American blues harmonica player Marion Walter Jacobs (1930–1968)
* Gunther (wrestler), Austrian professional wrestler and trainer Walter Hahn (born 19 ...
to oversee the final stages of construction; Eyre had been acting as supervising architect since the commencement of building. In order to reduce the cost of the structure the original plans to construct the building of sandstone were revised and the building was constructed of red brick with concrete taking the place of marble and granite.
Due to the lack of funding the decision was made to only construct half of the cathedral, with the other half to be completed at a later date. The
apse
In architecture, an apse (plural apses; from Latin 'arch, vault' from Ancient Greek 'arch'; sometimes written apsis, plural apsides) is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome, also known as an '' exedra''. ...
, chancel, transepts and part of the nave and flanking arcades were built with a temporary roof constructed overhead. In 1892 the pipe organ was moved from the church to the new cathedral. This first stage of the cathedral was consecrated on 27 October 1892 by the second Bishop of North Queensland,
Christopher Barlow. Although invited, Bishop Stanton was unable to attend.
On 26 January 1896,
Cyclone Sigma
Cyclone Sigma was a tropical cyclone that caused severe damage in North Queensland, Australia on 26–27 January 1896 and the loss of at least 23 lives.
The cyclone caused massive destruction to Townsville and surrounding areas. The cyclone ...
struck Townsville; however, the cathedral was relatively unaffected by this.
Between 1900 and 1902 a second organ was purchased from
North Ward, and the two were coupled together until rebuilt as one instrument in 1958.
![StateLibQld 2 188687 Storm damaged Anglican Cathedral, Townsville, 1903](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/StateLibQld_2_188687_Storm_damaged_Anglican_Cathedral%2C_Townsville%2C_1903.jpg)
On 9 March 1903
Cyclone Leonta
Cyclone Leonta was a tropical cyclone that caused severe damage in North Queensland on 9 March 1903. It lasted for around twelve hours, and was the most damaging cyclone ever to hit Townsville at that time, surpassing Cyclone Sigma of 1896, wi ...
struck Townsville, destroying the 1871 St James Church and the temporary roof of the cathedral. The cathedral was promptly rebuilt with higher walls and a more permanent roof at the cost of £2,500.
![St](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d5/St._James_Cathedral_Townsville_circa_1924.jpg)
The second stage of the cathedral, the 1959–1960 western extension and tower, was designed in 1955 by
Melbourne
Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
architect
Louis Williams, with Townsville architects
Black and Paulsen responsible for its execution. The statue of St James was sculptured by German-born
Brisbane
Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Queensland, and the third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of approximately 2.6 million. Brisbane lies at the centre of the South ...
sculptor,
Erwin Guth.
The final
foundation stone
The cornerstone (or foundation stone or setting stone) is the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation. All other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.
Over tim ...
was laid in 1960 marking the completion of the cathedral.
The main western facade together with the statue of St James, part of the roof and a section of the eastern wall were severely damaged by
Cyclone Althea
Severe Tropical Cyclone Althea was a powerful tropical cyclone that devastated parts of North Queensland just before Christmas 1971. One of the strongest storms ever to affect the Townsville, Queensland, Townsville area, Althea was the fourth sy ...
in 1972, and restored in the same year. The completed cathedral was consecrated in 1978. It also serves as a concert hall in the wider Townsville community.
The deanery adjacent to the cathedral was erected in 1959–1960, replacing an earlier structure. It does not form part of the heritage-listing of the cathedral.
Description
St James Anglican Cathedral, constructed in English Bond red brick with dressed sandstone trim, is located on a terraced site on Melton Hill between the
Townsville central business district
Townsville City is a coastal Suburbs and localities (Australia), suburb at the centre of the City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. In the , the suburb of Townsville City had a population of 2,910 people.
It is the city's central business d ...
and
Cleveland Bay
The Cleveland Bay is a breed of horse that originated in England during the 17th century, named after its colouring and the Cleveland district of Yorkshire. It is a well-muscled horse, with legs that are strong but short in relation ...
.
The
Gothic Revival building was built in two stages, both of which are quite obvious, both in materials and design. The main roof is clad with slate and has a small
spire
A spire is a tall, slender, pointed structure on top of a roof of a building or tower, especially at the summit of church steeples. A spire may have a square, circular, or polygonal plan, with a roughly conical or pyramidal shape. Spires a ...
over the nave and
transept
A transept (with two semitransepts) is a transverse part of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In cruciform churches, a transept is an area set crosswise to the nave in a cruciform ("cross-shaped") building wi ...
junction. The lower roof to the side
aisle
An aisle is, in general, a space for walking with rows of non-walking spaces on both sides. Aisles with seating on both sides can be seen in airplanes, certain types of buildings, such as churches, cathedrals, synagogues, meeting halls, par ...
s and ambulatory has ribbed metal cladding.
The
chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar, including the choir and the sanctuary (sometimes called the presbytery), at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building. It may terminate in an apse.
Ov ...
is surrounded by an
ambulatory
The ambulatory ( la, ambulatorium, ‘walking place’) is the covered passage around a cloister or the processional way around the east end of a cathedral or large church and behind the high altar. The first ambulatory was in France in the 11th ...
which contains the
vestry
A vestry was a committee for the local secular and ecclesiastical government for a parish in England, Wales and some English colonies which originally met in the vestry or sacristy of the parish church, and consequently became known colloquiall ...
and a Seaman's Chapel. The north
transept
A transept (with two semitransepts) is a transverse part of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In cruciform churches, a transept is an area set crosswise to the nave in a cruciform ("cross-shaped") building wi ...
has a large organ loft inserted and the roof features exposed
trusses
A truss is an assembly of ''members'' such as beams, connected by ''nodes'', that creates a rigid structure.
In engineering, a truss is a structure that "consists of two-force members only, where the members are organized so that the assembla ...
with a diagonally boarded ceiling.
Cast iron
Cast iron is a class of iron– carbon alloys with a carbon content more than 2%. Its usefulness derives from its relatively low melting temperature. The alloy constituents affect its color when fractured: white cast iron has carbide impur ...
columns
A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. In other words, a column is a compression membe ...
with
clerestory above separate the side aisles from the nave. The clerestory of the original section of the building contains
stained glass windows.
The 1959 addition appears to be a
Modernist
Modernism is both a philosophy, philosophical and arts movement that arose from broad transformations in Western world, Western society during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The movement reflected a desire for the creation of new fo ...
interpretation of what was originally intended. It has amber glass
hopper window
A window is an opening in a wall, door, roof, or vehicle that allows the exchange of light and may also allow the passage of sound and sometimes air. Modern windows are usually glazed or covered in some other transparent or translucent mater ...
s with external concrete screens to the nave. The west entry consists of a large recessed pointed arch with undistinguished
mosaic
A mosaic is a pattern or image made of small regular or irregular pieces of colored stone, glass or ceramic, held in place by plaster/mortar, and covering a surface. Mosaics are often used as floor and wall decoration, and were particularly pop ...
artwork to both the interior and exterior. The floors are of concrete and the building features carved timber
pew
A pew () is a long bench seat or enclosed box, used for seating members of a congregation or choir in a church, synagogue or sometimes a courtroom.
Overview
The first backless stone benches began to appear in English churches in the thirt ...
s,
reredos screen and
pulpit. A large statue of St James is attached to a bell tower on the northern side of the entrance.
The 1950s deanery is located to the northern side of the building, above an excavated stone embankment and facing Cleveland Terrace. It is not heritage-listed
A single-storeyed timber
Synod Hall, built in 1888 on a separate site, is located to the east of the building beyond a large bitumen carpark.
Heritage listing
St James Cathedral was listed on the
Queensland Heritage Register
The Queensland Heritage Register is a heritage register, a statutory list of places in Queensland, Australia that are protected by Queensland legislation, the Queensland Heritage Act 1992. It is maintained by the Queensland Heritage Council. A ...
on 21 October 1992 having satisfied the following criteria.
The place is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Queensland's history.
St James Cathedral, erected in two stages 1887–1892 and 1959–1960, is important in demonstrating the pattern of establishment and growth of the Anglican Church in North Queensland in the late 19th century.
The place is important because of its aesthetic significance.
It is important in exhibiting a range of aesthetic characteristics valued by the Townsville community in general, and by the Townsville Anglican congregation in particular, namely the contribution of the building, in its scale, form and materials, to the Townsville landscape; its value as a major Townsville landmark; and the quality and craftsmanship of its interior and furnishings.
The place has a strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group for social, cultural or spiritual reasons.
It has had a strong and special association as a centre of Anglican worship and community life in Townsville for over a century, and as part of an historic church grouping which includes Synod Hall (1888).
The place has a special association with the life or work of a particular person, group or organisation of importance in Queensland's history.
It has a special association with the work of 19th century Sydney architect Arthur Blacket and with 20th century Melbourne architect Louis Williams, and their contributions to ecclesiastical architecture in Australia.
Deans
* 1965–1969: Bernard Tringham
* 1969–1972: Wilfred Lancelot Harmer
* 1972–1977:
Adrian Owen Charles
Adrian Owen Charles (31 July 1926 – 10 April 2013) was an Australian Anglicanism, Anglican bishop, who served as Assistant bishop for the Western Region in the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane from 1983 to 1992, and as Anglican Bishop to the Aus ...
* 1977–1981: David Philp
* 1985–1989: Donald Barter
* 1989-1999:Ron Wood
* 2001-2004: David Lunniss
* 2013- 2020: Rodney Marshall MacDonald
* Since 2020: Kenneth Lay
References
Attribution
External links
St James' Cathedral website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint James Cathedral Townsville
Churches completed in 1960
20th-century Anglican church buildings
Anglican cathedrals in Australia
Churches in Townsville
Cathedrals in Queensland
Queensland Heritage Register
Articles incorporating text from the Queensland Heritage Register
20th-century churches in Australia