St Mary's the Virgin Anglican Church is a heritage-listed

Anglican Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of th ...

church at 66 Church Street, Maitland, City of Maitland, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by

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 ...

. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

History

The church was designed by Edmund Blacket to replace an earlier 1843 church that Blacket found would be too costly to enlarge and repair. Blacket's design provided for a nave, chancel, north and south aisles, two porches, vestry, tower and spire, seating 700 parishioners. The foundation stone was laid on 7 September 1860. It finally opened for services on 18 July 1867. The bell tower was completed in 1887. In June 2006, $119,464 funding was approved for restoring and re-pointing of the church tower to prevent further water damage; repairs to damaged stonework; and restoration of the tower's

pinnacles A pinnacle is an architectural element originally forming the cap or crown of a buttress or small turret, but afterwards used on parapets at the corners of towers and in many other situations. The pinnacle looks like a small spire. It was mainly ...

and their finials.

Description

The church is in the Victorian Gothic style, with a slender stone tower, tracery windows, lower roof over

aisles Aisles is a six-piece progressive rock band originally from Santiago, Chile. The group was formed in 2001 by brothers Germán (guitar) and Luis Vergara (keyboards), and childhood friend Rodrigo Sepúlveda (guitar). Later on, it expanded to incl ...

(

clerestory In architecture, a clerestory ( ; , also clearstory, clearstorey, or overstorey) is a high section of wall that contains windows above eye level. Its purpose is to admit light, fresh air, or both. Historically, ''clerestory'' denoted an upper l ...

to nave), with excellent stone detailing and craftsmanship. The brick two-storey

rectory A clergy house is the residence, or former residence, of one or more priests or ministers of religion. Residences of this type can have a variety of names, such as manse, parsonage, rectory or vicarage. Function A clergy house is typically ow ...

has a slate hipped roof, bracketed

eaves The eaves are the edges of the roof which overhang the face of a wall and, normally, project beyond the side of a building. The eaves form an overhang to throw water clear of the walls and may be highly decorated as part of an architectural styl ...

, cast iron columns,

balustrade A baluster is an upright support, often a vertical moulded shaft, square, or lathe-turned form found in stairways, parapets, and other architectural features. In furniture construction it is known as a spindle. Common materials used in its con ...

and frieze. The grounds have important landscape value with mature trees.Zohrab, 2003

Heritage listing

St Mary's the Virgin Anglican Church was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 having satisfied the following criteria. The place is important in demonstrating the course, or pattern, of cultural or natural history in New South Wales. The church is significant for its role as a tangible record of the Anglican Church in urban and community development The place is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in New South Wales. The Church is the finest example of High Victorian Gothic with a magnificent stone spire and excellent stone tracery, set in spacious grounds, with the spire being a major landmark in town and the surrounding area. The rectory is a rare example of large Italianate house in central Maitland. Set in spacious grounds. The place has strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group in New South Wales for social, cultural or spiritual reasons. The church is significant for its ongoing role as a focus for members of Anglican Church and for associated social activities. The place possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales. This item has rarity value. The place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of cultural or natural places/environments in New South Wales. This item has representative value.

References

Bibliography

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Attribution

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Marys the Virgin Anglican Church Maitland Maitland, New South Wales Anglican churches in New South Wales Articles incorporating text from the New South Wales State Heritage Register Mary, Maitland Churches completed in 1867 1867 establishments in Australia Anglican Diocese of Newcastle (Australia) Sandstone churches in Australia