Old Bishopsbourne Chapel is a heritage-listed Anglican

chapel A chapel is a Christian place of prayer and worship that is usually relatively small. The term has several meanings. Firstly, smaller spaces inside a church that have their own altar are often called chapels; the Lady chapel is a common ty ...

at 233

Milton Road Milton Road is an arterial road in Brisbane, Australia. It is currently signed as State Route 32 for its entire length. Milton Road is a major corridor for traffic between the Brisbane central business district and the western suburbs. It car ...

Milton Milton may refer to: Names * Milton (surname), a surname (and list of people with that surname) ** John Milton (1608–1674), English poet * Milton (given name) ** Milton Friedman (1912–2006), Nobel laureate in Economics, author of '' Free t ...

, City of Brisbane,

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 , established_ ...

, Australia. It was designed by

Robin Dods Robert Smith (Robin) Dods (9 June 1868 – 23 July 1920) was a New Zealand-born Australian architect. Personal life Dods was born in Dunedin, New Zealand on 9 June 1868. His parents were Robert Smith Dods (a wholesale grocer) and Elizabeth Gray ...

and built in 1912 by Hall & Myers. It is also known as St Francis' Theological College Chapel and Chapel of the Holy Spirit. 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. As a ...

on 21 October 1992.

History

The stone chapel at

Old Bishopsbourne Old Bishopsbourne is a heritage-listed house at 233 Milton Road, Milton, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Benjamin Backhouse and built from 1865 to 1959. It is also known as St Francis Theological College and Bishops ...

(St Francis' Theological College) was erected in 1912, replacing an earlier timber building of exposed studs designed by diocesan architect

Richard George Suter Richard George Suter (1827–1894) was an architect in Queensland, Australia. Many of his buildings are now heritage-listed. Early life Richard George Suter trained as an architect in London under his father after completing a Bachelor of A ...

and constructed about 1870. Archbishop Donaldson, arriving at Bishopsbourne in December 1904, recognised the need to replace the original chapel, which had fallen into disrepair. In 1912 Donaldson commissioned diocesan architects Hall and Dods to design a chapel which would harmonise with the house and grounds. Robin Smith Dods produced the design, and the chapel was constructed under his supervision by builders Hall and Meyers. It was dedicated in 1912. Dods practised in

Brisbane Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the states and territories of Australia, Australian state of Queensland, and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a populati ...

from 1896 to 1916. With this chapel he displayed a mastery of materials and form, proving that simplicity of construction and design can be as powerful as more elaborate structures. Since 1936 the chapel has been carefully maintained by generations of St Francis' Theological College students. A loft and restored pipe organ, which were donated from a neighbouring church, were installed at the western end of the chapel in 1971. While Anglican schools in Queensland generally have a chapel, few would be as old as St Francis', and even fewer would be of local stone.

Description

The chapel is constructed of Brisbane tuff, to a simple rectangular plan . The ambience created is that of a medieval shrine blending with Queensland vernacular and derived stylistic elements of the early 20th century. thick walls with buttresses support a steeply pitched, slate-clad roof. The roof structure of six timber trusses is exposed. The chapel is lit by long, narrow, Gothic windows in the bays between the buttresses. These windows are unusual in that the lower sections of the openings are unglazed, and are fitted with tongue and groove timber shutters to assist with ventilation and light. A side

porch A porch (from Old French ''porche'', from Latin ''porticus'' "colonnade", from ''porta'' "passage") is a room or gallery located in front of an entrance of a building. A porch is placed in front of the facade of a building it commands, and form ...

projects over the entrance, which leads to a small vestry. This is divided from the entrance and interior generally by a timber screen. The floor is above ground level and is covered with red concrete. At the east end the floor originally rose to the sanctuary in the traditional five steps, but the top step has been removed to allow the altar to be detached from the rear wall and to stand free. The chapel is simply furnished and displays a minimum of adornment. The sanctuary is panelled in

silky oak ''Grevillea robusta'', commonly known as the southern silky oak, silk oak or silky oak, silver oak or Australian silver oak, is a flowering plant in the family Proteaceae. It is a tree, the largest species in its genus but is not closely rela ...

, and decoration of the timber altar is limited to gilded motifs of Australian flora. The loft at the western end has been installed sympathetically.

Heritage listing

Old Bishopsbourne Chapel was listed on the

on 21 October 1992 having satisfied the following criteria. The place is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Queensland's history. Historically it is significant for its close association with the Anglican Archbishops of Brisbane for over 50 years, and with the theological college since 1936. The place demonstrates rare, uncommon or endangered aspects of Queensland's cultural heritage. It is important for its rarity of function, fabric and setting in Brisbane, and remains an integral element in the historic Old Bishopsbourne (St Francis Theological College) ecclesiastical grouping. The place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a particular class of cultural places. Old Bishopsbourne Chapel, erected in 1912, is significant as a building of outstanding architectural quality, and as a fine example of the ecclesiastical work of Robin S Dods. The place is important because of its aesthetic significance. Old Bishopsbourne Chapel, erected in 1912, is significant as a building of outstanding architectural quality, and as a fine example of the ecclesiastical work of Robin S Dods. The place is important in demonstrating a high degree of creative or technical achievement at a particular period. Old Bishopsbourne Chapel, erected in 1912, is significant as a building of outstanding architectural quality, and as a fine example of the ecclesiastical work of Robin S Dods. The place has a special association with the life or work of a particular person, group or organisation of importance in Queensland's history. Old Bishopsbourne Chapel, erected in 1912, is significant as a building of outstanding architectural quality, and as a fine example of the ecclesiastical work of Robin S Dods.

References

Attribution

External links

{{Anglican Church of Australia Queensland Heritage Register Milton, Queensland Articles incorporating text from the Queensland Heritage Register Anglican church buildings in Brisbane