St Mary's Anglican Church is a

heritage-listed This list is of heritage registers, inventories of cultural properties, natural and human-made, tangible and intangible, movable and immovable, that are deemed to be of sufficient heritage value to be separately identified and recorded. In ma ...

Anglican Anglicanism, also known as Episcopalianism in some countries, is a Western Christianity, Western Christian tradition which developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the ...

church Church may refer to: Religion * Church (building), a place/building for Christian religious activities and praying * Church (congregation), a local congregation of a Christian denomination * Church service, a formalized period of Christian comm ...

and associated facilities located at 240 Birrell Street,

Waverley, New South Wales Waverley is a suburb in the Eastern Suburbs (Sydney), Eastern suburbs of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Waverley is located seven kilometres east of the Sydney central business district, in the Local government in Australia ...

, Australia. The church 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 Goulburn Cathedral (St. Saviour), St. Saviour's Cathedral, Goulbu ...

and built between 1863 and 1864. It is very well known and sought after as a place to be married and is popular for funerals. The building is also notable due its

pipe organ The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurised air (called ''wind'') through the organ pipes selected from a Musical keyboard, keyboard. Because each pipe produces a single tone and pitch, the pipes are provide ...

, designed and built by August Gern. The property is used for ministry by the
Anglican Parish of Bondi and Waverley
which is an amalgamation of two previous Parishes (Bondi, Waverley); The first Rector of St Mary’s Waverley, Rev Stanley Mitchell, was a keen Evangelical and although he used traditional Anglican liturgy was “low church” like most of Sydney Diocese. However there has been a long history of more “High” Anglicanism and Anglo Catholic theological underpinnings. Since 2014, the church has returned to a strongly evangelical base while running a very strong traditional 1662 prayer book communion service every Sunday. It also has less traditional al services to accommodate more contemporary congregations. This Parish is part of the

Anglican Diocese of Sydney The Diocese of Sydney is a diocese in Sydney, within the Province of New South Wales of the Anglican Church of Australia. The majority of the diocese is evangelical and low church in tradition. The diocese goes as far as Lithgow in the wes ...

. it has another site at Bondi Beach, on Wairoa Avenue, where a number of contemporary congregations are run. The St Mary’s site was added to the

New South Wales State Heritage Register The New South Wales State Heritage Register, also known as NSW State Heritage Register, is a heritage list of places in the state of New South Wales, Australia, that are protected by New South Wales legislation, generally covered by the Heritag ...

on 2 April 1999.

History

Waverley

Waverley the suburb's name comes from the book title by

Walter Scott Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet (15 August 1771 – 21 September 1832), was a Scottish novelist, poet and historian. Many of his works remain classics of European literature, European and Scottish literature, notably the novels ''Ivanhoe'' (18 ...

, famed Scottish author and poet. It was given thus by Barnett Levey (or Levy, 1798–1837) who came to Sydney in the 1820s to visit his brother. Seeing how prosperous the city was he settled and set up business in George Street as a general merchant. He was influential in bringing theatre to Australia, establishing the Theatre Royal in part of his building off George Street. In 1831 he was granted a piece of land in the area of today's Waverley, bounded by

Old South Head Road Old South Head Road is a major road in Sydney, linking the eastern suburb of Bondi Junction to Watsons Bay on the South Head peninsula. It is historically significant because its earliest origins can be traced back to the early days of the co ...

, Birrell Street, Hollywood Avenue and Paul Street. He built a substantial two-storey home on Old South Head Road in 1827, naming it ''Waverley House'' after the novel of that name. In 1837 ''Waverley House'' was taken over for a Catholic school or orphanage. It was demolished in the early 20th century.Pollen & Healy, 1988, 266 In 1857 a small stone church was built in Church Street, Waverley for the local Anglican congregation, now the site of

St Clare's College, Waverley St Clare's College is an independent Roman Catholic single-sex secondary day school for girls, located in Waverley, in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Established in 1884 by the Poor Clare Sisters, St Clare's has ...

.LEP, 1996 It was soon found to be inadequate and the construction of the present building commenced with the laying of its foundation stone on 6 June 1863. It was built on a site donated by T. D. Edwards, that was part of original grant to Barnett Levey. The building was consecrated on 19 May 1864 by Bishop Barker. The church was built by W. Bailey. The original design envisaged a tower and spire, which were never built. Porches and the organ chamber were added in 1872. In the 1870s it was extended by to its present size. The church was designed in the Ecclesiastical Gothic Revival style by

, a prominent Australian architect of the Victorian era. The stained glass windows are some of the earliest to be made in the colony, the two in the first bay of the south wall of the nave being the earliest windows to be commissioned in New South Wales. In 1888 the pipe organ was added. The Church is listed on the now defunct

Register of the National Estate The Register of the National Estate was a heritage register that listed natural and cultural heritage places in Australia that was closed in 2007. Phasing out began in 2003, when the Australian National Heritage List and the Commonwealth Heri ...

, Waverley Local Environmental Plan and the NSW State Heritage Register and extensive restoration to the fabric of the building has taken place since the 1980s. In 1993 a gallery was added and the organ relocated. The St Mary's building is still an active base for ministry, with both traditional prayer book Anglican services and more contemporary ministries based there. It is linked to the sites on Ocean Street at Bondi (St Matthews) and on Wairoa Avenue at Bondi Beach (St Andrews).

Description

Grounds

Sited on the highest point in Waverley, the group is a visually prominent feature of the streetscape, derived mainly from the stone church and wide frontage to Birrell and Council Streets.Edwards Planning, 2015. Grey

sandstone Sandstone is a Clastic rock#Sedimentary clastic rocks, clastic sedimentary rock composed mainly of grain size, sand-sized (0.0625 to 2 mm) silicate mineral, silicate grains, Cementation (geology), cemented together by another mineral. Sand ...

wall along Birrell Street frontage (possibly ) together with mature landscape elements, Canary Island date palms, are significant visible elements. Existing plantings fronting Birrell Street provide a dense visual screen. The church and hall are set in attractive garden surrounds. It appears little of the original landscape features remain from the Victorian period. Possibly the

driveway A driveway (also called ''drive'' in UK English) is a private road for local access to one or a small group of structures owned and maintained by an individual or group. Driveways rarely have traffic lights, but some may if they handle heavy ...

layout is original (now asphalt). An impressive grey sandstone wall along Birrell Street frontage exists, possibly from . There are mature Canary island date palms (Phoenix canariensis), near the adjacent former Church Hall and within the grounds. These are notable landscape elements to about high, dating probably from . Other mature plantings include Lord Howe Island palm (Howea fosteriana), low hedging of box (Buxus sp.).Stuart Read, pers.comm., 24 July 2015. The central lawn is of buffalo grass. Traditional central and edge bordering flower beds punctuate the lawn. A columbabium () exists on the north side of the church, screened by a mature cypress (''Cupressus sp.'') possibly from . Interwoven by circulation pathways and established landscaped grounds. Generally characterised by formal manicured gardens with a number of mature plantings.

Built elements

Church

One of Edmund Blacket's earlier churches. Both modest and attractive, and essentially intact. Impressive stone church in the ecclesiastical Gothic Revival style. Long nave with chancel, vestry and two side porches. Dressed sandstone with concrete tiled roof (originally shingled). Paired lancet windows between

buttress A buttress is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall. Buttresses are fairly common on more ancient (typically Gothic) buildings, as a means of providing support to act ...

es. Stained glass with label moulds over. Good

belfry The belfry /ˈbɛlfri/ is a structure enclosing bells for ringing as part of a building, usually as part of a bell tower or steeple. It can also refer to the entire tower or building, particularly in continental Europe for such a tower attached ...

above western

parapet A parapet is a barrier that is an upward extension of a wall at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony, walkway or other structure. The word comes ultimately from the Italian ''parapetto'' (''parare'' 'to cover/defend' and ''petto'' 'chest/brea ...

gable A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of intersecting roof pitches. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system used, which reflects climate, material availability, and aesth ...

Hall (now St. Mary's Child Care Centre)

Federation Gothic style hall , rectangular of dark face brick construction with a

hipped roof A hip roof, hip-roof or hipped roof, is a type of roof where all sides slope downward to the walls, usually with a fairly gentle slope, with variants including tented roofs and others. Thus, a hipped roof has no gables or other vertical sides ...

form clad in terracotta tiles, partially-concealed behind a series of rendered masonry battlements. Has a series of entry points on the southern and eastern elevations. The western elevation has a skillion lean-to

awning An awning or overhang is a secondary covering attached to the exterior wall of a building. It is typically composed of canvas woven of Acrylic fiber, acrylic, cotton or polyester yarn, or vinyl laminated to polyester fabric that is stretched tight ...

providing cover to mechanical and electrical plant equipment. Largely intact exterior although evidence of previous alterations and additions, retains a high degree of architectural embellishment. External walls are divided into three sections: lower portion to the rendered masonry window sills is face brick, the central portion is rendered masonry with face brick lancet-shaped window openings and a face brick upper portion to ceiling level, before being finished with a series of rendered masonry battlements. Original windows and doors are typically of timber joinery.

Rectory

masonry construction.

Condition

As at July 2021, essentially intact. Generally in good condition, although there is a plan to refurbish the roof cladding which is degraded wooden shingles, with Welsh Slate.

Modifications and dates

It appears little of the original landscape features remain from the Victorian period. Possibly the driveway layout is original An impressive grey sandstone wall along Birrell Street frontage exists, possibly from . There are mature Canary island palms (Phoenix canariensis), near adjacent former Church Hall and within grounds. These are notable landscape elements to about high, dating probably from . Traditional central and edge bordering flower beds punctuate the lawn. A columbabium () exists on the north side of the church, .

Heritage listing

The St Mary's Anglican Church and Pipe Organ was listed on the

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. One of Edmund Blacket's earlier churches. Of considerable historical interest. One of the oldest buildings in the Waverley Council area, and notable for its association with Bishop Barker and important local families. Sited on the highest point in Waverley and set in attractive garden surrounds. The place has a strong or special association with a person, or group of persons, of importance of cultural or natural history of New South Wales's history. Notable for its association with Bishop Barker and important local families. The place is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in New South Wales. Architectural and aesthetic; value for its design, siting, on the highest point in Waverley and streetscape/landscape value, set in attractive garden surrounds. The place has a strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group in New South Wales for social, cultural or spiritual reasons. Cultural and social values The place possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales. Rarity value for its age, design and intactness. The place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of cultural or natural places/environments in New South Wales. Representative example of a Gothic Revival church design by Edmund Blacket.

References

Bibliography

* * *

Attribution

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Mary's Anglican Church, Waverley Waverley Waverley, New South Wales Anglican church buildings in Sydney Articles incorporating text from the New South Wales State Heritage Register Mary, Waverley 1863 establishments in Australia Churches completed in 1864 Gothic Revival church buildings in Australia Gothic Revival architecture in Sydney Anglican Diocese of Sydney Sandstone churches in Australia New South Wales places listed on the defunct Register of the National Estate New South Wales Heritage Database