NTAQ Tax Deductible Donation Form Rose Window Sept 2023

New Project

The St Paul’s Presbyterian Church Restoration Trust and Committee of Management are pleased to advise that the National Trust has established a special appeal to raise funds for heritage conservation work on the gables and rose windows of St Paul’s Presbyterian Church, including much-needed repairs to the rose window in the church vestry.

When complete, it is envisaged that the Rose Window will be as beautiful as the recently completed church bell tower windows.  

Completed Bell Tower Stonework

Click here 2022 Images-Tower Restoration Works for a Collage of Photos showing the recently completed work on the Church Bell Tower. The removal of the unsightly gantry that previously covered the Columbarium has restored access to the Columbarium for Memorial Services and as an area of quiet reflection.

The work at St. Paul’s has been, over many years, supported by many different people, both in the church and the community.  Sincere thanks to all of you for the contributions you have made.  We look forward to your continuing interest in future projects.


NTAQ Tax Deductible Donation Form_FInal Approved by NTAQ 21 April

2021Restoration_Trust_Non_Tax_Deductible_Donation_Form_ Compressed

The ‘Before and After’ photos in the slide show at the top of the page are representative of the stonework on the bell tower.  The marked difference between ‘Before’ and ‘After’ is evident in the end result, which is beautiful, thanks to the craftsmanship of the stonemasons.

Completed Work

The restoration of the church bell tower is the costliest restoration project embarked upon to date.  The work has unfolded in stages:

  1. Stage 1 (the Northwest nave and tower wall, on the left when viewing the church from St Pauls Terrace) was completed in 2014.
  2. Stage 2 (the front entrance façade) was completed in segments from 2015 to 2016.
  3. Two major segments of Stage 3 (the area surrounding the Columbarium) were completed in 2017 and 2020.

Using best practice stonemasonry conservation methods, the crumbling stonework of the completed sections of the bell tower has been rectified. Where stonework could be saved, stones were retained and retooled. Where the stonework was too far gone to be saved, for example, the original Woogaroo Quarry Sandstone, stones were replaced like-for-like with exacting precision. Other work included: re-pointing; mortar and crack repairs; lead flashing; cleaning; and ancillary items, including the refurbishment of tower windows and the stabilisation of the pinnacles.

With the completion of Stages 1 and 2, a car park, previously cordoned off by security fencing, is now accessible to the elderly and people with mobility issues. The removal of the large protective gantry from the church’s main entrance has positively contributed to the increase in the number of weddings being held at St Paul’s.

Donate

If you would like to support the restoration of St Paul’s, donations can be made in the following ways:

  1. Tax-deductible donations may be made to the National Trust of Australia (Queensland) St Paul’s Presbyterian Restoration Appeal. For information on how to make a tax-deductible donation, please click on the NTAQ Tax Deductible Donation Form 2021. NTAQ Tax Deductible Donation Form_FInal Approved by NTAQ 21 April 2021
  2. If a tax deduction is not significant in your situation, donations may be made to the St Paul’s Presbyterian Church Restoration Trust. For information on how to make a non-tax-deductible donation, please click on the Restoration Trust Non-Deductible Donation Form. . Restoration_Trust_Non_Tax_Deductible_Donation_Form_ Compressed


Architecture

The church building is a gothic-styled, heritage-listed church with a bell tower and tall spire which once dominated Brisbane’s skyline. It was dedicated for worship on 5 May 1889. It has numerous beautiful stained glass windows, a long central aisle and sloping floor, decorative red cedar timber work and polished pews.

The church hall is a spacious building with timber floor. It was completed and occupied as a temporary church in May 1886 and was used for worship during the construction of the church building. It is a brick building, in Gothic style, with the side walls and corners articulated with buttresses. A distinctive feature of the building is that the timber panelled ceiling carries five mirror-lined conical light fittings originally designed to throw gas-mantle generated light down to the floor area.

Preservation

This outstanding gothic building is not just a place of worship for St Paul’s congregation but is a significant example of the building design heritage of Brisbane and Queensland. It is representative of the legacy left to our State and to our capital city by FDG Stanley, the renowned Colonial Architect of the mid to late 1800s. A number of other important buildings – the Port Offices, the General Post Office, the National Bank – are also testament to his handiwork as an architectural design genius.

As the present custodians, it is both our duty and our desire to ensure the building is preserved and maintained for its continued use for the purpose for which it was designed and built. Our mission in facilitating restoration work as and when needed is to ensure a safe continuation of the use of this beautiful building for worship from one generation to another – respecting the past, preserving for the future. 

Restoration 

The on-going restoration work by the church community, including replacement of eroded stonework, plus past projects of the copper cladding of the spire and installation of protection for the stained glass windows are all contributing to the preservation of the “Kirk on the hill”.

In 1983 a Project Committee was formed to address the huge task of ensuring the restoration and preservation of St. Paul’s Church. By this time the severe erosion of the sandstone features was evident. 

In 1988 this committee was transformed into a legal entity, with its own Deed of Settlement, called The St Paul’s Presbyterian Church Restoration Trust. The trustees are elected by the congregation.

Since that date, as a consequence of continued strong support from donors, together with grants from the Commonwealth & State Governments & the Brisbane City Council, the Trust has expended in excess of $2,800,000 on restoration work on the two buildings. 

The images below portray the scale and success of the Steeple Restoration Project which was completed last decade.