St Paul’s Church & Memorial Hall

St Paul’s Anglican Church has a pamphlet for visitors wanting to peek inside: “10 things to see in 10 minutes”. The beautiful church sits in the heart of a picture-postcard-perfect vista where the most northerly outpost of the Diocese of Newcastle was formed in 1853.

Two timber churches were built on the site until the foundation stone was laid in 1878 for the permanent masonry building designed by Colonial Architect F.D.G. Stanley. With soaring ceilings and acclaimed architecture, it was hailed as cathedral status. Twelve striking stained-glass windows on the northern side depict the saints; on the southern side another 12 windows depict parables and stories from the New Testament.

Features inside include the Warriors Chapel, installed in 1960 to hallow the memory of those who served the wars (in the early days of the Wide Bay Regiment St Paul’s was known as the Garrison Church); three embroidered sets of Army colours; a 2m high pulpit cut in Gothic style from Caen stone; and the High Altar of Helidon sandstone with a Sicilian marble top embodying a piece of stone from the reredos of St Paul’s in London after it was bombed in WWII. Behind the altar seven stained glass windows depict the life of Christ.

Our Lady’s Chapel was dedicated inside the church in 1963. In 1921 a splendid Memorial Hall, harmonising with the church, was added beside the back of the church in memory of those who fell in WWI. The two buildings combined with the bell tower at the other end of the block form one of the most picturesque ecclesiastical sights in Queensland.

The Memorial Hall fronts the main street (Adelaide Street) and is used as the venue for inter-denominational soup kitchens and breakfasts, dance and sports groups, morning teas and hall markets (Thursdays) and numerous other activities.

Apart from regular services, St Paul’s is open to the public, with the organ playing, on Thursday market days. Pick up a pamphlet and pop in.