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93-539: Graceville Uniting Church is a heritage-listed former Uniting church at 215 Oxley Road, Graceville , City of Brisbane , Queensland , Australia. It was designed and built by Walter Taylor from 1917 to 1951. It was previously known as Graceville Methodist Church . The associated churchyard complex was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 24 September 1999. The church closed on 27 March 2022. The Graceville Uniting Church complex consists of

186-486: A Methodist local preacher ). Lay preachers are required to participate in training and examinations conducted by each synod, and must be approved by the presbytery. The UCA was one of the first Australian churches to grant self-determination to its indigenous members through the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress. Partnerships exist with South Pacific and Asian churches, especially those which share

279-536: A Congregational, Presbyterian or Methodist heritage. An increasing number of ethnic churches worship in their own languages as well as in English. Five to seven per cent of the membership worship in languages other than English, including Aboriginal languages . The UCA advocates for social justice . It has taken stances on issues such as native title for indigenous people; the environment; apartheid ; refugee status, and safe injection facilities for drug users. The church

372-600: A Tudor arch, filling the wall with glass. The window tracery matches the tracery on the walls. During the reign of Edward III the style began to dominate at the Court, especially at the redevelopment of Windsor Castle, where John Sponlee designed the buildings to house Edward's neo-Arthurian fancies. Of these the Dean's Cloister and Aerary Porch survive and exhibit early Perpendicular blind tracery and lierne vaults. The style attained maturity under Henry Yevele and William Wynford in

465-462: A cathedral) and King's College chapel. These were both straightforward fan vaults , but pendant vaulting also reached its apogee with those over St Frideswide's Priory (now Oxford Cathedral ) and the Henry VII Chapel at Westminster Abbey, a major example of the late Perpendicular style. Another important example is St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle , begun in 1475. The vault of the chapel

558-426: A corrugated iron hipped roof. The hall is currently used as part of the tennis court complex. The former Graceville Uniting Church Complex was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 24 September 1999 having satisfied the following criteria. The place is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Queensland's history. The former church and hall are significant as good representative examples of

651-484: A dozen to hundreds of members. They are the local church, the setting for regular worship (generally on Sundays). Many churches also conduct worship services at other times, such as a monthly weekday service, a late-night service for day-shift workers, a "cafe church", or Friday- or Saturday-evening services. A Meeting of the Congregation must be held at least twice each year. The meetings typically consider and approve

744-771: A high degree of technical achievement in the early use of pre-cast concrete in Queensland. Uniting Church in Australia The Uniting Church in Australia ( UCA ) was founded on 22 June 1977, when most congregations of the Methodist Church of Australasia , about two-thirds of the Presbyterian Church of Australia and almost all the churches of the Congregational Union of Australia united under

837-502: A major town or city, and the local synod is normally their organisational and funding body. The Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC, sometimes known simply as the Congress), is constitutionally recognised as having responsibility for oversight of church ministry to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people : A Synod may at the request of a Regional Committee of

930-687: A new church on the corner of Verney and Oxley Roads. The foundation stone was laid on Saturday 2 March 1929 at a ceremony presided over by the President of the Queensland Methodist Conference, Rev. C. T. Palethorpe. Like the hall, the construction of the former church was a community effort, with the donation of labour, cash and much of the construction material including filling, fencing, concrete foundations, reinforcing steel, bearers, floor joists, timber for roof construction and cathedral glass for windows. The congregation had intended to complete

1023-522: A number of presbyteries. Western Australia has a unitary presbytery-synod model. South Australia also had a single presbytery and synod for 15 years, until 2019. These large presbyteries enable groups of congregations to work together, based on geographic location or similar interests or characteristics. Selection of ministerial candidates and the placement of ministers are decided at the presbytery level. There are about 2,000 UCA congregations, with 243,000 members and adherents. Congregations range in size from

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1116-505: A palatine chapel built by King Edward I following the model of Sainte-Chapelle at the Palais de la Cité in medieval Paris . It was built in phases over a long period, from 1292 until 1348, though today only the crypt exists. The architect of the early building was Michael of Canterbury , followed in 1323 by his son Thomas. One of the original decorative features was a kind of blind tracery; blank vertical panels with cusped, or angular tops in

1209-410: A quatrefoil motif. The transepts lie on the northern end of the building. External access to this portion of the former church is via double doors on the truncated corners of both transepts. A six-panelled leaded window is located above each double door. All entrances to the former church are flanked by columns either side which support a decorative gable. The steeply-pitched roof of the former church

1302-660: Is a national UCA activity during school and university holidays, every two or three years in a different city. NCYC 2007, "Agents of Change", was held in Perth. The 2009 "Converge" was held in Melbourne . NCYC 2011 was held from 29 December 2010 to 4 January 2011 at the Southport School on Queensland 's Gold Coast . Yuróra NCYC 2014 was held in North Parramatta, Sydney from 7 to 10 January 2014. Yuróra NCYC 2017, "Uniting Culture",

1395-615: Is a non- episcopal church, with no bishops . Leadership and pastoral roles are nominally performed by presbyteries , but in reality by individuals. The UCA assembly meets every three years, and is chaired by the president. The 14th Assembly met in Perth from 12 to 18 July 2015. The 15th Assembly, hosted by the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania in Box Hill , met in July 2018. Assembly business between meetings

1488-461: Is an area of pre-cast concrete tiled, centrally located on which is a lancet window. Surmounting the tower is an eight-side concrete spire. The side walls of the former church consist of a series of reinforced concrete buttresses surmounted by pinnacles. Between these buttresses are infill panels of pre-cast concrete which typically contain three leaded glass lancet windows per panel. These panels are surmounted by pre-cast concrete spandrels featuring

1581-425: Is broad, reflecting its Methodist , Presbyterian and Congregational origins and its commitment to ecumenism. Its theology may be described as mainline Protestantism , with a commitment to social justice . The church's perspectives are evangelical , left (or progressive), and liberal . Morality, faith, and (in particular) sexuality have been debated. Concerns focus on biblical understanding and accommodation to

1674-510: Is clad with Wunderlich terracotta tiles. Along the ridge of the roof is a concrete crenellated ridge capping. Internally, the nave is divided by a central aisle with original timber pews either side. Various memorials are located on the walls and in the leaded windows of the nave, including the windows on the southern wall of the former church dedicated to Louisa and Walter Taylor. The transepts are divided internally to form vestries. The southern portions of both transepts are integrated with

1767-548: Is conducted by the Assembly Standing Committee, which meets three times per year (usually in March, July and November). Membership is drawn from throughout Australia, with 18 members elected at each assembly. The current president is Reverend Charissa Suli since she was installed as president in the meeting of the 17th Assembly on 11 July 2024. She replaced Reverend Sharon Hollis , who had succeeded Dr Deidre Palmer at

1860-507: Is essentially a single large space with a mezzanine at the Oxley Road end. At the opposite end is a stage. Located to either side of the stage is a set of stairs and a doorway providing access to the stage. A kitchen and large kindergarten room forming the L-shaped plan are also located at his end of the hall. The kindergarten lies on the northern side of the stage area. Access to this room is via

1953-404: Is met by decorative timber gates. Tesselated tiles cover the floor of the bell tower. The doors to the former church lie at right-angles to the arched opening and gates. Above the doorway on the ground floor are precast concrete panels with foiled heads, surmounted by a horizontal panel with recessed quatrefoil motif. Above this panel are chamfered columns supporting a foiled arcade . Above this

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2046-519: Is related in style and detailing to the church but is more restrained in its use of the Gothic style. It is also similar in construction to the church, although the hall employs slightly different pre-cast concrete units for the walls. The main roof is a steeply-pitched timber-framed roof clad in Wunderlich terracotta tiles. A small gable roofed porch abuts the Oxley Road elevation of the building. The hall

2139-456: Is similar to other united and uniting churches , which maintain a cultural identity in their own country and practise ecumenical fellowship with other Christian denominations worldwide. Between 1991 and 2013, UCA attendance declined by 41 per cent. In 2013, about 97,200 people attended weekly worship services throughout Australia. The church is liturgically varied. Practices range from experimental liturgies, informal worship reminiscent of

2232-437: Is square in plan and capped with an eight-sided spire . The structure is supported by buttresses on the three external corners. The main doors to the former church are located in the base of the bell tower. These are accessed via an arched opening on the southern side of the bell tower. This opening is surmounted by a decorative gable supported by paired columns on either side of the door. A ramp leads up to this opening where it

2325-555: Is worn, it most commonly consists of a white alb and a stole (for ministers and deacons) or scarf (for lay preachers). The colour of the scarf or stole is often related to the liturgical calendar, such as purple for Lent or red for Pentecost . Since 1997, most councils and agencies have used the consensus decision-making procedures outlined in the church's Manual for Meetings . The procedures may use orange ("support") and blue ("do not support") cards, which may also be displayed times other than voting. The UCA's theological range

2418-664: The Basis of Union . According to the church, it had 243,000 members in 2018. In the 2016 census , 870,183 Australians identified with the church, but that figure fell to 673,260 in the 2021 census . In the 2011 census , that figure was 1,065,796. The UCA is Australia's third-largest Christian denomination, behind the Catholic and the Anglican Churches . There are around 2,000 UCA congregations, and 2001 National Church Life Survey (NCLS) research indicated that average weekly attendance

2511-611: The Dissolution of the Monasteries ) were rebuilt in 1331–1350. It was likely the work of one of the royal architects, either William de Ramsey, who had worked on the London cathedral chapter house, or Thomas of Canterbury, who was architect to the king when the transept of Gloucester Cathedral was begun. The architect preserved the original 11th-century walls, covering them with Flamboyant mullions and panels. The east window of Gloucester choir has

2604-563: The Divinity School, Oxford . In the later 15th century, the pendulum swung back towards elaboration, especially under the Tudors. John Harvey considered this change to be significant enough to merit Tudor Gothic being considered as a separate style, with greater continental influence, but this position is not widely held. At this period many of the most dazzling vaults were constructed, such as those by John Wastell at Peterborough Abbey (now

2697-600: The Jesus movement to conventional Reformed services. Music also varies from traditional and contemporary hymns in the Australian Hymn Book and Together in Song , through Hillsong and contemporary Christian music to hard alternative and metal . Liturgical dress in the UCA is generally lenient, and is optional for ministers and other leaders of worship. When liturgical dress

2790-425: The soffit of the window, with horizontal transoms frequently decorated with miniature crenellations . Blind panels covering the walls continued the strong straight lines of verticals and horizontals established by the tracery. Together with flattened arches and roofs, crenellations, hood mouldings , lierne vaulting , and fan vaulting were the typical stylistic features. The first Perpendicular style building

2883-474: The 33 years of Christ's life on earth. The walls between the buttresses were divided into seven – the perfect number in the Bible. There are three windows in each bay – a trinity of light. The building featured 1450 Gothic arches and 8000 panes of tinted Cathedral glass . In November 1937, two trees were given to the former church by Mrs Taylor and planted in the church grounds. Various other additions were made to

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2976-642: The Baptist Union and the Churches of Christ , in some locations. There are also cooperative arrangements where supplying ministry to congregations is impossible, particularly in remote areas. This includes arrangements with the Anglican Church , where ministry and (sometimes) property resources are shared. Faith communities are less structured than congregations. They are groups of people who gather together for worship, witness or service and choose to be recognised by

3069-722: The British Isles into three stylistic periods. The third and final style – Perpendicular – Rickman characterised as mostly belonging to buildings built from the reign of Richard II ( r.  1377–1399 ) to that of Henry VIII ( r.  1509–1547 ). From the 15th century, under the House of Tudor , the prevailing Perpendicular style is commonly known as Tudor architecture , being ultimately succeeded by Elizabethan architecture and Renaissance architecture under Elizabeth I ( r.  1558–1603 ). Rickman had excluded from his scheme most new buildings after Henry VIII's reign, calling

3162-551: The Graceville Parish remained a part of the Sherwood Parish until 1988. From 1988 until its closure in 2022, Graceville was a separate Uniting Church parish. The former Graceville Uniting Church and Memorial Hall are sited on a block bounded by Oxley Road, Verney Road East and Addison Road. In addition to the former church and hall, the site also contains the original timber church hall and tennis courts. Plantings exist along

3255-528: The Inter-War Gothic Style of architecture. The former church and hall are important for their aesthetic and architectural significance as well composed, unusual buildings and as important landmark elements of the streetscape. In particular, the church tower and spire is dominant in the streetscape and provides a local landmark. The method of construction used on both the church and the hall was radically different to conventional construction techniques of

3348-408: The Oxley Road elevation of the former church. The rendered concrete building is a modestly-sized church ( nave approximately 15 by 10 metres (49 by 33 ft)) laid out with a T-shaped plan ( St Anthony's cross ) comprising a central nave, transepts and choir . The design of the building, like the adjacent hall, is influenced by an Inter-War Gothic style of architecture. The front elevation of

3441-538: The UCA became the first mainstream Australian church to induct a transgender minister, when Jo Inkpin was installed at Pitt Street Uniting Church in Sydney. Perpendicular Gothic The pointed arches used in Perpendicular were often four-centred arches , allowing them to be rather wider and flatter than in other Gothic styles. Perpendicular tracery is characterized by mullions that rise vertically as far as

3534-582: The Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress prescribe that the Regional Committee may have and exercise all or specific rights, powers, duties and responsibilities of a Presbytery under this Constitution and the Regulations (including ordination and other rights, powers and responsibilities relating to Ministers) for the purpose of fulfilling any responsibility of the Regional Committee for Uniting Church work with Aboriginal and Islander people within

3627-598: The Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress, Frontier Services and UnitingWorld . The UCA is a national, unincorporated association of councils, each of which has responsibility for functions in the church. The councils are congregations (local), presbyteries (regional), synods (state) and an assembly (national). The membership of each council is established by the constitution. Each council includes Women and Men, lay and ordained. The offices of president of assembly, moderator of synod (who chair these councils) and other offices are open to all UCA members. The UCA

3720-577: The beginning of the reign of Richard II to the beginning the reign of Edward VI . Though the style rarely appeared on the European continent, it was dominant in England until the mid-16th century. In 1906 William Lethaby , Surveyor of the Fabric of Westminster Abbey, proposed that the origin of the Perpendicular style was to be found not in 14th-century Gloucester , as was traditionally argued, but in London, where

3813-421: The body of the church and contain pews , and a pipe organ is located in the eastern transept. The vestries contain stair access to the choir stalls. The vestry located on the south-western corner of the church contains a ladder and doorway which provide access to the bell tower and spire. The pulpit area is surrounded by a communion rail. Access to the pulpit is gained via a set of stairs which continue behind

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3906-569: The bounds of the Synod. UnitingCare Australia , one of the country's largest providers of social care, is its largest operator of aged-care facilities. Other activities include shelters and emergency housing for men, women and children; family-relationships support; disability services, and food kitchens. The UCA provides theological training through a number of theological colleges: Training generally takes five years, and includes supervised practical experience. The National Christian Youth Convention

3999-600: The broad culture. Uniting Network Australia is "the national network for lesbian, gay, bisexual, intersex and transgender people, their families, friends and supporters within the Uniting Church in Australia." The establishment of Evangelical Members within the Uniting Church in Australia (EMU), the Reforming Alliance and their merger with the Assembly of Confessing Congregations (ACC) illustrate conservative opposition to

4092-507: The budget, local policy matters, property matters (ratified by the presbytery and synod) and the "call" (employment) of a new minister or other staff. Congregations manage themselves through a council. All elders are members, as are ministers with pastoral responsibility for the congregation; there may also be other members. The council meets regularly, and is responsible for approving worship times and other matters. Some united congregations exist. The UCA has joined with other churches, such as

4185-493: The buildings, devised their unusual construction method and supervised their construction. Taylor was also a major financial contributor to the construction of the complex, and included expressions of his faith in the design and layout of the former church in which he worshipped for many years. Taylor was a major building contractor in Brisbane, known particularly for his reinforced concrete buildings and structures. His most famous work

4278-461: The church directly into the main room of the hall. Windows are typically paired tracery windows with timber sashes. The main floor is timber-framed with a part-basement space underneath. New brick toilets infill between the rear of the hall and tennis shelter shed . The original hall is sited west of the Memorial Hall. It is a timber construction with sash windows, a central gabled projection and

4371-467: The church grounds. Throughout the late 1960s, several other additions and improvements were made. New carpet and linoleum was laid, three of the former church windows were replaced, the church was rewired, lighting in the choir lofts was added and a beam under the Vestry floor was strengthened. A new organ was purchased, a memorial side pulpit was built, and three memorial chairs and a carved timber flower stand

4464-454: The court of the House of Plantagenet was based at Westminster Palace beside Westminster Abbey . The cathedral of London, the episcopal see of the third-most senior bishop in the Church of England , was then Old St Paul's Cathedral . According to the architectural historian John Harvey , the octagonal chapter house of St Paul's, built about 1332 by William Ramsey for the cathedral canons ,

4557-464: The denomination appointing its next minister. They are known as union churches in some places, with several denominations using the building at different times. A Frontier Services ministry is available to residents of the outback , with ministers and pastors visiting families by air or four-wheel drive vehicles. Visits are normally arranged in advance so adjacent families can travel for significant events, such as baptisms . These "padres" are based in

4650-576: The end of 1917, the Graceville congregation became a separate entity from the Sherwood congregation. The Sunday School continued to grow, prompting a request for Taylor to prepare plans of an extension to the hall. Taylor volunteered to supervise the construction of the extensions and they were completed by his staff by 4 February 1924. In 1928, the Church Trustees empowered Walter Taylor to devise plans for

4743-473: The former Graceville Methodist Church. In 1955 repairs were needed to the former church floor and to the roof, and in November 1956 the vestry roof and floor of the tower were resurfaced. A new concrete sump was placed under the former church and an automatic electric pump to remove water from the sump was installed. A 1957 report by architects Cook and Kerrison , found the former church in serious need of repair. It

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4836-422: The former church faces Verney Road East and comprises the gabled end of the former church, flanked by a projecting octagonal vestry to the west and a projecting tower to the east. The elevation is asymmetrical with the tower dominating. The centre of the gabled end houses a large pointed arched window opening. Located above this is a lancet opening infilled with fixed louvred panels. The octagonal vestry abuts

4929-436: The former church, including a photograph frame containing pictures of past ministers, a baptismal font , a pulpit , and a memorial plaque to commemorate Brother James William Roberts. At a Trustees Meeting on 15 November 1944, a letter from Taylor was read which stated that the time was opportune to launch a scheme to build a memorial hall and to simultaneously pay off the church debt. Plans proposed by Taylor were presented to

5022-418: The interior; and, on the exterior, thin stone mullions or ribs extending downward below the windows creating perpendicular spaces. These became the most characteristic feature of the style. The earliest Perpendicular in a major church is the choir of Gloucester Cathedral (1337–1350) constructed when the south transept and choir of the then Benedictine abbey church (Gloucester was not a bishopric until after

5115-434: The laity is valued in the UCA, which recognises that ministry is a function of the entire church. However, "specified ministries" are defined. Of these, the roles of elder and pastor are open to lay members . The church has two orders of ordained ministry : minister and deacon . When it is not possible (or desirable) to have an ordained minister, a lay preacher or lay ministry team may act in their place (similar to

5208-449: The later 14th century. Yevele designed works for the King and Court, such as Westminster Hall , Portchester Castle and the naves of Westminster Abbey and Canterbury Cathedral , while Wynford predominantly worked for Bishop Wykeham of Winchester on the nave of the cathedral itself as well as his educational foundations of New College, Oxford and Winchester College . By c.1400 the style

5301-531: The latter 14th-century chapter house of Hereford Cathedral (demolished 1769) and cloisters at Gloucester , and then at Reginald Ely 's King's College Chapel, Cambridge (1446–1461) and the brothers William and Robert Vertue 's Henry VII Chapel ( c.  1503–1512 ) at Westminster Abbey . The architect and art historian Thomas Rickman 's Attempt to Discriminate the Style of Architecture in England , first published in 1812, divided Gothic architecture in

5394-581: The local option to marriage; a minister may bless a same-sex marriage. The fairly broad consensus has been that a person's sexual orientation should not be a bar to attendance, membership or participation in the church. More controversial has been the issue of sexual activity by gay and lesbian people and the sexual behaviour of ordination candidates. In 2003, the church voted to allow local presbyteries to decide whether to ordain gay and lesbian people as ministers. Ministers were permitted to bless same-sex couples entering civil unions even before same-sex marriage

5487-521: The meeting and the committee agreed to go ahead with the construction of the hall which would be a memorial to those who served in World War II and would be used by the Sunday School and church societies. The foundation stone of the memorial hall was laid on 20 September 1947 by Mr W.H. Green. Taylor recommended that the front and side fence of the church be removed. The good portions were re-erected at

5580-474: The ordination of gay and lesbian candidates and the influence of the Confessing Movement (not to be confused with the anti- Nazi Confessing Church ). Issues debated since early in UCA history are the role of gay and lesbian people in the church, their possibility of being ordained and the blessing of same-sex unions. The church permits local presbyteries to ordain gay and lesbian ministers, and extends

5673-416: The original church hall , erected in 1917; the former church, opened in 1930 and closed in 2022; and the memorial hall , opened in 1951, all to the design of Walter Taylor. Repairs were made to the buildings from the mid-1950s onwards, with a jubilee restoration project to restore the church and memorial hall completed in 1965. The former Graceville Uniting Church, established as Graceville Methodist Church,

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5766-526: The presbytery. Local churches are sometimes also used by congregations of other denominations; for example, a Tongan Seventh-day Adventist congregation may make arrangements to meet in the building on a Saturday. The UCA is committed to inclusivity, and there are a number of multicultural ministry (MCM) arrangements in which Korean , Tongan and other groups form congregations of the church. Co-operating congregations, typically in rural areas, have several denominations worshiping as one congregation and rotate

5859-419: The pulpit to the tiered choir stalls. The rendered concrete ceiling is suspended below timber roofing members and incorporates simplified Gothic-style tracery and V-shaped coffers . The former church main floor is a raked concrete slab on ground, however timber flooring survives to the elevated choir. Internal joinery is generally silky oak including an altered choir front and pulpit. The memorial hall

5952-482: The side of the hall and the broken pieces were used in the foundations. After delays caused by shortages of materials and Bureau of Industry concerns, the memorial hall was officially opened on 1 December 1951. Apart from the honour board remembering those who fell in World War II, the memorial also contained many tributes to former church members. From the 1950s, various renovations and modifications were carried out on

6045-415: The site and "placed in position like masonry. They were laced together with steel and concrete providing a building of extraordinary strength, without in any way detracting from the gracefulness of design" . After the buttresses were erected, walls, panels and window jambs at the top and filled in with concrete slabs, formed a broken surface, "with a very pleasing effect" . A parapet with a counterfoil design

6138-428: The spalling of the concrete in the hall and church owing to the penetration of moisture which caused the steel reinforcing to rust, and damage and disfigurement caused by pigeon droppings. The restoration work was completed in 1965 by Building Plastics. The project involved cutting out loose concrete where spalling was evident, cleaning, treating the steel reinforcement and repairing the concrete. All loose paint and moss

6231-402: The stage and an external door in the south-eastern corner of the room. The floor of the kindergarten room is at the same height as the stage. The front porch area contains World War II memorial elements, including memorial plaques and recent memorial stained glass windows. The windows lie either side of the main entry doors. A door in the southern wall of the hall provides access from the rear of

6324-479: The start of the 16th Assembly in July 2021. Palmer was the second woman in the role, following Jill Tabart (1994-1997). Palmer was the moderator of the Presbytery and Synod of South Australia from November 2013 to November 2016. Hollis was moderator of the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania at the time of her election in 2018 as the president-elect and became president at the beginning of the sixteenth assembly, which

6417-413: The streetscape. In particular, the church tower and spire is dominant in the streetscape and provides a local landmark. The place is important in demonstrating a high degree of creative or technical achievement at a particular period. The method of construction used on both the former church and the hall was radically different to conventional construction techniques of the time, and as such demonstrate

6510-650: The style of "additions and rebuilding" in the later 16th and earlier 17th centuries "often much debased". Perpendicular followed the Decorated Gothic (or Second Pointed) style and preceded the arrival of Renaissance elements in Tudor and Elizabethan architecture. As a Late Gothic style contemporary with Flamboyant in France and elsewhere in Europe, the heyday of Perpendicular is traditionally dated from 1377 until 1547, or from

6603-639: The superstructure of the former church without borrowing any money, however the economics of the time were against them. Being the time of the Depression , many of the men of the parish were unemployed, on relief work, and so were unable to give money as generously as they had done in the past. £ 500 was borrowed from the Methodist Loan Fund. The former church was opened by His Excellency the Governor of Queensland , Sir John Goodwin , on 29 November 1930. Tribute

6696-537: The time, and as such demonstrate a high degree of technical achievement in the early use of pre-cast concrete in Queensland. Until its 2022 closure, the former church and the hall were in continuous use providing for the spiritual, recreational and social needs of the Graceville Community, creating a strong and special association with the site. The former church and hall are significant for their strong association with prominent builder, Walter Taylor, who designed

6789-412: The western side of the front facade . Supporting the vestry walls are six buttresses , each capped with a pinnacle . Between the buttresses are precast concrete panels with foiled heads. The central panel is infilled with leaded glass. The vestry roof has a central, raised pinnacle which also forms one end of the gable of the nave. The bell tower , located on the Oxley Road side of the front elevation,

6882-561: The will of Walter Taylor the overdraft and the balance owed to the Methodist Loan Fund were liquidated. The two large windows at the Verney Road end of the church were dedicated as memorial windows to Mr and Mrs Taylor. In 1963 the original Trustee committee was replaced by the Property Board of Graceville Methodist Church who selected the restoration of the former church and memorial hall as its jubilee project. The most important issues were

6975-510: Was about 10 per cent of census figures. The UCA is one of Australia's largest non-government providers of community and health services. Its service network consists of over 400 agencies, institutions, and parish missions, with its areas of service including aged care, hospitals, children, youth and family, disability, employment, emergency relief, drug and alcohol abuse, youth homelessness and suicide. Affiliated agencies include UCA's community and health-service provider network, affiliated schools,

7068-403: Was agreed to allow Cook and Kerrison to proceed with preparing specifications for renewing the floor and box guttering. The trustees approved that the church floor should be concrete with a suitable covering. The £ 1972 tender of A. L. Paice was accepted. To complete the work, the existing pulpit and communion rail were removed and later re-installed to one side. In 1958 a new septic toilet block

7161-522: Was also held in Sydney in January 2017. UnitingWorld is the church's international-aid agency. It receives funding from the government of Australia to implement development and poverty-alleviation programs in the Pacific, Asia and Africa. UnitingWorld works in partnership with 18 overseas denominations to support over 180,000 people annually through sustainable community development projects. The role of

7254-569: Was built under the direction of William de Ramsey, who had worked on earlier phases of the still-unfinished St Stephens's Chapel. Ramsey extended the stone mullions of the windows downwards on the walls. At the top of each window he made a four-centred arch which became a distinctive feature of Perpendicular. Along with rest of Old St Paul's, the chapter house was destroyed by the Great Fire of London in 1666. Elements of early Perpendicular are also known from St Stephen's Chapel at Westminster Palace,

7347-498: Was constructed and a new memorial window was unveiled in the former church. A new organ was donated in 1959. The interior of the former church was also repainted by Ash and Nephew, and Brisbane Lead Light Service repaired and installed various windows. In 1960 new stairs from the Minister's Vestry to the choir stalls were constructed, and in 1962 a new pulpit chair was installed. In about March 1962 Louisa Taylor died and in accordance with

7440-404: Was designed in c.  1332 by William de Ramsey : a chapter house for Old St Paul's Cathedral , the cathedral of the bishop of London . The chancel of Gloucester Cathedral ( c.  1337–1357 ) and its latter 14th-century cloisters are early examples. Four-centred arches were often used, and lierne vaults seen in early buildings were developed into fan vaults , first at

7533-405: Was installed. In the 1970s the hall was renovated as were the two tennis courts. In 1980 the choir vestry floor was repaired and tiled, and the tiles in the former church were also cleaned. A concrete ramp to facilitate wheelchair access was installed, new stainless steel guttering was added to the former church roof, and the old hall was renovated. After the formation of the Uniting Church in 1977,

7626-499: Was legalised in Australia in late 2017. In July 2018, the national assembly approved the creation of marriage rites for same-sex couples. Since 1997, some ministers living in same-sex relationships have come out without their ordination (or ministry) being challenged. In 2011, the church approved the blessing of same-sex unions . Seven years later it allowed local congregations and ministers to decide whether to perform same-sex marriages, and ministers may now do so. In March 2021,

7719-528: Was mounted on top of the walls between the buttresses, and was broken by a pointed turret over each buttress. "Rapid hardening cement and reinforced concrete have made it possible to construct on a very modest scale a building containing all the essential features" . Cruciform in plan, the former church was symbolic in its representation of part of the Scriptures – a parable in stone. The exterior walls were to be constructed from 33 buttresses which represent

7812-575: Was originally part of the Sherwood circuit. In August 1914, it was deemed advisable to start a Sunday School in Graceville. The Sunday School was given the use of sheds on the Graceville recreation grounds , however, by 1917 the Sunday School had outgrown this accommodation. In January 1917, Messrs Taylor, Draper and Hedges were appointed to a committee to investigate a possible site for additional accommodation. Verney Road, east of Graceville railway station ,

7905-678: Was paid to the architect and builder of the former church, Walter Taylor, with the congregation's appreciation expressed in the erection of a marble slab and framed photographs of Walter and Louisa Taylor in the former church. According to the Queensland Methodist Times , the use of the Perpendicular Gothic style was an innovation in Methodist architecture. The precast concrete parts were made in Walter Taylor's workshop, moved to

7998-571: Was registered on 22 August 1917 as the property of the Methodist Church, with four nominated trustees. The new trustees agreed to secure a loan of £ 125 to build a new hall on the site. Taylor was appointed Honorary Architect and supervisor of the project and it was agreed that the hall was to be built by voluntary labour. The new hall was opened on 3 November 1917 by the President of the Methodist Conference, Rev. W. Brown. Its construction

8091-423: Was removed, anti-mould solution was applied, a sealer coat was added as well as a coat of bitumen and woven fibreglass cloth was used to cover all the cracks and repairs. Finally two more coats of bitumen, two colour coats and two coats of clear plastic were applied. The new colour chosen was beige. In 1965 the tennis courts were also improved and the retired men of the parish gave up their Friday afternoons to improve

8184-484: Was selected as the most central and appropriate site. Within a few days, Mr Taylor was approached by Mr Keid regarding eight allotments in Addison, Verney and Oxley Roads which were for sale for £ 135. Taylor paid a deposit of £ 10 to secure the property. In February 1917, the church decided to purchase three blocks – Allotments 299, 300 and 301 for £ 60, purchasing the other five allotments two years later for £ 75. The land

8277-705: Was the Walter Taylor Bridge , constructed in 1935 as a toll bridge over the Brisbane River at Indooroopilly . The place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a particular class of cultural places. The former church and hall are significant as good representative examples of the Inter-War Gothic Style of architecture. The place is important because of its aesthetic significance. The former church and hall are important for their aesthetic and architectural significance as well composed, unusual buildings and as important landmark elements of

8370-412: Was the earliest example of Perpendicular Gothic. Alec Clifton-Taylor agreed that St Paul's chapter house and St Stephen's Chapel at Westminster Palace predate the early Perpendicular work at Gloucester. In the early 21st century the outline of the foundations of the chapter house was made visible in the redeveloped south churchyard of the present 17th-century cathedral. The chapter house at St Paul's

8463-435: Was the result of community effort, built with the donation of various materials and voluntary labour. Taylor was heavily involved in the project – he drew the plans, prepared the specifications and supervised the work. The hall had the seating capacity of 120 people. While built for the Sunday School, the hall was also used for Sunday evening services, and for community events, such as community meetings, debating and concerts. At

8556-567: Was to be held in Queensland in 2021. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic , the meeting was moved to a shorter, online form. Synods are UCA councils which roughly correspond to state boundaries. Each synod meets about once per year, with a standing committee to represent it between sessions. Synod responsibilities include the promotion and encouragement of the church's mission, theological and ministerial education, and overseeing property matters. There are six synods: Each synod generally consists of

8649-569: Was widespread across the country, from Melrose in Scotland to Wells in Somerset. Under the pious Henry VI the official style of the Court became relatively austere, as seen at the chapels of King's College, Cambridge and Eton College . However, the original intentions at both buildings are now obscured as the building work continued long after the King was overthrown, with design changes resulting in increasing ornamentation. The same process occurred at

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