ST PETER'S CHURCH OF ENGLAND
2-6 BRUCE STREET, LEONGATHA, SOUTH GIPPSLAND SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
St Paul's is a substantial Postwar Gothic church constructed of brick with buttressed side walls, a steeply pitched tiled roof and a prominent corner tower. The gabled roof above the nave has deep eaves which rest on the buttresses, which divide the walls into four bays, and are supported by rendered corbels at the east end. The nave narrows to form the chancel at the west end while the east front is highlighted by a projecting central bay of the parapet gable end containing a rose window above a group of three lancet windows. Beside this is a truncated tower above the entry, while the north elevation has a parapeted separate aisle beside the nave, which is divided into bays by piers that project above the parapet. The south elevation is simpler in detail and contains tall windows with arched heads between the buttresses, and a gabled porch at the east end. A notable feature is the tower at the northwest corner, which comprises an octagonal copper sheathed spire rising from behind a rendered parapet with incised details and chamfered, stepped corners. The sides have louvred openings below a Tudor arch with a label moulding, solid render tracery implying a bellfry. Other contributory features include:
- Gothic style detailing including the lancet windows, label moulds above opening, tracery detail to the windows in the north elevations and the tower.
- The projecting gabled vestry on the south side at the west end.
- Use of contrasting tapestry bricks laid in soldier course as lintels.
- Internally, the roof of the nave is supported by hammer beam trusses, with smaller scissors trusses to the chancel, which has high set windows with tracery and a pointed arch window with leadlight at the west end. A pointed arch with a label mould separates the nave from the chancel. The former Rectory is an asymmetrical interwar brick bungalow with a hipped tile roof and a flat roofed porch supported by round steel poles and with a low brick balustrade. The tripartite timber windows to the main elevation have horizontal glazing bars and there are two plain brick chimneys.
Aesthetically, St Peter's is a fine and well-detailed example of a substantial Postwar church with simplified and abstracted Gothic form and detailing including buttressed walls, lancet windows, feature windows with tracery including the large rose window, while the simply detailed interior is enhanced by its lofty roof with hammer beam and scissors trusses, the pointed arch dividing the nave and the chancel and the high set windows above the altar. Of special significance is the tower, which is finely detailed to imply a belfry and features the only church spire in the Shire. Situated on a prominent corner on a high point of land in the town the church is a landmark within Leongatha and the spire is visible for many miles around. (Criterion E)
St Peter's has social value for its strong and enduring associations with the local community through its use as a church and parish centre, which has been a focal point of the Anglican congregation for over 60 years. (Criterion G)
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ST PETER'S CHURCH OF ENGLAND - Physical Description 1
St Peter's Church of England, at 2 Bruce Street, Leongatha is a post war pink brick Gothic style steep pitched gable church. It has a notable tower with rendered dressings capped by an octagonal copper sheathed spire at the north west corner and a truncated entry tower at the northeast. The single gabled nave without aisles narrows to form the apse at the west while the east front is highlighted by a projecting central bay of the parapet gable end containing a rose window above a group of three lancet windows. The roof of the nave is tiled and is supported by tied hammer beam timber trusses. As the Church is situated on one of the highest points of the town, the tower is visible from many miles around, particularly on the approach from Korumburra An unfortunate flat roofed extension projects to the north from the tower corner, robbing the building of much of its character.
The former rectory to the south of the church is a basic red brick builders' vernacular building of no architectural consequence. The Californian bungalow further to the south at 4 Bruce Street (Photo 11/14) is also owned by the church. It is a longitudinal gable brick interwar bungalow with a projecting gable porch carried on roughcast brick piers. It has battened gable ends with central louvred vent panels.Heritage Study and Grading
South Gippsland - South Gippsland Heritage Study
Author: David Helms with Trevor Westmore
Year: 2004
Grading:
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ELIZABETH HOUSESouth Gippsland Shire
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SHOPSSouth Gippsland Shire
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THOMAS RIDGWAY STORE (FORMER)South Gippsland Shire
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"1890"Yarra City
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"AMF Officers" ShedMoorabool Shire
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"AQUA PROFONDA" SIGN, FITZROY POOLVictorian Heritage Register H1687
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1 Fordham CourtYarra City
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10 Fordham CourtYarra City
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