Wesleyan Methodist Church (Former)
36 Electra Street WILLIAMSTOWN, Hobsons Bay City
Electra Street Heritage Precinct
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Statement of Significance
St John's Wesleyan Methodist Church (Former), designed by Crouch & Wilson and constructed in 1876, at 36 Electra Street, Williamstown.
How is it Significant?St John's Wesleyan Methodist Church (Former) is of local historic, social and aesthetic significance to the City of Hobsons Bay.
Why is it Significant?Historically, the church is significant for their associations with the Wesleyan Methodists, who were one of the first religious congregations to establish in Williamstown. The church is a major public building in Williamstown, which illustrates the growth of the church and Williamstown during the nineteenth century. (AHC criteria A4 and H1)
Aesthetically, the church is significant as part of the church complex that also includes the adjacent Manse and Kindergarten. The church is the pivotal element in the complex and is notable as an intact and well-designed example of a Gothic Revival church built of local bluestone that is related to the Manse and is notable for its relatively unusual triple gable form. It makes an important contribution to the historic character of Electra Street as part of a group of public buildings. (AHC criteria E1 and F1)
Socially, the church is significant for its strong associations with the Williamstown community over a long period and is demonstrates the important role of the Wesleyan Church in the development of the Williamstown community. (AHC criterion G1)
Note: There is a separate citation for the adjoining Wesleyan Manse and Kindergarten.
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Wesleyan Methodist Church (Former) - Physical Description 1
St John's Uniting (former Wesleyan) Church is a triple gabled Gothic Revival church in the Early English parish church manner, built of local coursed basalt rubble with stuccoed dressings. Nave and side-aisles are expressed by the gables: each divided by pinnacled buttresses and each given a distinctive broad, crocket finialled, gable verge.
Gothic arched entrances are afforded to each bay and are echoed above by windows; the central bay possessing two doors with matching geometric traceried windows, gabled label moulds and a centre wheel window. The side elevation uses paired, arched and flat-headed lights which are placed between shouldered buttresses, whilst the rear elevation possesses three simple gabled bays, as the front, with a tall hipped-roof bay which has been successfully added to the centre-rear, and fenestrated symmetrically to provide a well composed elevation on all sides. This wing appears to have been added later.
Wesleyan Methodist Church (Former) - Integrity
External Integrity and condition
Integrity - High. The scalloped profile picket fence has been removed as has the stylistically sympathetic Wesleyan Sunday School in Pasco Street.
Condition - Good.
Wesleyan Methodist Church (Former) - Physical Description 2
Context
A major corner building, the main element of visually homogeneous ecclesiastical complex and one of a number of public buildings in this area.
Wesleyan Methodist Church (Former) - Historical Australian Themes
Forming Associations, Making places for worship
Wesleyan Methodist Church (Former) - Physical Description 3
Associations
Wesleyan Church, Crouch & Wilson
Heritage Study and Grading
Hobsons Bay - Hobsons Bay Heritage Study
Author: Hobsons Bay City Council
Year: 2006
Grading:
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FORMER MORGUEVictorian Heritage Register H1512
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WILLIAMSTOWN PRIMARY SCHOOLVictorian Heritage Register H1639
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RESIDENCEVictorian Heritage Register H0487
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