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Church of Christ, 18 Sloane Street, STAWELL

Location

18 Sloane Street STAWELL, NORTHERN GRAMPIANS SHIRE

Level

Recommended for Heritage Overlay

Statement of Significance

The Church of Christ building, 18 Sloane Street, makes an important architectural and historical contribution to this local area in Stawell. Designed by George Inskip and constructed in 1872 as the Lyceum Hall, it heralded the first place of worship in Victoria for the Progressive Spiritualists. It also hosted the foundation meeting of the Stawell Miners Association in the same year. Purchased by the Primitive Methodists in 1876, the hall served as a place of worship until after the union of the Methodist Church in 1902. It was acquired by the Church of Christ in 1908 and in the latter 20th century it has experienced substantial additions and alterations at the front, but still serves as the place of worship for the Stawell Church of Christ.

The Church of Christ building is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level. Although altered, it still demonstrates original design qualities of a rudimentary Victorian style. These qualities include the parapeted gable roof form and the projecting pilasters (which punctuate the parapet capping) and broad upper level stringcourse. Other intact qualities include the narrow round arched windows, moulded stringcourses, window sills and curved parapet ends on the side elevations.

The Church of Christ building is historically significant at a STATE level. It has associations with the development of the Progressive Spiritualists in Stawell from 1872, representing the first place of worship for this organization in Victoria. It also has associations with the Stawell Miners' Association who held their foundation meeting in the building in the same year. The building also has associations with the development of the Primitive Methodist Church until 1902, and from 1908 as the place of worship for the Church of Christ. In the 1960s and 1970s, the building experienced a number of alterations and additions. There are further associations with George Inskip, architect of Melbourne and Pleasant Creek, who designed the original Lyceum Hall building.

The Church of Christ building is socially significant at a LOCAL level. It is recognised and valued by members of the Stawell community for religious and cultural reasons.

Overall, the Church of Christ building is of LOCAL significance.

Group

Religion

Category

Church