CHRIST CHURCH

Christ Church, Dingley was built in 1873 on land owned by two wealthy early settlers of the Dingley area, brother and sister Thomas and Mary Attenborough. The provision of an Anglican church was the vision of Mary Attenborough, and funded by an Attenborough endowment. The township of Dingley was itself named after the home town of the Attenboroughs in England. The church was dedicated on 21 September 1873 by the Bishop of Melbourne, Bishop Perry. The architect was Charles Webb.

The church is Early English Gothic in style and small in scale, more in the manner of a private chapel than a parish church. It is a simple four bay rectangle in plan, with a small porch, projecting apsidal chancel and detailed three stage tower. The tower is diminutive in size and out of scale to the nave, barely rising above the ridge line, yet is compositionally effective.

Masonry construction is of tuck-pointed brickwork, mottled oatmeal in colour. Stucco mouldings include quoins, an unusual and distinctive rose window, eaves brackets and window details. Windows are lancets, paired in the nave. The roof is slated, with iron decoration to the ridge.

The church has a substantial collection of stained glass, much of it dedicated to members of the Attenborough family. The glass is by a number of notable practitioners including Ferguson & Urie, Brooks Robinson, William Montgomery and Rogers & Hughes.

The church hall was built in 1889, and is in a very similar style to the church although the architect is unknown. The site is now a complex of modern and old buildings, but still in a village-like setting. There have been only minor alterations to the church since it was built.

How is it significant?

Christ Church, Dingley is of architectural and historical significance to the State of Victoria.

Why is it significant?

Christ Church, Dingley is of architectural significance for its distinctive and expressive composition, notably in the unusual location of the detached tower beside the chancel apse. The trusses and stained glass memorial windows are major elements of the restrained interior. It is significant as a picturesque landmark at the junction of Old Dandenong Road and Centre Dandenong Road. The church is one of the most picturesque churches in suburban Melbourne, and one of Webb's most successful ecclesiastical works. The old church hall is complementary in style to the church and is the only other nineteenth century element on the site. The church and hall are historically significant as an example of personal endowment by a family.

Group

Religion

Category

Church