Davey Street Congregational Church

Davey Street Congregational Church (former)
Former Davey St Congregational Church, c. 2017
Map
42°53′08″S 147°19′40″E / 42.8855°S 147.3278°E / -42.8855; 147.3278
Address47 Davey Street, Hobart, Tasmania
CountryAustralia
DenominationUniting (1977 – 2012)
Previous denominationCongregational
(1857 – 1977)
History
StatusChurch (1857 – 1973)
Founded31 July 1856 (1856-07-31)
Founder(s)Henry Hopkins, Esq.
Dedicated16 August 1857
Architecture
Functional statusAbandoned (sold)
Architect(s)
Architectural typeChurch
StyleGothic Revival
Construction costA£7,000
ClosedMarch 1973
Specifications
Capacity700 people
Spire height29 metres (94 ft)
MaterialsRisdon freestone; slate

The Davey Street Congregational Church is a former Congregational church located at 47 Davey Street, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Established in 1857 and closed in 1973, it played a significant role in Hobart's religious and community life.

Location

Located at 47 Davey Street, the church is situated within the Hobart City Centre, neighbouring the Hobart Real Tennis Club and directly opposite St David's Park. Its tall spire makes it a prominent Davey Street landmark.

History

Early Years

The foundation stone was laid by Henry Hopkins on 31 July 1856. Designed by Charles Tiffin and William Montgomery Davenport Davidson, the church was officially opened on 16 August 1857.[1][2]

Hopkins, a well-known philanthropist, funded much of the church's construction. The first minister, George Clarke, served the congregation for 52 years, from its opening until 1909.[3]

Growth and Changes

While Clarke travelled in England and Palestine, Stafford Bird, a politician who later became Premier of Tasmania, served as minister from 1874 to 1877. In later years, Frederick Pratt was another prominent minister, serving from 1925 to 1928.[4]

The church remained a key religious site until its closure in March 1973, when the congregation merged with the Memorial Congregational Church.

Transition to Community Use

After its closure, the building became the headquarters for Colony 47, a community organisation that operated from the church for over 30 years.[5] Colony 47 vacated the building in 2012, and the church was later sold.[6]

Sale and Repurposing

In March 2022, the former church was listed for sale again, offering only the second opportunity in its 165-year history to purchase the building.[6]

Architecture

The church is designed in the Victorian Gothic Revival style by Charles Tiffin and William Montgomery Davenport Davidson. It features Risdon freestone with a slate roof. Its most notable feature is the 29-metre (94 ft), which makes it a recognisable landmark to the Davey St streetscape.

Inside, the church originally accommodated up to 700 people. The design reflects a simple, yet elegant aesthetic, typical of mid-19th-century ecclesiastical architecture in Tasmania.

Notable Ministers

Davey Street streetscape
Minister Tenure Notes
George Clarke 1857–1909 The church's first and longest-serving minister.[3]
Stafford Bird 1874–1877 Temporary minister and prominent Tasmanian politician who later became Premier of Tasmania.[7]
Frederick Pratt 1925–1928 A significant minister during the 20th century.[4]

Community Legacy

The building played a significant role in the foundation of Colony 47, a Hobart-based organisation supporting disadvantaged individuals. Its long history as a community resource is a lasting legacy of its original Congregational mission.

References

  1. ^ "The Opening of the Congregational Church, Davey Street". Colonial Times. 18 August 1857. p. 2. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  2. ^ Grant, Duncan (29 November 2018). "No. 289 - The Former Congregational Church on Davey Street Hobart". Churches of Tasmania. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  3. ^ a b O'Neill, Sally (1969). "Clarke, George (1823–1913)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 3. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  4. ^ a b Gunson, Niel (1988). "Pratt, Frederick Vicary (1870–1932)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 11. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  5. ^ "History". Colony 47. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  6. ^ a b Bevan, Jarrad (14 March 2022). "Second chance in 165 years to buy historic Hobart church". Commercial News. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  7. ^ Bird, John Reynolds (1979). "Bird, Bolton Stafford (1840–1924)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 7. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Davey Street Congregational Church.