Christ Church, Queanbeyan, Anglican church in Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Christ Church is a Gothic Revival Anglican church on Rutledge Street, built of stone from 1859 to 1860 to a design by the Rev. Alberto Dies Soares. Its spire, added in 1861 by McLean and Ross, rises above the nave, and the interior holds wooden pews made by Thomas Jordan facing the altar.
The first Christ Church opened on this site on Christmas Day 1844 and was consecrated by Bishop William Broughton on 8 March 1845. The Goulburn Herald reported in September 1859 that the old church had been razed and a replacement was rising, designed by the Reverend Alberto Dies Soares. The new church opened on 7 October 1860, its spire was finished on 2 March 1861, and Bishop Frederic Barker consecrated it on 30 October 1861.
The parish's first minister, Alberto Dies Soares, designed the church and built a scale model before construction; the opening service on 7 October 1860 drew £43 in collections. The spire was added by contractors McLean and Ross in March 1861, and Bishop Frederic Barker consecrated the building on 30 October 1861.
Christ Church stands on Rutledge Street in central Queanbeyan, a short walk from the town's shops and offices. The churchyard is entered from the street, and the spire and stone walls can be seen from outside at any time. In 1860 stepping stones were laid across the river from the foot of Rutledge Street to give access to the church school.
A fire in the 1970s threatened to destroy the building, but the community worked to save and restore it. Today it appears on the state heritage register, officially protecting its history and ensuring its preservation for the future.
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