Scots' Church, Melbourne
Scots' Church, Melbourne | ||
---|---|---|
Style Gothic Revival | | |
Years built | 1871–1874 | |
Specifications | ||
Spire height | 61 metres (201 ft) | |
Materials | Freestone | |
Administration | ||
Division | Victoria | |
Presbytery | Melbourne West | |
Clergy | ||
Minister(s) | Rev. Philip Campbell | |
Assistant | Rev. Litha Heshusius | |
Laity | ||
Organist(s) | Douglas Lawrence | |
Parish administrator | Jonathan North |
The Scots' Church is a
Background
The Reverend James Forbes was recruited to come to Australia as a Presbyterian minister by the Rev. John Dunmore Lang, arriving in Melbourne from Sydney via boat on 20 January 1838. He found that a retired Church of Scotland minister, the Rev. James Clow, had arrived on 25 December 1837 and had commenced an afternoon service from 2 pm and 4 pm according to Presbyterian forms in a basic building constructed west of William Street and north of Little Collins Street (now the site of the AMP centre).[2][3] Clow had been a Church of Scotland chaplain in Bombay, India but had retired and was of independent means. He had intended to settle in South Australia but when he stopped en route in Hobart the positive reports about Port Phillip led him to visit the Port Phillip District in October 1837 and then settle permanently.
Original church
Forbes continued the Presbyterian services commenced by Clow on 31 December 1837 in the "Pioneers Church" near the north west corner of William and Little Collins streets. The Church of England soon made exclusive claims to this communal building and so Forbes held services in Craig and Broadfoot's store in Collins Street until a temporary timber building called "The Scots' Church" was opened on the adjoining land loaned by David Fisher in July 1838. The site was between where the Olderfleet and Rialto buildings were subsequently erected (Lot 14 Section 2). It was essentially a large room with a fireplace.[3]
On 3 February 1838 a meeting of members and friends of the Church of Scotland was held with James Clow in the chair. It was resolved to build a church and that £300 be raised in order to obtain the matching grant available under the Church Act. This is regarded as the official birthday of Presbyterianism in Victoria and of the foundation of the Scots' Church. A committee of James Clow (treasurer), James Forbes and Skene Graig (secretaries) was appointed to collect subscriptions and to take the steps to obtain a church site. The sum of £139.19.0 was subscribed on the spot.
The Scots' Church secured a 2.0-acre (8,100 m2) site on the corner of Collins and Russell streets as a government grant. When the site was allocated, the elders objected that it was "too far out of town".[2][3]
The temporary building also served as the Scots' Church School which relocated to new brick premises in September 1839 on the western part of the 2-acre (8,100 m2) site on the corner of Collins and Russell Streets adjoining the present Baptist Church and on which George's Department Store was later erected.[3]
First "Scots'" church
The foundation stone of the first purpose built church building was laid on 22 January 1841[2] and the church was opened on 3 October 1841. It was designed to seat 500 and the contract sum was £2,485 without plastering, gallery, vestry or fittings. The building was opened with temporary seating. Plastering was carried out the following year, proper pews, gallery and vestry were added in 1849 and a spire some years later.
James Forbes built a simple
The first church building was demolished partly because of concerns that the tower and spire would collapse after it developed huge cracks and became crooked.[citation needed] During the ministry of the Revd Peter Menzies (1868–74) the building was too small for the congregation but, in any case, a building more suited to the site and the social position of the congregation was considered appropriate.
Current building
Planned to be "the most beautiful building in Australia", construction of the current building took place between 1871 and 1874,
The Scots' Church is in the Neo-Gothic style and built of Barrabool freestone, with dressings in Kakanui stone from New Zealand.[6] During the last decades of the nineteenth century the spire of the Scots' Church was the tallest structure in Melbourne at 61 metres (201 ft) high. The interior features an impressive collection of large and smaller stained glass windows depicting various Christian themes including the Last Supper, basalt aisle columns, timber beamed roof and an elevated floor for a good view of the pulpit.
Laid up in the church are two sets of Regimental Colours of the
The crest and flag of
Music
The Director of Music and principal organist since 1984 is Douglas Lawrence, while Ria Angelica Polo is the assistant organist.Robin Batterham is the organist emeritus.
Organ
The first
Choir
The choir of Scots' Church has been under Lawrence's direction since 1984. He had started the
Ministers
The first minister of Scots' Church was the Revd
The Revd Charles Strong became the minister in 1875. His theology was questioned after the publication of an article in the Victorian Review entitled "The Atonement", but he resigned from Scots' Church before the Presbyterian Church of Victoria heard the case.[7][8]
Scots' Church is currently served by senior minister, the Rev. Phil Campbell, and Assistant Minister, Rev. Litha Heshusius. Historically, most of the senior ministers at Scots' Church have been trained or served in the Church of Scotland, including previous minister Douglas Robertson. Australian born Rev. Campbell breaks with this trend, as does Rev. Heshusius, who was born in Indonesia - a reflection on the changing demographics of the city, and of Scots' Church.[citation needed]
As in any church with a
Every few years, a visiting preacher spends some time at Scots' under the terms of the Turnbull Trust. Past preachers have included
Services
Services are held on every Sunday of the year. A traditional service is held at 11:00 am and a contemporary service known as "ScotsCity" (formerly known as "Engage City Church") at 5:00 pm at 156 Collins Street.
During the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown in 2021, Scots' effectively moved to online services using both Zoom and YouTube platforms. The choir prepared and recorded musical items during the week, which were shared in the live Sunday services. These services and musical highlights can be viewed on YouTube.[citation needed]
On 1 April 2007, the congregation known as the Indonesian Christian Church officially joined Scots'. They now hold services every Sunday morning at 10:30 in the building next door to Scots' Church. This congregation has grown under the leadership of Rev. Tirtha.[citation needed]
Theology
As a congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, the ministers and elders of Scots' Church are required to ascribe to the Westminster Confession of Faith, the major English statement of Calvinistic Christianity, read in the light of a Declaratory Statement explanatory of certain clauses and which also allows liberty of opinion on matters not essential to the doctrine taught in the Confession.[14]
Members are not required to ascribe to the Westminster Confession, but, if they are not already a member of a Christian church, are admitted to membership by making a public declaration of faith in Jesus Christ and their commitment to the church.[15]
Ecumenism
Scots' Church has participated in a number of ecumenical activities.
In 2021, Scots' worked closely with the Salvation Army Project 614 on a campaign called "Loving the City to Life", offering encouragement to the CBD community after 'the longest lockdown in the world' due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Members of Scots' and Project 614 arranged a 'Festival of Buskers' and served free coffee to passers by.[citation needed]
Francis Macnab and the Ten Commandments
In September 2008,
The session of Scots' Church installed a poster on the Russell Street frontage facing towards St Michael's describing the Ten Commandments as "the most positive and influential document ever written".[20]
See also
References
- ^ McIntosh, Andrew (October 2003). "Parliamentary Debates" (PDF). Parliament of Victoria. p. 1052. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Church History". Scots' Church website. The Scots' Church. 2010. Archived from the original on 23 August 2010. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
- ^ ISBN 0-949670-05-7.
- ^ "About Us". Scots' Church website. Scots' Church. Archived from the original on 3 August 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
- ^ "Scots Church Redevelopment, Corner Little Collins and Russell Streets, Melbourne" (PDF). Planning Committee Report. City of Melbourne. 4 April 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 September 2007. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
- ^ Cameron, Bruce (September 1999). "Churches & Cathedrals" (PDF). Accessing Melbourne. Easy Access Australia Publishing Pty Ltd. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
- ISBN 978-0-646-50971-6.
- ^ Badger, C. R. "Strong, Charles (1844–1942)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
- The Argus. 13 April 1929. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
- The Argus. 9 May 1932. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
- ^ Moyes, Gordon. "Graham Hardy". Retrieved 11 November 2010.
- ^ "David & Margaret Lunan". Retrieved 11 November 2010.
- ^ Congregations at the Scots' Church website
- ^ "Doctrine". Introduction to the Presbyterian Church of Australia. The Code Committee of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Australia. 2004. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
- ^ "Membership". Scots' Church website. The Scots' Church. Archived from the original on 3 August 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
- ^ a b Zwartz, Barney (26 May 2008). "Catholic bishop preaches at Scots". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
- ^ Zwartz, Barney (22 March 2008). "A Diversity of Followers with Many Crosses to bear keep Good Friday tradition alive in ecumenical walk". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
- ^ Zwartz, Barney (16 September 2008). "New faith throws out the Ten Commandments". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 26 September 2008.
- ^ Hall, Cheryl (5 October 2008). "Controversial clergyman advertises his new faith on billboards". Stateline Victoria. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
- ^ "The Ten Commandments". Scots' Church website. The Session of Scots' Church. Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
External links
- Scots' Church home page
- The Choir of Scots' Church at Move Records
- Catholic bishop preaches at Scots'
Photos
- Design for the new Presbyterian Church, Collins Street, 1872 from wood engraving. From the State Library of Victoria
- Scots' Church in 1877 by Nicholas J. Caire. From the National Library of Australia
- Scots' in situ, Collins Street 1880s. From the National Library of Victoria
- Original pulpit from the State Library of Victoria
- Scots' Church today. Exterior from east
- Scots' Church today. Exterior from east II
- Scots' Church today. Exterior from west
- Scots' Church today. Exterior from west at night