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From the collection of St Kilda Historical Society
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Photograph, Christ Church St Kilda exterior - images collection #1

  • Stone church building with a high roof and walls supported by stone buttresses. There is a pointed arch door and a pointed arch stained glass window on each side of the door. Above them is a large triangular shaped window. The stained glass of the window is held by stone tracery that forms a triangle. Within the triangle the tracery forms a large circle that touches each of the triangle's sides. Within the large circle are four small circles, and within each small circle are four smaller circles.

    Christ Church St Kilda SW facade

  • Stone church building with a high roof and walls supported by stone buttresses. At ground level are five pointed arch stained glass windows and a pointed arch wooden door. Above the doorway is a large pointed arch stain glass window. The stained glass is held by stone tracery that forms three pointed arches and three circles.

    Christ Church St Kilda NW facade

  • Stone church building with a high roof and walls supported by stone buttresses. There is a pointed arch door and a pointed arch stained glass window on each side of the door. Above them is a large triangular shaped window. The stained glass of the window is held by stone tracery that forms a triangle. Within the triangle the tracery forms a large circle that touches each of the triangle's sides. Within the large circle are four small circles, and within each small circle are four smaller circles.
  • Stone church building with a high roof and walls supported by stone buttresses. At ground level are five pointed arch stained glass windows and a pointed arch wooden door. Above the doorway is a large pointed arch stain glass window. The stained glass is held by stone tracery that forms three pointed arches and three circles.

Historical information

Christ Church was constructed in 1854-57 and designed in Decorated Gothic style by Albert Purchase & Charles Swyer. It was enlarged in 1874 and 1881 to the designs of Sydney W Smith. It is one of four main buildings constructed on land granted to the Church of England in 1855 and named Church Square. The other buildings are the bishop's residence, vicarage and parish hall. Heritage Victoria describes it as a 'rare and significant square in the history of town planning in Victoria which demonstrates the importance of the church to the community'. It is built from rarely used undressed random coursed sandstone from Point King Sorrento. It is located at 14 Acland Street, St Kilda.
The triangular rose window is said to have been modelled on Lichfield Cathedral and shows outstanding craftsmanship. According to Heritage Victoria, the only other known example in Victoria is at St Georges Presbyterian Church in East St Kilda, designed by the same architect, Albert Purchas.

Physical description

colour photograph unmounted

Subjects

References

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