Scots' Church, Melbourne
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The Scots' Church, a Presbyterian church in Melbourne, Australia, was the first Presbyterian Church to be built in the Port Phillip District (now the state of Victoria). It is located in Collins Street and is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Australia.
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[edit] Original Building
In 1838, three years after the founding of Melbourne, the Presbyterian Church was allotted a two-acre site on the corner of Collins and Russell Streets where they built a number of buildings including a church and manse. The original Scots' church was built to accommodate the congregation established by James Forbes. This building was demolished because of concerns that the tower and spire would collapse after it developed huge cracks and became crooked. The site of the manse was sold to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria for 5,000 pounds and the Assembly Building was built there.
[edit] Current Building
The current building was built in between 1871 and 1874. It was designed by Joseph Reed of the firm Reed and Barnes, and built by David Mitchell, the father of Dame Nellie Melba. Reed and Barnes also designed the Trades Hall, the Royal Exhibition Building, the Wesley Church in Lonsdale Street, the original Presbyterian Ladies' College in East Melbourne, and Collins Street Independent Church, now St. Michael’s Uniting Church, on the opposite corner of Russell Street.
Scots' is in the Neo-Gothic style and built of Barrabol freestone, with dressings in Kakanul stone from New Zealand [1]. During the last decades of the nineteenth century the spire of Scots' Church was the tallest structure in Melbourne. The interior features the large Last Supper stained glass window, basalt asile columns, timber beamed roof and an elevated floor for a good view of the pulpit [2].
[edit] Organ
The first pipe organ at Scots' was built in 1883 by Hill and Son. It was rebuilt and enlarged in 1910 by Geo Fincham and Sons and rebuilt again in 1959. The organ was removed for storage in 1999. The present organ was built in 1998 by Orgelbau, Schwarzach, Austria.
[edit] Choir
Dame Nellie Melba reputedly started and finished her singing career in the choir at Scot's Church, and her funeral was taken from Scots' in February 1931. The Choir of Scots' Church has been under the Director of Music Douglas Lawrence since 1984. He had started the Choir of Ormond College (University of Melbourne) in 1982 and raised the standard at Scot’s considerably. The Choir released their first recording in 1987: Joy my Heart Outpoured. Scots' Choir consists of four principals, eight choral scholars and other members.
[edit] Ministers
Scots' Church is served by a senior minister, Rev Douglas Robertson, and a minister to the central business district, Rev Richard O'Brien. Furthermore, the evening congregation ("seventeenthirty") is overseen by the senior minister but run by a dedicated pastor to young adults.
Historically, most of the senior ministers at Scots' Church have been trained or served in the Church of Scotland, including the current minister Rev. Douglas Robertson who arrived from Scotland to take the position in February 2001.
[edit] External links
- Scot’s Church home page
- The Choir of Scot’s Church at Move Records
- Catholic bishop preaches at Scots
[edit] Photos
- Design for the new Presbyterian Church, Collins Street, 1872 from wood engraving. From the State Library of Vitoria
- Scot's Church in 1877 by Nicholas J. Caire. From the National Library of Australia
- Scot's in situ, Collins Street 1880s. From the National Library of Victoria
- Scot's Church today. Exterior from east
- Scot's Church today. Exterior from east II
- Scot's Church today. Exterior from west
- Scot's Church today. Exterior from west at night
