MarketTryon Road Uniting Church
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Tryon Road Uniting Church

Tryon Road Uniting Church is a heritage-listed Uniting church located at 33 Tryon Road in the Sydney suburb of Lindfield in the Ku-ring-gai Council local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by William Slade and built in 1914 by W. 'Ossie' Knowles. It is also known as Lindfield Wesleyan Methodist Church. The property is owned by the Uniting Church in Australia. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 19 September 2003.

History
General History A comprehensive history of the Methodists in the area and the chapels they built is given in A Cloud of Witnesses at Tryon Road Uniting Church by Geoffrey Stacey, 1996, published by the Lindfield Tryon Road Uniting Church Centenary Committee. Organ History The organ began life in Ireland and was imported for use in St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney. Purchased by the Wesleyan Methodists for the Macquarie Street Chapel in 1839 and later removed to the York Street Chapel. It was rebuilt by C. J. Jackson in 1868 and further enlarged by William Davidson in 1888. When the York Street Chapel was replaced by the Centenary Hall the organ was rebuilt therein in 1903 by George Fincham & Son of Melbourne. It became one of the largest organs in New South Wales (the only larger ones at that time were in Sydney Town Hall, St Andrew's Cathedral and St Saviours Cathedral, Goulburn). In 1908 it was moved to the "Conference Hall" in Castlereagh Street and remained there until it was purchased by the Tryon Road Methodist Church in Lindfield. It was moved from the front of the church in the Sanctuary to the purpose built organ transept in 1935. The organ was rebuilt and restored in 2001 and now occupies a slightly larger area than previously. The facing organ pipes are now polychromatic as they were when the organ was erected in the Centenary Hall in York Street. == Description ==
Description
The complex consists of the Church (orientated on a north-west to south-east axis) and two adjoining halls with ancillary rooms at its south-east end. The complex sits on a corner site bounded on the northern side by Tryon Road, the eastern by Nelson Road and the southern by Tryon Lane. On the north-east side towards Nelson Road is a large Hill's fig tree (Ficus microcarpa var.Hillii) and crazy-paved sandstone driveway half loop. The complex was designed and built as a whole in 1914, with the exception of a 1935 transept on the north-east (detailed to match the church), and a small modern extension containing toilets which sits at the western end of the smaller hall. The building is Federation Gothic Revival in style with Arts and Craft and Art Nouveau influences. The building is constructed of red tuck-pointed brickwork with sandstone dressings to all openings, the whole sitting on a rusticated sandstone base. Contrasting blue bricks are used in the arched heads over windows and on the double curved tops of the buttresses. Moulded bricks are also used for string-courses and as decorative elements. The detailing throughout is well considered and of very high quality. The roof, which is generally gabled in form, is of grey slate with terra cotta ridge and hip cappings. The main entrance to the church off Tryon Road includes a covered way from the street to a flight of marble steps leading up to the front door, over which rises a squat tower. The tower roof is bell-caste in form, clad in copper sheet with curved decorative pressed metal panels to the eaves fascias. Gargoyles shed water from the four corners of the roof. The porch is tiled with small mosaic tiles (s). A stair leads up into the bell ringers chamber. The tower contains a single bell and a carillion of 8 tubular bells in an open chamber under the tower roof. The windows to the tower include Art Nouveau leadlight. The timber floor of the church slopes down from the entry to the chancel area. The walls are of face brick with a plaster dado panel, topped by a timber dado rail at sill height. The ceiling features decorative fibrous plaster panels with moulded battening. Tie rods extend across the width of the church at regular intervals. The windows within the church are generally of high quality stained glass, set in quoined sandstone surrounds. The chancel is raised on a stepped platform. The pews are of stained and polished timber. The balustrading and communion rail to the chancel area, choir stalls and former font enclosure is all of a matching design featuring pointed arched panels and brackets. The raised pulpit features panels in the shape of shields. There is also a matching lectern and a marble font. A very tall and elaborately panelled timber reredos is set against the painted battened fibro rear wall of the chancel. The first organ was originally set against this, but has been replaced by a timber altar table (). Other chancel furniture includes a communion table and chairs. A very fine and recently restored organ of considerable historic interest (refer to history) is built into a transept extension (1935) on the eastern side of the chancel. Two vestries connect the church to two halls at the rear, one larger Sunday school hall and a second kindergarten hall. These spaces, together with their ancillary spaces generally have timber floors and plastered walls and battened fibrous plaster ceilings, painted. At the rear of the large hall are three smaller spaces for the meeting of small groups, which are original to the design. One of these has since been enclosed as an office. A small library room was included just off the main entrance porch to this hall, the window through which the books were borrowed still existing. Opposite this entry is another door with a flight of steps leading down to the rear yard. The western end of the hall contains a raised stage. A modern toilet extension has been built off the smaller hall, cutting through the original windows in this wall. Condition As at 30 May 2003, the church was generally in good condition. There is evidence of salt attack in the walls of the organ transept and east wall of the church. The archaeological potential is unknown. The whole church and hall complex has a very high degree of integrity. The original buildings are substantially intact with the 1935 alterations and additions to the organ and chancel area complementing the original in both style and quality. The later additions to the rear of the small hall have minimal impact on the whole. Modifications and dates • 1935 - new organ chamber installed and organ moved from Sanctuary (N W McPherson Architect) • 1990s - toilet and store extension == Heritage listing ==
Heritage listing
As at 9 August 2011, the Tryon Road Uniting Church, constructed in 1914 in the Federation Gothic style with Arts & Crafts influences, is of aesthetic significance at the State level. Externally and internally, the church complex is an unspoiled instance of Australian Edwardian design. Harmonious furnishings and stained glass from distinguished Sydney firms contribute to a beautiful interior, and enhance its Arts & Crafts design. The organ has historic, social and technical significance at State level. It comprises pipework from an early Irish organ used at St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney, in 1839, purchased for the Wesleyan Church first in Macquarie Street and later York Street; it was rebuilt and enlarged at different times by the important Sydney builders Charles Jackson and William Davidson and the great Melbourne firm of George Fincham & Sons. It is a rare instrument with unusual size and power, and interesting tonal character. The organ case is of cedar and possesses unusually high quality design and workmanship. It has recently been restored to its Macquarie Street glory. The complex comprises church and hall and is of local significance for its social associations with Lindfield from the early years of the suburb to the present time. It is a rare instance of church premises designed by the Roseville architect William Slade, who also designed the Roseville Uniting Church, and many other local buildings in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Tryon Road Uniting Church was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 19 September 2003 having satisfied the following criteria. The place is important in demonstrating the course, or pattern, of cultural or natural history in New South Wales. Tryon Road Methodist church is of historical significance as part of the story of the growth of the North Shore suburbs in the early 20th century. This church replaced an earlier Methodist church which stood on another site nearby. The church contains an organ of great historic significance, the first portion originally being imported from Ireland for St Mary's Cathedral in 1839, it contains a significant amount of pre 1870s pipework which is rare in Australia. It is also one of the largest nineteenth century pipe organs in NSW. '''The place has a strong or special association with a person, or group of persons, of importance of cultural or natural history of New South Wales's history.''' Tryon Road Methodist Church is associated with the Architect William Slade and the local builder W O J Knowles. Slade is also known for his design of the Roseville Methodist Church 1907. The organ has been rebuilt by several organ builders of note including C.J. Jackson, William Davidson and George Fincham & Son. The place is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in New South Wales. The buildings have exceptional aesthetic significance as an intact and highly refined and detailed example of a Federation Gothic style church with Arts & Crafts and Art Nouveau influences (especially in the tower roof). Harmonious furnishings and stained glass from distinguished Sydney firms both enhance and contribute to the quality of the place. The place has a strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group in New South Wales for social, cultural or spiritual reasons. The site has social significance as a place of worship and in community use for 88 years on this site (and over 100 in Lindfield). The place has potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales. The organ has a high degree of technical and research significance, comprising pipework from the original Irish organ, and having been enlarged and rebuilt several times by significant organ builders. The most recent work was carried out in 2001 and the organ is in excellent working order. The place possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales. The church is a rare example of a pre-World War I church and hall complex, including all ancillary facilities, being constructed all at one time and within one building. It is also a rare example of Federation Gothic church with high quality Arts and Craft and Art Nouveau detailing. The place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of cultural or natural places/environments in New South Wales. The church and hall complex is representative of the strong church - community relationship in the growing North Shore suburbs prior to World War I, and the commitment of the Methodist Church to providing facilities for community use, this being a major influence on the design of the complex and the decision to build all the facilities as a whole. == See also ==
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