St Andrew's Church and Hall

Child Places

• 24693 St Andrew's Church
• 24678 St Andrew's Church Hall

Statement of Significance

the place contains the oldest church in Katanning;
the place, as individual buildings expressing a relationship to each other creates a
minor precinct of red brick buildings with stucco detailing, that is reflective of the
development of Katanning in the years 1898 to 1911;
the place has a close association with Frederick Henry Piesse who was influential
in the development ofKatannmg;
the place is valued by the Katanning community for its religious and historic
associations; and,
the place contributes to Katanning's sense of place, as a reminder of the initial
establishment of Katanning.

History

Assessment 1997
Construction 1898, 1911
Architect/designer P.W. Harrison (Church), E Summerhayes (Hall)
Builder A.J. Stewart
St. Andrew's Church was built in 1898, nine years after the founding of the town of Katanning. In 1889, Katanning was declared a townsite by the WA. Land Company, which chose the area as the site upon which to build the central station for the Company's new railway line.
Katanning was officially proclaimed a townsite by the governor on 16 May 1898,1 and the town grew quickly after 1891. The Great Southern Districts Pastoral and Agricultural Society was founded, the first church (St. Patrick's Roman Catholic) was built, a small school-room was established and several new settlers arrived to take up large holdings of land in the district. A second public house opened to compete with the Katanning Hotel and there was a branch of both the National Bank and of the Union Bank.
It was in this climate of growth and development that St. Andrew's Church and Hall was built. The land for the church had been reserved in 1891; however, it was not until 1898 that sufficient funds were raised for construction to begin.
The architect was P.W. Harrison and the contractor A.J. Stewart. St. Andrew's Church was built with financial and material assistance from Frederick Henry Piesse, a merchant who held substantial business interests in the area, and from Millar Brothers who supplied timber. The firm F. & C. Piesse was established, in 1879, by the brothers F.H. and C. Piesse, as a general merchants in Williams to sell foodstuffs and supplies to the settlers, and to buy wool, sandalwood and kangaroo skins for export. F. & C. Piesse started business in Katanning with a general store immediately after the line was const-ucted. The business prospered and, by 1886, had opened branches in other towns and had also diversified into the manufacture of aerated waters. On 25 June 1898, Mrs F.H. Piesse laid the foundation stone for St. Andrew's Church, and the finished building was consecrated by Bishop Riley of Perth on 9 October of the same year. A set of chancel furniture, a silver chalice, silk tapestry drapings and an alms dish was donated from the congregation of St. Andrew's Church in Hartbum, England, after which St. Andrew's Church was named.
In 1911, the adjoining hall was constructed. F.H. Piesse also contributed funds for its construction and he laid the foundation stone on 27 March 1911. Mr E. Summerhayes was the architect. Built on a site adjacent to the church, St. Andrew's Church Hall was used by the congregation for parish meetings, dances, fund raisers and various other activities associated with the Church. It was (and continues to be) the only hall of its size in town and is used by the general community for similar activities. Circa 1930, extensions to the hall were built, which incorporated an eating and kitchen area at the rear of the main hall.
In the mid-1950s, part of the hall was used as an office for a professional fundraiser, Mr A.C. Stark, who was responsible for raising £19,000 for the employment of a Curate, meeting running costs for St. Andrew's Church and Hall and to enable a church to be built at Nyabing. In the 1980s, toilet amenities were built on the south-east side of the kitchen extension. This structure was constructed in a style dissimilar to the mam structure of the building. St. Andrew's Church and Hall is still used as a Church and has a regular congregation. It is also used by the general population of the district for the celebration of marriage, for funerals, for christenings and for the Christmas and Easter services. The hall is used as a youth centre and as a kindergarten, amongst other social uses, as well as housing the office for Anglicare.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.