St John's Anglican Church, Capel

Statement of Significance

St John's Anglican Church has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons: • the place is a fine representative example of Arts and Crafts architectural style and valued by Capel community for that aesthetic, the fleche and the bell tower; • the site and church demonstrate a close association with Fred and Amy Maitland; • the place is a fine rural example of work of Eustace Cohen of Eales & Cohen Architects; • the site and place are valued by Anglican Community in Capel for their association with cultural and spiritual events and the sense of place; • the place is a landmark in Capel and has an impact on the entry vista across the Capel River; and • the place makes a significant contribution to the streetscape and townscape of Capel. AESTHETIC VALUE: • The place is valued by the Capel community for the aesthetic of the Arts & Crafts architectural style, the fleche and bell lower. • The creative design excellence of the unique door hardware is important. • The place is a landmark in the town of Capel, being located on the main Juncture of the original Bussell Highway (now Capel Drive) and Forrest Road, the main street of Capel. It makes a significant contribution to the streetscape and townscape and has an impact on the vista of the entry into Capel across the Capel River. • The place is a significant element in the Capel townsite and the cultural environment of the major junction of the town with the Capel Inn and the Capel Roadhouse (former 'bottom shops') on the other two comers. HISTORIC VALUE • St John's Anglican Church represents the continuity of the Anglican Church presence on the site since 1903, and associations dating from 1880. • The place is important in representing the continuation of the Anglican presence in Capel with the establishment of the second church on the site in 1924. • The site and the church both demonstrate close associations with Frederick and Amy Maitland. • The place is a fine rural example of the work of Eustace Cohen of Hales and Cohen Architects, in the design and detailing of the church. • The church contains memorials and stained glass windows from the former Anglican church, All Saints, Stratham. SCIENTIFIC VALUE • The site of St John's Anglican Church has the potential to yield information about the 1903 church and the deconsecrated. All Saints, Stratham. SOCIAL VALUE • The site and St John's Anglican Church are valued by the local Anglican community for their associations with cultural and spiritual events in Capel since 1903 and 1924 respectively. • The place is highly valued by the Anglican community of Capel and districts, for the sense of place and memories of ceremonies and events that have taken place. REPRESENTATIVENESS • St John's Anglican Church is a fine representative example of a rural church showing influences of the Arts and Crafts style of architecture. • The place is a fine example of the early rural work of Eustace Cohen of Eales and Cohen Architects. • The place demonstrates the characteristics of religious and cultural activities associated with the Anglican Church in a small rural community, and its development since 1903. Integrity The building maintains a high degree of integrity. AUTHENTICITY : The original roofing fabric, gutters and some windows have been altered. A corrugated iron roof covers the original shingles and in 1999 stained glass windows from All Saints, Stratham were installed.

Physical Description

St John's Anglican Church is located on the comer of Capel Drive (the former Bussell Highway) and Forrest Road. As such, it occupies a visually strategic site, as travellers will see it entering the town centre from either the Bunbury or the Busselton direction. For local residents it will maintain a high profile in their consciousness as they move around the town. This tee junction is the pivotal point of the town as it has a busy commercial complex on the north, the Capel Tavern on the east, and the church on the southwest. Its immediate neighbour is the Shire office complex. The Shire erected a low surrounding wall and installed brick paving in a recent beautification project. The plan of the building is of a shortened simple cross form on an east-west axis with an extension for a vestry off the northwest comer. It has a small spire with dovecote over the transept surmounted by a cross (leaning noticeably). An awning over the entry is matched by a north door awning (not in use). The church bell is on a bell frame adjacent to the south fence of the site. The word 'Higgins' is imprinted on the horizontal bell structure. The iron detail replicates the hinges on the door of the church. The building is of timber frame, with painted horizontal boarding on the exterior to a height 1.7m topped by flat asbestos sheets with vertical slats. Replacement gutters are square in profile but some original round down pipes remain. Interior walls are of plasterboard with a high vertically boarded timber dado. It has stained glass windows to the altar end of the church with an additional window as a fanlight over the entry from the porch. Other windows are gothic arched timber casement windows. The roof is a hip and gable form and of corrugated iron sheeting with a lean-to roof over the vestry. The design style has some characteristics of Arts & Craft architectural design, with subtle external design cues in the gable detailing. Internally the style is more strongly stated with a fretwork panel over the front of the altar and pews of unique design. There is no ceiling. Due to ecclesiastical changes, the altar has been modified. The altar table has been brought forward off the west wall to enable the celebrant to conduct services facing the congregation. This has also caused the altar rail to be moved forward approximately one metre to the first step. Memorials in place include those to William Proctor Scott 1830; Susannah Maria Rose 1935; George Albert Dunkley; Harriet Amelia Dunkley; Rowland (Ted) Mumane; George Hill Campbell Scott; Samuel Clifton Rose 1938; Frederick Orbell Mailland; Amy Glindon Maitland; Frederick Henry Turner; Fanny Turner; George Frederick Scott; Annie Elizabeth Scott; James Forrest Scott; June Christine Scott; Coral Clifton Scott; and Thelma Watt.

History

Assessment 2003 Construction: 1924 Architect & Builder: Eustace Cohen of Eales & Cohen Architects Alterations/Additions: Shingle roof overlaid by Corrugated iron sheeting (date unknown); Alteration to original curtilage 1963 The original St John's Anglican Church in Capel was officially dedicated and consecrated on 17 December 1903, but it was condemned about 1920 because of its unsafe condition. It was a substantial stone building, but its flagstones were laid on virgin clay and it had begun to topple. In 1924 a new, modest timber, asbestos and shingle roofed church was constructed, due in great part to the efforts of Amy Maitland, a staunch pillar of the church. With limited funds, no money could be spent on adornment and the architectural design by Eustace Cohen relied on its doors, windows, and shingled roof. The new church was consecrated by the Bishop of Bunbury on 17 August 1924 and it was considered that the new building would last one hundred years, if not destroyed by fire. Road widening in 1963 caused the church reserve boundaries to be amended and reduced. In 1999 stained glass windows from the deconsecrated All Saints Church in Stratham were installed. In the 1830s Western Australia's first Governor, Captain James Stirling, and later his successor. Governor John Hutt, took up land in the region following the rich coastal strip and the Capel River Valley. The Capel River was discovered by non-indigenous settlers in 1834 and plans to establish a town were first noted in 1844 when the place was given its Aboriginal name 'Coolingup,' a Nyungar word meaning: a swamp where spearwood grows; a watering place. In 1880, an Inn was established at Coolingup. It prompted the government and church boards to allocate land for a school (which opened in 1884), churches and other facilities. On 13 March 1884 a reserve was gazetted in Coolingup for an Anglican Church and vested with the Bunbury Diocesan Trustees.'' Coolingup Town was gazetted in 1897 but in 1899, the town's name changed to Capel. Before a church was constructed at Capel, the Maitlands at 'Lexden Park' regularly catered for Anglican services. Amy Maitland initiated enquiries with Bishop Riley, who headed the Anglican administration in Perth, regarding a formal place of worship. A local committee was formed and Fred Gutmann, who was 'loosely styled as an architect,' was consulted.' Tithes were collected from Messrs Higgins, McLean, Layman, Hutton, Rose, Dilley, Maitland, Smith-Preston, Whistler, Ecclestone, Mumane and others.^ The committee accepted a tender of £389 and, in common with Capel Hall, also designed by Fred Gutmann, the flagstone foundations were laid on virgin clay. 'Dugite' Layman supplied timber for the woodwork and limestone for the walls.' Construction of a very substantial church'" was completed on 17 December 1903 and consecrated on the same day. Bishop Riley officiated, assisted by Reverends Moore and Craven. Bert Scott and May Hutton were the first couple to be married in the church and on 17 July 1904 the Right Reverend Frederick Goldsmith was appointed as the first Bishop of Bunbury in the newly formed Anglican Diocese of the South Western Division. The fertile agricultural region was rapidly being settled and it was considered that the supervision of a Bishop would be most helpful. Bunbury was potentially the wealthiest comer of Western Australia but the see was poor. It was funded by a donation of £3,500 from Mr Padbury, £3,000 from English Societies and Perth gave 27 per cent of the Sustentation Fund. On this meagre budget, the Bishop of Bunbury also had to look after the north west. In 1916, Bishop Goldsmith resigned, and the post remained vacant for two years. The Right Reverend Cecil Wilson, formerly the Bishop of Melanesia, was appointed Bishop of Bunbury on 13 January 1918. About 1920 St John's Anglican church, in common with Capel Hall, began to topple and was condemned. According to the Bishop of Bunbury. the church had been built on faulty ground.The Diocese considered subdividing the frontages of the site and selling the land to fund rebuilding, however, due to the advent of the war the matter went into abeyance. A report to the Under Secretary of Lands questioned the Trustees about their right to sell the crown reserve and retain the funds. It was suggested instead that the Trustees negotiate an exchange of reserve land or purchase the reserve. The success of a monster bazaar by the Boyanup Anglicans inspired the Capel church committee, headed by Amy Maitland, to upgrade their fundraising for the new St John's. In 1923 Mrs Maitland corresponded with Eales and Cohen, Architects & Building Surveyors, and it was decided not to build again in local stone. Eustace Cohen also wrote that: “ it would be advisable to keep the timber scantling for re-use. but [1] would recommend you to sell the stone and the doors and windows, which would cost a good bit to put in order and would not be a success even then, from our point of view. In a building such as the one in point, where no money can be spent on enrichment or adornment so much depends on the design of the doors and windows, and we would certainly like to start off scratch in that respect. From what 1 saw of the flooring, the tongues have suffered considerably in taking it up, so if you receive a fair offer for it, it might be as well to sell. I too would like to see a shingle roof, and later will go into the question of the additional cost; in the meantime it would be as well not to sell the iron.” The Capel Road Board offered £-/4/6 per yard for the stone and in May 1924, the Bishop reported that a tender for the new church at Capel, in the amount of £600 had been accepted. In July 1924, Mrs Maitland gained permission from the Capel Road Board to extend electricity from the Capel Hotel to the newly constructed church. The church was dedicated and consecrated on 17 August 1924 and the ceremony was described in the Western Australian Church News: :The new church at Capel, which was consecrated by the Bishop of Bunbury, stands close to the site of the old church. The building is wood, and asbestos, with a shingle roof, ventilated by a fleche. Some three hundred persons assembled for the consecration service, many journeying from Busselton, Boyanup and the surrounding district. The ordinary consecration service was used, beginning with a procession of clergy and wardens around the building. The petition was read by Mr Maitland, asking on behalf of the people, that the church be consecrated. The Bishop then knocked three times on the door, and was admitted, some 150 worshippers then being taken into the building. The sentence of consecration was read by Mr Bentley, after the consecration took place. A confirmation service was held in the afternoon, where a large number of candidates were presented by the Rector, the Rev L.E. Webb. As much furniture as possible from the old church has been used in the new building, including the pews, lectern and altar, but the pulpit is new.” Due to the hard work of Mrs Maitland's committee, Capel Anglicans celebrated Christmas 1924 in the new St John's. The open style 'swallows' leg pews, built by Mr Higgins for the first church and the christening font donated by Levi Bentley, were in regular use and remain so. Connie Delaporte was a regular churchgoer and despite her other duties (dairy and family) took her turn cleaning the church for the fortnightly services. The congregation agreed that, though the small, timber-walled construction was humbler than the original church, it was much sturdier. Its cruciform design drew many interested comments from passers-by. The Bishop of Bunbury considered that the new building would last one hundred years, if not destroyed by fire. After Bishop Wilson's retirement in 1937, the Right Reverend Leslie Knight, the first Western Australian to be made a Bishop, took up his position, but died unexpectedly in 1950.In 1963 road widening caused the church reserve boundaries to be amended, and Lot 1 facing the Bussell Highway, was sold. A roadhouse was subsequently established on that property. Maintenance has been regular and effective. Square profile gutters were installed in the 1960s or 1970s but some original round down pipes remain. In the years up to 1996, church supporters funded various works, including re-stumping the entire building, stripping and sanding the floorboards, carpeting the sanctuary, purchasing window treatments, restoring the lead light windows on the east wall, and replacing white ant damaged materials. Stained glass windows from the deconsecrated All Saints Anglican Church in Stratham were fitted into new window openings in St John's in 1999 and storm damage to the sanctuary of the church was repaired. In 2003, St John's Anglican Church is one of five churches in the district. Services are conducted at twice per month.

Integrity/Authenticity

Heritage Integrity: High. The historical importance of the church is documented in the Conservation Plan by Laura Gray, Heritage & Conservation Consultant funded by a Lotteries Commission Grant June 2000. It recommends classification by the National Trust.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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