Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints (fmr)

Statement of Significance

The Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints (fmr), 313 Churchill Avenue, Subiaco, is of cultural heritage significance: • As the first Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints in Western Australia (and only the sixth in Australia). • As the headquarters of the Church in Western Australia from 1925 until 1958. • For its social and historical significance for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints. • For its occupation by disability service providers in the period 1958-c.1990, the early days of which reflected a major community driven change in the provision of support and services for children with intellectual disabilities and their families, with a particular focus on improved integration.

Physical Description

The Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints (fmr) was constructed as a restrained version of the Inter-War Free Classical style. However, the design of the main façade was significantly altered in the 1990s, with the introduction of Gothic arches to form a new front entrance. Key elements of the current place include: • Simple, rectangular floor plan. • Symmetrical façade. • Simple gabled roof, clad with corrugated metal sheeting. • Stepped masonry parapet, rising up to a triangular apex This features a simple projecting cap and a set of three slender vertical recesses to the face of the gable. • Plain rectangular pilasters framing the entrance. • Modern, rendered finish to the façade (concealing the original detailing of face brick walls with contrasting rendered stringcourses and pilasters). • Four, steel-framed Gothic arches forming the main entrance doors and the associated sidelights and highlights (dating from the 1990s) • Traditional side-hinged casement windows to the side walls. The original symmetrical street front has been modified by the construction of a high timber fence with a side entrance. The immediate streetscape is dominated by modern, mixed residential and commercial redevelopment.

History

The subject site was subdivided in the mid-1890s, but information from the Certificate of Titles and Post Office Directories suggests that, from c.1905-1924 it formed part of the extended grounds of an adjacent house at 315 Perth Street. The teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints were first introduced to Australia in 1840, but it was not until 1907 that the first official missionaries of the Church began their work in Western Australia. In the period 1907-1925 they occupied various rented premises in Subiaco and Perth. In 1924 the Australian Mission President of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints visited Western Australia and it was agreed that a local Chapel should be built (the sixth in Australia). In February 1925, ownership of Lot 26 on Deposited Plan 1381 was transferred to a group of senior members of the Church in America, and Church history suggests that the funds for this were donated by a local convert, Brother William Davis. Extensive fund raising was then undertaken and the members and missionaries undertook the construction work under the supervision of Brother Rueben Flynn (who was a builder by profession). In March 1925, a ceremony was held to celebrate the laying of the foundation stone, which read: This stone was laid 14th Mar 1925 and building dedicated 14th June 1925 by Elder Charles H. Hyde. Three months later the building was officially opened: THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS Will Hold a DEDICATORY SERVICE, At their New Chapel 313 Perth-st., Subiaco, SUNDAY. JUNE 14 at 3 pm. President and Mrs. Charles H. Hyde, of the Australian Mission, have arrived from Sydney. President Hyde will dedicate the Chapel. The public are invited. A later description of the place (Cummings, D.W., Saints of the Golden West, p 13) stated that: The Chapel was approx. 36 x 20ft [11 x 6.1m] and could seat around 80-90 people at a squeeze. Living quarters at the rear consisted of a large study, kitchen and two bedrooms for the missionaries. A bathroom and toilets were under a rear verandah. These quarters doubled up for classrooms … As the total block was only 3564 square feet [331m2], there was little extra space apart from a walkway up one side and a very small back yard. Early photographs show that the façade was face-brick with prominent rendered pilasters framing the main entrance. The double doors were timber framed, with 10 square panes of glass to each leaf. Above the doors, a pair of rectangular highlight windows featured diamond patterned lead-light glazing. Two rendered string courses extended across the main façade (to line with the head and sill of the highlight windows) and the upper string course featured the words CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF L.D.S. Steps led up to the main entrance from the street, framed by a low rendered-masonry and pipe-rail fence along the front boundary. The only major alteration recorded for the building during its occupation as a chapel was the construction of a baptismal font under the stage in the main hall, which was designed so that floorboard panels could be removed when baptisms were held. This was completed in 1937 (prior to which baptisms had been conducted in the Swan River). Membership of the Church in Western Australia fluctuated, with newspaper and other reports indicating that there were about 200 members in 1934, dropping to about 100 in the late 1940s (with numbers regularly depleted by the emigration of Australian members to America and Canada). 313 Churchill Avenue remained the centre of the only Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints in Western Australia until 1954, when a second Branch was established at Bedford. Following rapid post-war growth in the local congregation, land was purchased in 1956 for two new chapels, one in Doubleview Road, Scarborough, and the other in Labouchere Road, Como. Construction of both of these Chapels commenced in 1957 and in 1958 the headquarters of the Perth Branch were relocated from Subiaco to the new Como Chapel. The last meeting in the Subiaco Chapel was held on 13 April 1958, and 313 Churchill Avenue was then sold to the “Slow Learning Children’s Group” (which was renamed the Activ Foundation in 1989). Detailed research has not been undertaken about the use of the place from that time, but a newspaper article in 1995 referred to the previous occupants as the Down’s Syndrome Association of Western Australia, which suggests that it continued to be used by disability services groups for over 30 years. In c. 1992-1993, 313 Churchill Avenue was purchased by Taffy Davies, who adapted it as a private residence. Works undertaken/proposed in the mid-1990s included: • Construction of a timber deck overlooking the street; • Installation of a new front door featuring four glazed, steel-framed Gothic arches; (replacing the original door, highlight windows and nameplate, and extending the full width between the pilasters); • Installation of stained glass windows (made by the owner); • New bathroom; • Installation of a mezzanine floor above half of the living area. Physical evidence confirms that other external changes have included: • Rendering of the main façade; • Removal of the front steps; • Construction of a high front fence. In 2015 the place continues to be occupied as a private residence.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity - Low: The former chapel has been adapted as a private residence. Authenticity - Low-Moderate: The original external detailing of the building and its internal layout have been extensively modified as part of its adaptation as a private residence. However, the underlying design can still be interpreted in the public realm. Rarity/Representativeness - Based on the research undertaken for this report, the former Chapel is rare as the first and only Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints in Western Australia from 1925 until 1958.

Uses

Creation Date

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