St Sophia Greek Orthodox Church, Surry Hills
| St Sophia Greek Orthodox Church | |
|---|---|
| St Sophia and Her Three Daughters Greek Orthodox Church | |
| Bourke Street Congregational Church and School | |
 St Sophia Greek Orthodox Church, pictured in 2018 | |
  St Sophia Greek Orthodox Church Location in greater metropolitan Sydney | |
| 33°52′55″S 151°12′58″E / 33.8819°S 151.2162°E | |
| Location | 411a Bourke Street, Surry Hills, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Country | Australia |
| Denomination | Greek Orthodox |
| Previous denomination | Congregationalism |
| Website | www |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Dedication | St Sophia of Rome |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Years built | 1880–1980s |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Australia |
| Parish | St Sophia |
| Clergy | |
| Priest(s) | Rev. Agathangelo Masteas |
| Official name | Bourke Street Congregational Church & School (Former) |
| Type | State heritage (complex / group) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 382 |
| Type | Church |
| Category | Religion |
St Sophia Greek Orthodox Church, officially the St Sophia and Her Three Daughters Greek Orthodox Church, is a heritage-listed Greek Orthodox church at 411a Bourke Street in the inner city Sydney suburb of Surry Hills in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia.[1] Formerly a Congregational church, the building is also known as the former Bourke Street Congregational Church and School. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.[2]
History[edit]
The present building was designed by William Boles and opened in 1880.[3] The church had existed since 1855, operating out of a portable iron structure made from parts transported from England, built and designed by John Goold; when the new church was built, the old structure was moved to Stewart St, Paddington.[4]
By 1933, the church was struggling both in congregation size and finances as the area had ceased to be seen as fashionable, and was no longer able to afford a regular minister, with ministers instead provided by the Home Mission Board. The collection plate takings had diminished to "only a few shillings".[4] During the 1930s, free meals were provided to unemployed men in the school hall, with 20,000 meals having been served between 1932 and 1935.[5]
The church closed in the late 1930s. It was later leased by the Greek Orthodox Church, who then purchased it from the Congregational Church in the 1980s.[6] It continues in operation today as the St Sophia Greek Orthodox Church.[7] The original church pipe organ (1888) was transferred to the Galston Uniting Church in the 1980s, as it was no longer required under the new owners.[6] The Galston Congregational Church Pipe Organ is separately listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register.[8]
Heritage listing[edit]
Bourke Street Congregational Church and School was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.[2]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "St Sophia, Taylor Square, NSW – The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia". Retrieved 27 October 2021.
- ^ a b "Bourke Street Congregational Church & School (Former)". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H00382. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence.
- ^ "Bourke-street Congregational Church". Evening News. No. 3998. New South Wales, Australia. 14 February 1880. p. 3. Retrieved 24 October 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b "Fight For Church That Has Made History". The Sun. No. 1574. New South Wales, Australia. 28 May 1933. p. 6. Retrieved 24 October 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "CUT HIS OWN STIPEND". The Daily Telegraph. Vol. 5, no. 25. New South Wales, Australia. 16 March 1935. p. 14. Retrieved 24 October 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b "Galston Uniting Church". Organ Music Society of Sydney. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
- ^ "St Sophia, Taylor Square, NSW". Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
- ^ "Pipe Organ from Bourke Street Congregational Church (former)". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H00382. Retrieved 1 June 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence.
Bibliography[edit]
- Pollen, F.; Healy, G., eds. (1988). 'Darlinghurst' in The Book of Sydney Suburbs.
Attribution[edit]
This Wikipedia article was originally based on Bourke Street Congregational Church & School (Former), entry number 382 in the New South Wales State Heritage Register published by the State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) 2018 under CC-BY 4.0 licence, accessed on 13 October 2018.
External links[edit]
Media related to St Sophia Greek Orthodox Church, Surry Hills at Wikimedia Commons