St Mark's Anglican Church (former)

Item details

Name of item: St Mark's Anglican Church (former)
Other name/s: St's Mark Cottage
Type of item: Built
Group/Collection: Religion
Category: Church
Primary address: Greendale Road, Greendale, NSW 2745
Local govt. area: Liverpool
All addresses
Street AddressSuburb/townLGAParishCountyType
Greendale RoadGreendaleLiverpool  Primary Address

Statement of significance:

The former St Mark's Anglican Church demonstrates the history of the initial foundation and development of the Anglican Church in the area. It provides information on the history of settlement in the Greendale region in the 19th century and reflects subsequent changes in its rural population. The church is associated with Bishop Broughton and Victorian Architect Edmund Blacket. As part of the St Mark's Anglcian Church Group, set within an open stand of mature Eucalypts, the church is an attractive, well-recognised local landmark feature. There is the potential to gain more information on the site from further architectural, archaeological and documentary research.
Date significance updated: 22 Mar 17
Note: The State Heritage Inventory provides information about heritage items listed by local and State government agencies. The State Heritage Inventory is continually being updated by local and State agencies as new information becomes available. Read the Department of Premier and Cabinet copyright and disclaimer.

Description

Designer/Maker: Edmund Blacket (church)
Construction years: 1848-1849
Physical description: This site consists of a Victorian Free Gothic church, of one and a half storeys, orientated to the north. The small Victorian Gothic Revival stone church with a slate roof has been converted and adapted for use as a private residence. The building's exterior retains many original features including lancet headed windows to nave side walls and east and west ends (the east end featuring a group of 3), a small stone belfry at the top of the western gable and the centrally located boarded entrance doors set in a gable-roofed porch on the north elevation.

To the northeast of the building a large circular water tank has been placed in close proximity to the church, it is insensitively placed and takes from the character of the site.
Physical condition and/or
Archaeological potential:
Good
Date condition updated:26 May 04
Modifications and dates: Modifications include various alterations and additions both internally and externally as part of the works to convert the former church into a private residence. These include the insertion of roof dormers with scalloped bargeboards, a new verandah and linked building (studio) to the south, various walls and fences and a new, freestanding gable-roofed garage and outbuilding. Internally the alterations have included the insertion of a second floor, room partitions, kitchen, bathroom facilities, etc.
Current use: Private Residence
Former use: Anglican Church

History

Historical notes: The group was originally part of a grant to Judge Ellis Bent in 1811. The church and adjoining cemetery were consecrated by the Rt Rev. William Broughton, Bishop of Sydney, on the 12th of November 1849. The church was designed by eminent Victorian Architect Edmund Blacket and is considered to be an unusual Blacket design in that the gable projects flatly from the side of the nave.
The first service was held on the 9th of February 1850. The church catered for the Greendale settlement that between 1815 and 1869 was a thriving community of 200 people, mostly working on 10 and 25 acre farms. However, the outbreak of wheat rust between 1836 and 1861 caused many farmers to leave the district. During the early 20th century the village gradually declined, the bakery and slaughterhouse closed by 1907, the post office in 1915 and the school in 1925. On the 4th January 1903 the church was damaged by a cyclone with the roofs of the vestry and nave removed. The stone belfry was also destroyed. In 1929 the church was closed as a centre for worship. It was reroofed by Sir Joseph Banks Rover Crew in the 1960s.
The church and cemetery were used throughout the history of Greendale, an early burial in the cemetery was of Ann Elizabeth Wentworth on the 13th March 1815 and later Frances Shadforth on the 6th October 1850. Shadforths Monument was removed in 1980, when the church was converted to a private residence, and relocated further north of St Mark's on the Greendale Road (SHI 1970100). At the same time the remaining headstones were levelled and the area turfed over for use as a lawn. The group is still a private residence.
(See also SHI 1970099).

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)New South Wales themeLocal theme
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities Accommodation-Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the theme of Creative Endeavour for such activities. Private Residence-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Religion-Activities associated with particular systems of faith and worship Church-

Assessment of significance

SHR Criteria a)
[Historical significance]
Thesite demonstrates the history of the initial foundation and development of the Anglican Church in the area.
SHR Criteria b)
[Associative significance]
The church is associated with Bishop Broughton and Victorian Architect Edmund Blacket.
SHR Criteria c)
[Aesthetic significance]
As part of the St Mark's Anglcian Church Group set within an open stand of mature Eucalypts, the church is an attractive, well-recognised local landmark feature.
SHR Criteria e)
[Research potential]
There is the potential to gain more information on the site from further architectural, archaeological and documentary research.
Integrity/Intactness: Intact, but modified
Assessment criteria: Items are assessed against the PDF State Heritage Register (SHR) Criteria to determine the level of significance. Refer to the Listings below for the level of statutory protection.

Recommended management:

A Conservation Management Plan should be prepared to guide the ongoing conservation and management of the Church and Cemetery. There should be no encroachments onto the Church land through development or subdivision. If any changes or alterations are proposed for the Church, Church yard or Cemetery a Statement of Heritage Impact should be prepared to assess the impact of such proposal on the significance of this site. If the CMP has not been prepared at the time of such proposal, the CMP should be prepared first and relevant recommendations included in the Statement of Heritage Impact. An archaeological assessment should be included in the CMP and SHI

Recommendations

Management CategoryDescriptionDate Updated
Recommended ManagementProduce a Conservation Management Plan (CMP)30 Jul 05
Recommended ManagementDevelop a Statement of Heritage Impact30 Jul 05
Recommended ManagementCarry out an Archaeological Assessment05 Mar 05

Listings

Heritage ListingListing TitleListing NumberGazette DateGazette NumberGazette Page
Local Environmental PlanLiverpool Local Environmental Plan 20082529 Aug 08   
Local Environmental Plan - Lapsed 025203 Feb 95 011669

Study details

TitleYearNumberAuthorInspected byGuidelines used
National Trust Suburban Register2017 National Trust of Australia (NSW)  No
Liverpool Heritage Study1992LP0084Neustein & Associates  No
Liverpool Heritage Study Review20041970171FORM architects aust pty ltdHelen Davies & Cathy Fisher Yes

References, internet links & images

TypeAuthorYearTitleInternet Links
WrittenNational Trust of Australia (NSW) National Trust of Australia (NSW)

Note: internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.

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(Click on thumbnail for full size image and image details)

Data source

The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name: Local Government
Database number: 1970171


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