Maryborough Anglican Church

St Paul’s Anglican Church was constructed as the third Maryborough Church of England, replacing a timber church on the same site. The building was designed by prominent Queensland architect, FDG Stanley in 1879. A large memorial hall, designed by local architect, POE Hawkes, was added to the church site in 1921.

Inside the Church is a Remembrance Book, Memorial display and two wall plaques. The display commemorates WWI - 150 who served and WWII - 62 who served. The Calligraphy Book is in a locked clear top case & pages turned daily. Specific pages can be viewed on request.

The first Maryborough Church of England was constructed at the early settlement in 1852 and this was a timber slab building with shingled roof. With the movement of the town following Labatt’s survey, the timber church was dismantled and re-erected on land in Lennox Street. Upon re-erection of the first timber church, a timber belfry complete with bells were added to the site.

By 1877 a decision was made by the parish to construct a new permanent masonry building and the foundation stone of this new structure was laid by Sir Arthur Kennedy in March 1878. St Paul’s Church of England was opened on 30 August 1879 by Bishop Hale and Bishop Stanton of North Queensland. The building was constructed at a cost of about £6000 and a report in the local newspaper described the completed building as Queensland’s cathedral in reference to its size, architecture and prominence, thought to be greater than other Churches of England built in Queensland to that date.

The next substantial addition to the church was in 1888 when a large free standing bell tower was erected near the church. The structure, with nine bells cast by Mears & Stainbank Bell Founders of Whitechapel London, , cost £3500 which was donated by ET Aldridge at whose suggestion the tower was constructed in memory of his wife, Maria.

The bells were refurbished in 2012. They were uplifted from the tower 16 April, shipped to Whitechapel and returned 10 September (a 21 week turnaround).