“What a spire” you might be thinking looking at the Hunter Baillie Memorial Presbyterian Church. It rises dramatically above Annandale. It is a testament to love and enduring legacy. Today we will delve into the story of this iconic church.
The Hunter Baillie Memorial Presbyterian Church stands as a beautiful example of Victorian Gothic Revival architecture. Its story began with Helen Hay Mackie Baillie. She erected this church between 1886 and 1889. It was a memorial to her late husband John Hunter Baillie.
John Hunter Baillie died in 1854. He was only 35 years old. He served as Secretary and Inspector of the Bank of New South Wales. Helen Hay Mackie Baillie financed the church entirely herself. The church, manse, hall and land cost her over 35000 pounds. She was 78 when she passed away in 1897.
Cyril and Arthur Blacket designed the Hunter Baillie Memorial Presbyterian Church. They were the sons of Edmund Blacket. He was a noted Colonial architect. The church’s spire is 56 metres tall. It was the tallest church spire in New South Wales. Only St Mary’s Cathedral spires are taller. Those are steel cored.
The church’s architecture is striking. It is constructed from white Pyrmont sandstone. The base is rusticated. The rest of the masonry is dressed. The nave features six bays with two transepts. Instead of a chancel there is a vestry. At the east end of the nave stands a square tower. It has a newell stairway and spire.
Inside the Hunter Baillie Memorial Presbyterian Church massive pillars of Aberdeen granite stand tall. They have Melbourne bluestone bases and capitals. The baptismal font and pulpit are carved from New Zealand Oamaru stone. They also feature green marble.
The Hunter Baillie Memorial Presbyterian Church houses a large 19th Century organ. William Hill & Son of London built it. It is one of only six Hill & Son organs in NSW that remain in original condition. Its unique case makes it particularly special.
Look around at the smaller details of the Hunter Baillie Memorial Presbyterian Church. Gas brackets encircle the capitals of columns in the nave. They have bands decorated with Scotch thistles and Greek crosses. The Collins and Johnston Street perimeters are fenced in Pyrmont sandstone.
Several tablets are located in the main porch. One tablet commemorates Isabella Dunmore Lang. She was the widow of the church’s founder. Another honors John Hunter Baillie. A third tablet remembers Helen Hay Baillie. The final tablet recognizes Rev Peter Falconer Mackenzie. He was the church’s founder.
Memorials to the First World War stand on either side of the main porch. Lord Forster unveiled them on 19 December 1920.
The Hunter Baillie Memorial Presbyterian Church celebrated its centenary in 1989. In 2009 it celebrated its 120th anniversary. Over the years the church has undergone ongoing restoration. The Heritage Council has funded major restoration work.
The Hunter Baillie Memorial Presbyterian Church is a significant landmark. It reflects the history and architectural beauty of Sydney. Its tall spire dominates the Annandale skyline. It is a testament to private philanthropy. It also stands as a memorial to love and dedication. The Hunter Baillie Memorial Presbyterian Church is a true gem.