St Andrew’s tells story of Launceton's past for the Christmas period, from darkness to light

The city had the highest per capita rate of executions in Australia and an economic depression was driving many to the mainland.

But it was also a time when the foundations of a modern city were laid.

Having watched the Anglicans receive land from the government for St John’s Church, the city’s Presbyterians saw their small Charles Street church as vastly inferior.

They took their grievances to the government and were given a parcel of land on the corner of St John and Paterson streets – the site of a former jail.

It was the beginning of St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church.

“The church was built in 14 months out of sandstone,” modern day Reverend Jason Summers said.

“In the 1970s the offices were added on – we think they did a pretty good job, it looks seamless really.”

Reverend Summers held tours of the church in the lead-up to Christmas as a way of reminding Launceston of the “true meaning of Christmas”.

The sandstone walls have overseen some memorable occasions in the church’s 168-year history.

A story passed down through generations refers to the eruption of Krakatoa in 1883, which caused tremors strong enough to damage the roof of St Andrew’s.

Parts of it fell, narrowly missing children below.

The pure marble baptisimal font has also been used to baptise prominent Launceston residents, including the Boags family.

“It’s over 100 years old and is still used to this day,” Reverend Summers said.

The gates that welcome parishioners are the oldest existing colonial iron gates in Australia.

“They don’t make them like this anymore. They’re extremely heavy,” Reverend Summers said.

Other features also speak to the building’s history and geography, including skirting boards around the main hall.

They are replicas of the original, added to cover up the rising damp from an underground stream that runs from the site of the church to the Tamar.

But Reverend Summer’s favourite part of the church is the stained-glass windows, added many decades after the church was constructed.

“The windows were installed at an illiterate time, so it was important to be able to tell important biblical stories using images,” he said.

“One in particular speaks of the true meaning of Christmas.”

That meaning is often overlooked during Christmas, Reverend Summers said, with many more focused on the non-traditional consumerist aspects.

He said the tours were well-received.

“Everyone has wanted to hear the history of the church, and they have also wanted to hear the message that we have to offer,” Reverend Summers said.

“We would like to do this at Easter too so we can share that message.

“We want to be able to contribute meaningfully to the community that we live in. We have a social welfare arm and contribute towards various charitable organisations.”

The church has a congregation of more than 100 people but, like with many churches, it is far fewer than in the past.