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Leigh Memorial Church
About the building
Leigh Memorial Church, opened in 1885, is the third church to be built on the Uniting Church site on Macquarie Street in Parramatta. The first, Lawry Chapel, was built by convict labour in 1821. The second, Parramatta Wesleyan Church, also known as Macquarie Hall, was opened in 1839. Both of these early churches were demolished by the mid-20th century.
Architect James Tosh designed Leigh Memorial Church in the Victorian Gothic style and included an English Methodist-style wraparound upper gallery, lancet windows, a high pulpit and watchful gargoyles on its tower. Tosh, who designed a number of Sydney churches and public buildings, was a vocal advocate for creative individualism in architectural design during the late Victorian era.
The grand structure was expensive to build and it took until 1941 for the congregation to repay its debts. To help bring down costs, the length of the church was shortened while it was being built, reducing the original seating number from 900 to 700. Meanwhile, the 44-metre-high spire was the tallest in Parramatta at the time of construction. However, when lightning struck and damaged the spire in 1919, it posed a risk to passers-by and churchgoers and was soon removed.
Leigh Memorial Church houses a large William Davidson–built pipe organ from 1879, which is still played today, and contains stained-glass windows dating from 1885, including three landmark World War I memorial windows in the medieval style.
Today, the church is used as a place of worship for the Leigh Memorial and Leigh Fijian communities, as well as an associated Korean faith community. It is also the base for the Parramatta Mission – a frontline presence in Western Sydney that supports vulnerable members of the local community with meal services and community days.
Talks, tours and more
Built
1885
Architect
James Tosh
Acknowledgements
The participation of the Leigh Memorial Church has been made possible by Parramatta Community Uniting Church and Parramatta Mission
Find out more about this building here
Leigh Memorial Church
119 Macquarie Street, Parramatta
Entry details
Attendees will have access to Leigh Memorial Church and the adjoining hall, including areas not normally open to the public: the church’s gallery and pulpit
10am–4pm
3.45pm
Talks, tours and more
Need to know
Accessible featuresThe site is accessed via three steps at the front of the property. Access to the mezzanine level and pulpit is via a flight of stairs. Toilets are not available
Photography allowed
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