City Tabernacle Baptist Church, Brisbane

The City Tabernacle Baptist Church was the first Baptist church in the state. The congregation first began to meet in 1859 at a site on Wharf Street, but by 1890 the grand church that you see today had been commissioned and built. The grand church was done in the Romanesque and Venetian styles and features a lovely rose window at the façade. At the southwestern corner of the entrance to the church is a three story bell tower and cupola. It was designed by the well known Brisbane architect Richard Gailey and is one of the finest examples of his designs. Gailey was himself a member of the 400 strong congregation when the building of the church was put forward. His design therefore was a true labor of love and piety. He also designed the surviving church manse, which is located adjacent to the church.

The Whitehouse pipe organ was installed in 1915 and has recently undergone renovation. At the turn of the century Miss Fewings Private School for Girls was located in the church basement and this later became one of Queensland’s best regarded private schools – Somerville House. The building is now heritage listed by the state government.