St Paul's Anglican Church

Cnr Swanston & Flinders Streets, Melbourne

Built by John Smith, Bristol; opened February 1855
Removed to St Paul's Anglican Church. Kyneton 1889



St Paul's Anglican Church, Melbourne – exterior from the north-west
[photograph from the State Library of Victoria]


Historical and Technical Documentation by John Maidment
© OHTA (last updated November 2024)

St Paul's Church was designed by James and Charles Webb and opened on 5 December 1852.1 It consisted of a nave, sanctuary and tower at the west end. It was orientated east-west, unlike its successor. The building was demolished to provide land for the erection of the nave of the new cathedral. A three-light window was moved to St John's Anglican Church, Sorrento, and some of the pews survive in the aisles of the present cathedral.



St Paul's Anglican Church, Melbourne – interior after 1882 showing organ to the right
[photograph from the State Library of Victoria]

The organ was built by John Smith, Bristol and installed by its Melbourne representative Henry Smith. It was opened on 4 February 1855.2 Initially placed on a rear gallery, it was moved to the floor of the building, at the right-hand side, in July 1882. Various repairs were made by George Fincham and some pipework was replaced with new material. It was moved in 1885 into a temporary wooden church on the site and in 1889 sold to St Paul's Anglican Church, Kyneton.3

GREAT
Open Diapason
Stopped Diapason
Dulciana
Principal
Flute
Twelfth
Fifteenth
Sesquialtera
Trumpet
Swell to Great


8
8
8
4
4
2-2/3
2
3 ranks
8











*


SWELL
Bourdon
Open Diapason
Stopped Diapason
Principal
Twelfth
Fifteenth
Trumpet
Hautboy


16
8
8
4
2-2/3
2
8
8


*





*
*

PEDAL
Open Diapason
Great to Pedal
Swell to Pedal4

16



*


*Ranks replaced or added later by George Fincham

Further details of the organ may be found at St Paul's Church, Kyneton


1 The Argus, 8 December 1852, p.5

2 The Age, 3 February 1855

3 E.N. Matthews, Colonial Organs and Organbuilders. Carlton: Melbourne University Press, 1969, p.115

4 Specification from Matthews. op.cit, p.204 and details noted at Kyneton 1966 by John Maidment before the organ was rebuilt