No. 59 - St. Aidan's East Launceston - No North Tower

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The origins of this church go back to 1892 when a branch Sunday school of St. John's Church was opened in a shop at the corner of Abbott and Arthur streets.  In 1894 a church was opened as part of St. John's Anglican parish. It was named after St. Aidan, who is known as the Apostle of Northumbria, and is venerated in church history for the part he played in the evangelisation of North-Eastern England. 

 In 1893, the Examiner reported on the progress being made on the new church for East Launceston:

“…plans were prepared by Mr A. North… the result being that a very handsome and substantial building is now very nearly complete. So far as the structure is concerned, the plans show that it measures 37ft by 25ft. It is built of brick on a stone foundation, with ornamental brick arches over the windows and a slate roof. The chief feature of the building, however, when completed will be the tower, about 80ft high, of Oatlands freestone, German Gothic in design-a style…. “

The tower was never completed but the church did undergo a number of extensions. While the nave was built in 1893-4, the porch, the base of the proposed tower was built in 1912; the crossing in 1922; the chancel and crypt in 1952 and finally a modern timber extension in 2007.

St Aiden’s continues to thrive and this is evident in the accretions it has added to its structure over the church's lifetime. But sadly, it never got the soaring tower that Alexander North intended.

Photograph:  Duncan Grant 2018

Photograph: Duncan Grant 2018


Photograph: Duncan Grant 2014

St. Aiden's School below the Church. Photograph: Duncan Grant 2018

Photograph: Duncan Grant 2018

Photograph: Duncan Grant 2018

Photograph: Duncan grant 2018

Photograph: Duncan Grant 2018



SOURCES
Examiner Friday 18 March 1894

Examiner Saturday 22 July 1893

Examiner Tuesday 26 May 1942

ExaminerThursday 30 august 1951

http://www.tasmaniananglican.com.au/ta200808-11/

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