St Francis Church

The first St Francis Church was completed on the site of the old DEIC granaries between the Residency and Admiralty House in 1837 and consecrated by the Bishop of Tasmania in 1843. It was named St Frances as a mark of respect to the Governor, Sir Lowry Cole's wife Frances. The original building was a "simple rectangular Greek temple with a low pitched zinc roof, ceiling and square windows" There was a temple portico with Doric Columns on the west façade. In 1867 the church was enlarged by enclosing the colonnaded porch and adding a vestry. In 1881 it was virtually rebuilt, the Sanctuary was moved to the west end and a new chancel, organ chamber, choir vestry and bell tower were added. In 1912 the pitched roof was raised and tiled with slate. The ceiling was removed and the original wooden beams exposed. Gothic windows were installed in 1924 and in 2019 three windows commemorating the members of the congregation who were victims of the Group Areas Act of 1967 were installed.
The Church was re-named St Francis of Assisi in 1958

STHS