Permanent listing for St John's Lutheran Church, Perth

18/6/03
The first Lutheran Church built in Perth, St John's in Aberdeen Street, has been permanently listed in the State Government's Register of Heritage Places.
Environment and Heritage Minister Judy Edwards said registration would provide recognition of the contribution made by St John's Lutheran Church to the State's cultural history.
"St John's Lutheran Church was the first building in Perth to make use of laterite stone from Darlington and was the only Lutheran Church in Perth in use during the inter-war years," Dr Edwards said.
"There are few other buildings in the metropolitan area built using Darlington laterite.
"Constructed in 1936, St John's is a fine example of an Inter-War Gothic style church. It is built of loosely-laid laterite with stained glass leadlights and stucco decorative treatments.
"It is an example of the construction of centralised churches for minority church groups with small congregations, when the location of a church in Perth made services more readily accessible.
"The place is highly valued for religious and spiritual reasons by members of the Lutheran Church in Australia and by members of the wider community, in particular those who came to Australia as immigrants and refugees in the post World War II period and in recent times.
"In the post war years, the pastor of the church and the church congregation played a significant role in assisting migrants, particularly Europeans, displaced by the war.
"St John's Lutheran Church contributes to the community's sense of place as a well known church on Aberdeen Street.
"It is still in use today and attracts an average weekend attendance of more than 250."
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