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venues.
There is no record of exactly when St Andrews church opened however it is known that services were being held in the new wooden building towards the end of 1871. By 1898 the timber church was becoming to small to accommodate parish needs and a new bigger and brick church was proposed for the town.
The church was built in three main stages as finances allowed and St Andrews today can be described as Early Gothic architecture measuring from East to West 116 feet and from North to South 78 feet. It features a spacious Chancel and Sanctuary. It is in the lancet style of the thirteenth century and built entirely of brick.
The first stage was completed in 1904, and second stage in 1913. Early in 1934 it was decided the time had come to complete the building of St Andrews by finishing the West Front and adding a TOWER and SPIRE. The architect had been instructed to make the tower strong enough to carry either a peal of 8 bells or a carillion of 37 and was intended as a memorial to record the services rendered by local Pioneers and the Solders who gave their lives in the Great War.
The Foundation Stone of the tower and spire was laid on 29 November 1934 by His Excellency Sir Phillip Game, Governor of New South Wales and blessed by the Right Reverend John Ashton, Bishop of Grafton.
The dedication of the new tower and spire was performed by the Most Rev. H.W.K. Mowll, Archbishop of Sydney on 16 June 1935. A large crowd of 2,500 people witnessed the dedication, which also marked the completion of the exterior building commenced in 1904.
The next challenge for parishioners was to put bells in the bell tower!!
On 1st April 1948, a suggestion was made that the church install 21 bells in the tower to form a carillion. The idea was taken up enthusiastically. The bells would cost fifty pounds each. By 1949 there was still much talk about bells for the tower and Mrs Oakes, the carillonist from Sydney University gave a talk to Parochial Council on the different types of bells that would be suitable. Due to lack of funds the project was put aside and remained a dream.
Interest in bells for the bell tower was renewed in 1998 following a private visit to Lismore by Mr Bob Smith and his wife Ruth from Melbourne England. Two years later parish council accepted the very generous donation of a bell, fittings and frame by Mr Ron Shepherd, of Camden. Mr Shepherd is also the Tower and Belfries Officer for the Australian, New Zealand Association of Bell Ringers.
Parishioners recognise the wonderful opportunity they now have to make the dream of former generations come true. A full peal of 8 bells ringing out over the City of Lismore in the year 2004 would be a fitting way of marking the Centenary of St Andrew's parish church giving God the glory for the past, present and future ministry of this vibrant church.
In the few months prior to November 2000 the Trust had located two bells for the project. However in November the Trust acquired a ring of six bells and offered them to Ron Shepherd for use at Lismore. We are delighted to report that the PCC have decided to install these bells and ac
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