St Andrew's

If you wander down High Street in Evandale, you’ll spot something rather charming—two churches standing opposite each other, both called St Andrew’s. One belongs to the Anglican tradition, the other to the Uniting (formerly Presbyterian) community. Their story stretches back to the earliest days of the town.

The first Anglican services were held in 1837, not in a church at all, but in a barn. Soon after, a small brick chapel was built at the end of Church Lane. It had two rooms: one served as both chapel and schoolroom, while the other was the master’s quarters. That little building later became a Sunday School before being pulled down around 1910.

By 1838, the congregation had grown enough to seek Government assistance in building something more substantial. Construction began in 1841 on a new red‑brick church with a square tower. The church was licensed by the Lord Bishop of Tasmania, Francis Russell Nixon, on 4th April 1844, and formally opened by him on Sunday, 21st April 1844. Unfortunately, its foundations proved faulty, and by 1869 large cracks had appeared. The building was finally demolished in 1871.

Not long after, on 30th November 1871, the foundation stone for the present church was laid. Many of the original bricks were reused, and within just five months the new building was complete. On 17th May 1872, it was consecrated and dedicated to St Andrew, at cost of £1,200. A spire was added later, and in 1909 the west end was rebuilt, giving the church much of the look it has today.

On 16th June 2023, the century‑old weatherboard hall was engulfed in flames and its roof collapsed. The building had been used for Sunday School and other community events. The cause was traced to an electrical fault in the wiring. The church itself was unaffected by the fire.

This church was listed for sale in 2018, but the listing was withdrawn. It is now part of Holy Trinity, Launceston.

This church is on the Tasmanian Heritage Register : St Andrew's Anglican Church is of historic heritage significance because of its ability to demonstrate the principal

characteristics of a Victorian Academic Gothic church building.