Louis Williams (architect)

Louis Reginald Williams (1890–1980) was an ecclesiastical architect in Australia. He designed churches throughout the country, particularly in Victoria, primarily Anglican but also Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans and Christian Scientists. He himself regarded St Andrew's Anglican Church, Brighton in Melbourne, as his greatest work.

Williams was probably the major church architect in Australia in the Arts and Crafts tradition from the 1920s to the 1970s.[1]

Early life and training

Williams was born in Hobart, Tasmania and attended school at Queen's College. His father was a furniture manufacturer, and the family was very religious. Williams's interest in churches led to his choosing a career in architecture, and he was trained by Alexander North, then architect to the Diocese of Tasmania.[1] Williams and North eventually became partners and moved to Melbourne, where they started a joint practice.

Career

Williams executed some domestic and commercial commissions, but specialised in churches. His primary client was the Anglican Church; for many years he was diocesan architect for both Bathurst, where he enlarged the cathedral,[2] and Grafton; he was advisory architect to the Chapter of Goulburn Cathedral, and designed buildings for every diocese in Victoria and also for the dioceses of Adelaide, North Queensland, Perth, Bunbury and for Devonport and Railton. He also worked for Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans and Christian Scientists.[1] Churches designed by him exist throughout Australia and include concrete and timber bush buildings, suburban brick buildings, and three cathedrals, two of which he completed and one of which he designed in its entirety. He himself regarded as his best work St Andrew's Church in the Melbourne seaside suburb of Brighton, where he lived.[1]

Williams was usually commissioned to design a church of a specified capacity within a specified budget. At a time when other architects were experimenting with new styles, he preferred to work within the traditional Arts and Crafts, Gothic style. Concerned about quality, craftsmanship and architectural integrity, he insisted on also designing furniture and fittings to harmonise with the building. He advised on lighting, stained glass, metalwork, altar furnishings, plate, carved ornamentation, murals, opus sectile mosaics, and floor coverings.

He gathered a group of trusted craftsmen with whom he usually worked, including the noted woodcarver Walter Langcake.[1] Williams also introduced innovations that increase the sense of space in his churches and make them more comfortable in the hot climate.[1]

His career lasted for more than 65 years, until he was 86. In World War II, when most building was suspended, he moved his practice from Queen Street in Melbourne City Centre to his home in Brighton.[1]

Personal life

Williams was married to Mary Tasker, the sister of Senator Burford Sampson.[3]

Later in life, years after Mary died, he married Frances Joyce McDougall (Mason), a widow of 30 plus years. They were old family friends from Brighton and Aireys Inlet. Their children were friends from very young. (Source; Christine Frances McDonald(McDougall), granddaughter of Frances Joyce McDougall)

Selected works

• Memorial Church of St. Silas, Albert Park, Victoria.[4]
• Holy Trinity Church of England, Ararat.[5]
• Anglican church at Barmedman.[6]
• Memorial Cathedral of All Saints, Bendigo.[7]
• Anglican church of the Holy Innocents, Bourke.[8][9]
• St. Peter's Anglican Church, Box Hill.[10]
• St. Andrew's Anglican Church, Brighton, Victoria, extension including tower.[11][12]
• St. Cuthbert's Church, Brunswick, Victoria.[13]
• Anglican church at Cooee, Burnie, Tasmania.[14][15]
• St. Mary's Church, South Camberwell.[16]
• Methodist church, Canterbury, Victoria.[17]
• St. Paul's Church of England church, Caulfield, Victoria.[18][19]
• Novitiate, community buildings and chapel, Community of the Holy Name, Cheltenham, Victoria.[20][21][22]
• St. John's Church, Colac, completion and furnishings.[23]
• St. Stephen's Church of England, Darebin.[24]
• St. Matthew's Church of England, East Geelong.[5]
• St. Mary's Church of England, East Preston.[25]
• Church and associated buildings, Flemington, Victoria.[26]
• Memorial chapel, Flinders Naval Depot.[27][28][29]
• St. John's Church, Footscray, tower and vicarage.[30][31]
• St. Paul's Church of England, Frankston, rebuilding and extension.[32][33]
• Chapel, Geelong Grammar School.[34]
• Junior school block, Korowa Church of England Girls' Grammar School, Glen Iris.[35]
• St. Oswald Church of England, Glen Iris.[36]
• St. Alban's War Memorial Church, Griffith, New South Wales.[37]
• Holy Trinity Church, Hastings, Victoria, extension, repairs, and fittings.[38]
• Church of St. John, Mansfield, Victoria.[39][40]
• St. David's Church of England, Moorabbin, and associated buildings.[41]
• Presbyterian church, Murrumbeena.[42]
• Presbyterian church, Ormond.[43]
• Holy Trinity Church, Pascoe Vale.[44]
• St. Stephen's Church, Peak Hill.[45]
• Anglican Church of St. Mark, Red Cliffs.[46]
• Anglican Church of St. Paul, Temora, remodelling and addition of church hall.[47]
• St. John's Church, Toorak, Victoria, extension.[48]
• St. Barnabas's Church, West Wyalong.[49]

References

1. Gladys Marie Moore, "Louis Reginald Williams", Masters thesis, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, The University of Melbourne, 2001, Abstract.
2. Journal and Proceedings - Royal Australian Historical Society 32 (1947) p. 149.
3. "Family Notices: Deaths", The Advocate, 15 September 1943, p. 2.
4. "Memorial Church for Albert Park", The Argus, 16 October 1925, p. 9.
5. "New Country Churches", The Argus, 3 October 1928, p. 5.
6. "Church at Barmedman", The Sydney Morning Herald, 31 May 1938, p. 6.
7. "Memorial Cathedral for Bendigo", The Argus, 29 June 1925, p. 9.
8. "Anglican Church, Bourke", The Sydney Morning Herald, 20 December 1938, p. 5.
9. "Church at Bourke", The Sydney Morning Herald, 13 August 1940, p. 5.
10. "Church At Box Hill: Special Architectural Features", The Argus, 9 October 1934, p. 9.
11. The Anglican Parish of St Andrew, Brighton: A History in Celebration. Brighton, 2013.
12. "New Tower for Brighton Church", The Argus, 13 March 1926, p. 5.
13. "New Church at Brunswick", The Argus, 13 February 1931, p. 5.
14. "Burnie: New Church for Cooee", The Advocate, 24 July 1931, p. 6.
15. "Cooee's Handsome New Church: A Mother's Monument to Her Daughter", The Advocate, 30 April 1932, p. 6.
16. "New Church For South Camberwell", The Argus, 13 July 1933, p. 5.
17. "Design for Church at Canterbury", The Argus, 16 June 1928, p. 27.
18. "New Church of St. Paul, Caulfield", The Argus, 3 December 1938, p. 4.
19. "New Caulfield Church", The Argus, 14 September 1939, p. 7.
20. The Argus, 6 September 1935, p. 5.
21. "Community House Established: Memorial to Sister Esther", The Argus, 16 May 1936, p. 26.
22. "New Chapel At Cheltenham", The Argus, 17 August 1939, p. 6.
23. "Architecture & Property: Additions to St. John's, Colac", The Argus, 26 October 1933, p. 13.
24. "New Church for Darebin", The Argus, 13 November 1926, p. 33.
25. "New Church For East Preston", The Argus, 21 February 1948, p. 20.
26. "New Church", The Argus, 1 May 1925, p. 13.
27. "Flinders Naval Depot Memorial Chapel Design", The Central Queensland Herald, 8 February 1951, p. 9.
28. "Navy Honors War Heroes", The Argus, 8 August 1952, p. 4S.
29. "Navy Honours Its War Dead", Townsville Daily Bulletin, 3 October 1952, p. 3.
30. "Footscray Memorial Tower", The Argus, 21 August 1937, p. 35S.
31. "New Vicarage at Footscray", The Argus, 29 July 1939, p. 8.
32. The Argus, 9 December 1932, p. 7.
33. "New Church of St. Paul", Frankston and Somerville Standard, 23 December 1933, p. 7.
34. "Gift Chapel for Geelong School", The Argus, 9 May 1928, p. 19.
35. "New Building At School", The Argus, 27 November 1937, p. 39.
36. "Churches Co-operate on Extensions", The Argus, 1 November 1947, p. 44.
37. "Builders Start on Church", The Sydney Morning Herald, 16 March 1954, p. 11.
38. "New Church at Hastings", The Argus, 27 March 1933, p. 10.
39. The Argus, 13 May 1939, p. 2.
40. The Argus, 13 April 1940, p. 9.
41. "New Methods in Church Planning", The Argus, 29 November 1947, p. 44.
42. "New Presbyterian Church for Murrumbeena", The Argus, 10 November 1933, p. 11.
43. "New Ormond Presbyterian Church", The Argus, 4 December 1937, p. 10.
44. "Simple and Dignified", The Argus, 26 March 1932, p. 5.
45. "Notes", The Sydney Morning Herald, 27 September 1929, p. 8.
46. The Argus, 26 July 1947, p. 40.
47. "St. Paul's, Temora", The Sydney Morning Herald, 31 December 1935, p. 4.
48. "Extension to St. John's", The Argus, 2 July 1936, p. 10.
49. "West Wyalong Church", The Sydney Morning Herald, 1 December 1936, p. 6.

Further reading

• Roy R. Prentice. "Biography of Louis R. Williams LF.R.A.I.A., Ecclesiastical Architect". Royal Australian Institute of Architects, Biographical Committee, 1974. OCLC 223023953