Pirie Street Methodist Church demolition in 1976 a symbol of more united Christian spirit in the city of Adelaide

Two stained glass windows rescued from the Pirie Street Methodist Church, demolished in 1976, and installed at Pilgrim Uniting Church (formerly Stow Memorial Congregational Church) in Flinders Street, Adelaide city.

With origins in 1851, Pirie Street Methodist Church building was lost in 1976 but its demolition symbolised a more united Christian spirit in Adelaide. 

Designed by Henry Stuckey, construction of the Pirie Street Wesleyan Chapel (later Church) was supervised by rising prominent architect Edmund Wright. Wright also was architect for the church’s Methodist meeting hall, built in 1862 and a survivor into the 21st Century as part of the Adelaide Town Hall complex.

Built back to back with Pirie Street Methodist Church, Stow Memorial Congregational Church, in Flinders Street, was dedicated in 1867. The two churches were divided by a high stone wall with a locked gate.

The Methodist church (with William Longbottom a key figure) and the Congregationalists (guided by Thomas Quinton Stow) had a long parallel history from the start of the South Australian colony when they both held their services in tents. Their histories started to converge during the 1960s when the Pirie Street Methodist and Stow Memorial Conregational churches’ congregations began a dialogue and decided 1969 to become the Union Church in the City. The gate between them was unlocked and the name was changed to Pilgrim Uniting Church in 1975 with the founding of the Uniting Church of Australia.

With congregation numbers falling in both churches and the Methodist Church building facing maintenance challenges, the Adelaide City Council interest in reclaiming land, for what became its customer service centre, was accepted and the Pirie Street church was demolished. 

Pilgrim Uniting Church incorporated significant features from the Pirie Street church. Pride of place was given to the majestic pipe organ, regarded as one of the foremost in in Adelaide. The ornate wood craftsmanship of the gallery railings and the grand pulpit were also transferred.

Two stained glass windows brought over from Pirie Street were Presentation of Christ in the Temple, in memory of Phillis Vingoe and Edwin Davey, originally installed in 1933, and Jesus Blessing the Children, in memory of John Hill, originally installed in 1927.