The Dominion-Chalmers Church Building

There is a history of property lot ownership in this O'Connor-Cooper Street locality dating back to 1875. All Lot designations and dimensions are in accordance with initial Plans of the Colonel By Estate, prepared by Robert Sparks in that year. Bank Street Presbyterian Church, while in its building on the northwest corner of Bank and Slater Streets, acquired properties at the corner of Cooper and O'Connor Streets in the period 1909-1912 in preparation for the construction of its new church building, to be named Chalmers Presbyterian Church. Further properties were acquired in the period 1958-1964, and they later became parking lots bordering on Lisgar Street, and the church park fronting on Cooper Street.

The prominent bell tower is at the southeast corner of the building. It is equipped with music broadcast facilities. Within the church, there is a narthex along the east front, with principal access from O'Connor Street and side access from Lisgar and from Cooper Streets. The Sanctuary, entered from the Narthex, is a single large domed space, focussing on a central Chancel area, with its pulpit, choir loft, organ console, and pipes. The pews on the main level, and in the balconies, radiate out from this central focus. The motif is Byzantine, featuring column caps and pointed arches. Arches span between columns towards the centre to provide a vaulted effect. Arches rise to the central hexagonal roof dome. Eight large columns form an octagon within the basic square of the main level.

In the early 1950s, a five-year programme for exterior and interior improvement was adopted. Shortly after construction was started in 1955, a major fire struck the church property on April 10 with most of the damage confined to the north wing, but with the Sanctuary also being affected. As part of the repair work, the skylights of the Sanctuary were closed and not re-opened until a major renovation programme in 2000. The north wing was rebuilt in 1955-56. At the same time, the new Chapel, Woodside Hall, and an adjacent kitchen were built on the west side of the building, and second floor offices above the Chapel were established with access by a new staircase.

In the mid-1960s, a major new organ was installed in the Sanctuary but, aside from a continuing programme of maintenance, there were no major renovation projects until the 1990s when initiatives were taken to improve accessibility to, and within, the building. The exterior appearance of the building was improved by repointing and cleaning the stonework. During the summer of 2000, the Sanctuary was closed and a major programme of renovation was undertaken: the balconies were strengthened; the Chancel area rebuilt; and ramps to the Sanctuary on either of the Chancel area, for wheelchair access, were constructed. The work also included plaster restoration and repainting, new carpeting, and upgrading of the electrical system. The original dome windows of the Sanctuary, closed in 1955, were re-opened and new thermal panes and stained glass installed on the eight window area of the dome.

Lighting is keyed into the overall electrical control for the Sanctuary, permitting adjustment for various light conditions and events in the Sanctuary.