| Ross Memorial Church | |
| Fullname: | Ross Memorial Uniting Church |
| Location: | Hay St & Colin St, West Perth, Western Australia |
| Country: | Australia |
| Denomination: | Uniting |
| Previous Denomination: | Presbyterian |
| Former Name: | West Perth Presbyterian Church |
| Dedication: | Rev. Daniel Ross |
| Dedicated Date: | 1917 |
| Status: | Church |
| Functional Status: | Active |
| Architect: | James Hine |
| Architectural Type: | Church |
| Style: | Federation Gothic Revival |
| Completed Date: | 1917 |
| Construction Cost: | A£4,147 |
| Materials: | Red brick; sandstone |
| Synod: | Western Australia |
| Parish: | Uniting Church in the City |
The Ross Memorial Church is a Uniting church on Hay Street in West Perth, Western Australia, Australia. Established as a Presbyterian church in 1917, the church is home of the Wesley worshipping community of the Uniting Church in the City.
Five years prior to the construction of the church a brick hall (designed by Andrew Oswald Wilson) was built adjacent to the church's site, as the congregation was growing too large for their earlier Havelock Street hall,[1] where they had been for nearly 17 years.[2] That earlier site was sold to the Catholic community, and the Hay Street land purchased from them for the purpose of constructing a church, hall, and manse.[3]
The church is named after Daniel Ross, who was minister of the West Perth Presbyterian congregation until his death in 1917. It was completed in 1917 at a total construction cost of £4,147.
The architect for the project was James Hine, FRIBA, and the building contractor was R. A. Gamble. It was built in the Federation Gothic Revival style.[4] The church contains a pipe organ chamber with case, and display pipes arranged in 3 towers.[5]
Senator Agnes Robertson was a longtime member of the church, teaching the girls' Bible class and becoming one of the first women to serve as a lay preacher.[6]
Plaques on the walls describe the dedication and West Perth Heritage Trail text:
This stone was laid
by the Right Honourable
Sir John Forrest
P.C., G.C.M.G., L.L.D..
Assisted by Lady Forrest
15th July 1916.James Hine, F.R.I.B.A.,
ArchitectR. A. Gamble,
Contractor
The West Perth Presbyterian Church was first established in Havelock Street in 1898. However, as the congregation swelled during the gold boom years of the 1890s and early 1900s, it was found to be too small. The Ross Memorial Church was built during the First World War (1914 - 18), largely as a result of the efforts of the Reverend Ross, who died only a few months after its completion in 1917.
The church building is listed with the Heritage Council of Western Australia, as Heritage Place No. 2235.[7]