For most of Adelaide’s history, the city has been known as a City of Churches. It’s a common nickname here among locals, and perhaps other Australians, but rarely heard of by international travellers.
How the nickname came about
Our naming as a City of Churches comes from our free settlement. The settlement was intended to build Adelaide as a city with a safer society than other Australian capitals. With no convicts (English prisoners) initially settled in Adelaide, it would allow for progressive freedoms which shaped our city to what it is today.
Religious alliance in Europe was strong in the 1830s, some 300 years after the Reformation. Catholics and Protestants would still fight each other to the death for the cause if necessary.
In Prussia (now northern Germany), religious persecution was rife for Lutherans, who take a slightly different Protestant belief. In a plight to help them, a few of Adelaide’s founders including George Fife Angas came to their aid. They funded boats to bring these Lutheran settlers to the new land; settlements were made in Hahndorf and the Barossa Valley. The Prussians escaped persecution and made a new life for themselves.
At this time, many different houses of worship began to be built. We quickly became known as the City of Churches for the sheer amount of them around.
While we don’t have all that many per capita these days, the name has stuck and many are still prevalent. That’s no doubt a testament to the beauty of our churches – St Peter’s Cathedral at North Adelaide (pictured) is our key religious building and a Gothic construction worth checking out.
Religious freedom in a modern world
Throughout its history, Adelaide has actively recognised religious freedoms as one of many progressive societal movements.
At the time of writing, it was hard for me not to think of this as the world watched the Notre Dame burn in Paris. A religious symbol in a city known for political activism.
As someone appreciative of churches, and not just because I come from a city known for them, I’m also hugely aware the Notre Dame represents more than just a structure. It is a city symbol. Something that has withstood war and other conflicts, and created wonder for millions of visitors. And here in Adelaide, our churches carry something similar. Churches are still an important part of the city’s architecture, but more important as a part of the community for many.
We talk about this on tours such as the Iconic Adelaide Tour and our private walks.
Just on a final note: whether you’re religious or not, isn’t it interesting how these events often seem to happen in what Christians call Holy Week? As a sort of reminder for believers that out of hardship, beauty can still remain in the world.
—
Do you have a favourite church in Adelaide, or an interesting story about the city’s religious settlers? Let me know in the comments!
Flamboyant forever,
Katina
*For more on Adelaide’s various nicknames, read our take on their relevance.
Missed last week’s post? I explained what our tips-based walking tour is and why we choose to run them.
4 Comments
Shirley
Nobody in Adelaide calls it the city of churches. That title belongs first to Hobart, then Sydney, then Adelaide
Katina
That’s quite right, we as locals don’t generally refer to it as that. And I’m sure many cities would hold a similar title!
Paul (not the Apostle) Desailly
In 2023 (and, more so in the 19th and 20th centuries) Australians galore not residing in Adelaide use the moniker ‘the city of churches’, occasionally as a pejorative but often as an attribute, in that Adelaide was founded on religious freedoms denied to Hobart, Melbourne, Sydney etc
Katina
Yes, it’s quite a positive but it at times gets misconstrued as something negative. Perhaps that’s from people who tend to correlate churches/religion with strict conservatism.