In the last three years of the history of the Ferguson & Urie stained-glass company of North Melbourne they were still performing regional glazing repairs. On Friday 14th May 1897 a storm went through Werribee and damaged a stained glass-window at the Presbyterian Church (now Cross Roads Uniting) which was repaired by a tradesman from Ferguson & Urie. There is no evidence that proves the window was one Ferguson & Urie’s original installations from when the church was built in 1884.
The Bacchus Marsh Express, Vic, Saturday 22 May 1897, page 3.
“The strong northerly gale that was blowing across these plains on the night of Friday of last week, with its occasional severe gusts, has unfortunately not passed over us without doing some damage; for, in addition to the unthatching of stacks, on many of the farms, the north window, high up in the spire of the Presbyterian church, which is exposed to the full force of wind from the north, has been very badly damaged, necessitating complete renewal of the lead work, and a great deal of the glass. The damage was first noticed by the Rev. John McIntosh on Saturday; pieces of the lead work and glass were blown in and were strewn over the floor of the belfry; while the window itself was just hanging together, vibrating with the wind, which by this time had fortunately veered round to the west. He at once communicated with Mr. Adam Hastie, Mr. G. T. Chirnside’s manager, informing him of the damage, and at the same time wrote in to Messrs. Ferguson & Urie, of Melbourne, to send out a man at the earliest moment. When the tradesman arrived it was at once seen that the window would require to be taken out as the joints of the lattice lead work were, for the most part, broken, and the rods and stays were loose, so that in order to make a secure job, the window will have to be re-leaded. The repairs will possibly cost over £3, so that ‘its an ill wind that blows nobody good!”
Photos taken: 30th Dec 2010.
As at 2012, the north an west facing belfry windows of the church are extremely unlikely to be of any original glass produced or at anytime repaired by Ferguson & Urie.
Related posts:
23-05-1896: Presbyterian Church, Werribee, Victoria.
1876: Werribee Park Mansion.
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