Category Ferguson & Urie

Feb 17 2015

1882: St Paul’s Launceston and Low Head, Tasmania.

Launceston and Low Head in Tasmania are only 56 kilometers from each other but in the 1860’s they might have been an entire world apart.

The ongoing quest to find the rare and historic stained glass windows crafted by the colonial ‘Ferguson & Urie’ company of North Melbourne sometimes create more questions than answers. After more than a century and a half the clues that lead to their existence are still being discovered.

Tenders for the construction of St Paul’s Anglican Church at Launceston were advertised in early October 1860[1] and on ‘All Saints Day,’ 1st November 1860 the foundation stone for a wooden church, to the designs of architect Peter Mills[2], was laid in Cleveland Street Launceston by Archdeacon Thomas Reiby [3].

On the 12th May 1861 the church was officially opened for services by Francis Russell Nixon , the Bishop of Tasmania[4].

It would be another twenty years before any stained glass windows were installed in St Paul’s although there was mention of an early chancel window previously being described as an: “ugly painted window”[5] and “…which so often became an eye-sore when the paint began to peel off…”[6] It’s highly likely that this ‘eye-sore’ of a window may have been a simple window film transfer known under various patent names such as ‘Vitrimanie,’ ‘Diaphanie,’ and ‘Chrystograph’.

In 1881 a member of the congregation who was only described as “A parishioner, in humble circumstances” had offered to pay for a new stained glass window for the chancel of St Paul’s. The Ferguson & Urie stained glass company of North Melbourne was commissioned to create the three light figurative stained glass window which was supposed to have been erected in the chancel and unveiled on Christmas day in 1881. Unfortunately the company responded that they couldn’t complete the window in time for the Christmas day ceremony and requested an extension, citing that they “wished to do the work well”[7].

By April 1882 the window had arrived from Melbourne and was erected in the chancel as intended. The window depicted Christ as three of the seven “I Am” sayings from the Gospel of John, being;
“I am The Resurrection and the Life” (John 11-25);
“I am The Good Shepherd” (John 10-11) and;
“I am The Light of the World” (John 8-12).

Photos taken by Gavin Merrington of “Original Stained Glass“, South Hobart, dated 19th August 2014

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[View larger images]

The left light depicted Christ as the “Resurrection & the Life” with St Mark depicted above as the winged lion and at the base, St John as the Eagle.

In the centre light was Christ as “The good Shepherd” and above, the interwoven Greek symbols for Alpha and Omega and the letters ‘I.H.S’. Below Christ was the Agnus Dei or Paschal Lamb carrying the victory banner.

The right light depicted Christ as “The Light of the World” with St Mathew above as the Winged Man and below Christ is St Luke as the Winged Bull or Ox.

A further two single light windows by Ferguson & Urie, depicting St Peter and St Paul, were awaiting arrival for circa June 1882 and these were intended to be placed either side of the chancel window[8].

The next major stained glass window to be installed in St Paul’s was in 1886, although this window, depicting the Crucifixion, was obtained from the studio of E. R. Suffling of London. It arrived in late June 1886 aboard the “ss. Gulf of Mexico” and was erected in the liturgical west wall of the church[9]. The base of the centre light of this window contains the company name “E. R. Suffling & Co. Edgware Rd, London, England.”

St Paul’s church would serve the parishioners for the next 115 years but in the early 1970’s the development of the Launceston General Hospital was underway and St Paul’s was right in the path of the proposed plans. The church was eventually demolished c.1975 with some caveats specified regarding the recycling of the materials and artifacts from the church;

“…The demolition was agreed upon only if the hospital recycled the building as much as possible. Much of the fabric and contents of the St Paul’s church went to Low Head and were used in the construction of St Paul’s Chapel by the Sea…”[10]

During my early inquiries about the historic windows in the chapel at Low Head I was graciously sent a copy of a book about the history of Ainslie House which contains photos of the east three light window by Ferguson & Urie of North Melbourne and the west three light window by E. R. Suffling of London. There were no photos or evidence of the existence of the windows depicting St Peter and St Paul.

Thanks to Gavin Merrington of “Original Stained Glass” at South Hobart, it has now been confirmed, as of 19th August 2014, that all the historic windows are extant in St Paul’s Chapel at the Ainslie House aged care facility, Low Head, along with many other early 20th century stained glass from other artists and studios.

Ainslie House is a private Aged Care facility located at Low Head: 196-244 Low Head Road Low Head, Tasmania, Australia.


Significant transcriptions:

Launceston Examiner, Tasmania, Tuesday 27th December 1881, page 3.

“CHRISTMAS DAY ….”

“… As usual the church of St. Paul’s was decorated very chastely and effectively, and perhaps suffered no loss by comparison with more extensive Christmas decorations in previous years…”

“… At the close of the sermon in the morning, the incumbent alluded to one feature of Christmas greeting which he regretted the absence of, and which he hoped would be there that day, viz, a stained glass window for the chancel, which was to replace the painted one, which so often became an eye-sore when the paint began to peel off. A parishioner, in humble circumstances, had liberally offered to pay the cost of the new window, but through press of business Messrs Ferguson and Uril [sic], of Melbourne, had not been able to complete it in time for Christmas; and as they wished to do the work well, they asked a little extension of time. Probably a few weeks more will see this addition in its place, and it will not be the less welcomed through not making its first appearance at the Christmas festival.”

Launceston Examiner, Tasmania, Tuesday 11th April 1882, page 3.

“During Holy Week, owing to alterations, which were being made in connection with putting up the stained glass window in the Chancel of St. Paul’s Church, the daily service was held in the adjoining School-room….”

“… Before commencing the sermon in the evening, he alluded with feelings of thankfulness to the hearty and earnest services of Good Friday, and expressed his gratitude that the ugly painted window in the Chancel had given place to the handsome one, which those who were present in the morning had the privilege of witnessing the full effect of…”

“….and with pleasure announced that two additional stained glass windows had been liberally presented to the church, to be placed at the end of each aisle, right and left of the chancel. One window would represent St. Paul, whose name of the church and parish bear, and the other St. Peter, his brother apostle, and these windows would probably be finished in about three months. The chancel window, the noble and generous gift of a working man in the parish, consists of three lights; the central one containing a representation of Christ as the “Good Shepherd”, underneath this figure is the lamb with banner and cross, and above it the I.H.S., and alpha and omega in very rich colours. To the right is Christ as the “Light of the world;” above, the symbol of St. Mark, and below, that of St. John. To the left is Christ as the “Resurrection and the life,” with the symbol of St. Matthew above, and St. Luke below. Taken altogether the window is very pleasing and effective, and was supplied by Messrs Ferguson and Urie, of Melbourne, who will also provide the two additional windows….”

Examiner, Launceston, TAS, Wednesday 26th October 1904, page 7.

“ST. PAUL’S CHURCH. THE JUBILEE YEAR. AN INTERESTING RETROSPECT.

The present month has been a notable one in connection with St. Paul’s Church, which has reached its jubilee, and the event will be celebrated by a special function towards the end of the year. A few particulars regarding the history of the church should prove interesting.
The parish of St. Paul’s is bounded by the parishes of St. John’s and those of Perth and St. Leonards. In the year 1842 the population of Launceston had increased to such an extent as to render it necessary to relieve St. John’s of certain amount of work and responsibility, and therefore the northern portion of the town, with Brisbane-street as the dividing line, was formed into a separate cure, and Holy Trinity Church was erected. In 1851 the population still being on the increase, and stretching southward, it was found necessary to still further relieve St. John’s, and so another parish was formed, taking in all that portion of the town south of Balfour-street, and to be known as the parish of St. Paul’s. The mission district of Newnham, or Allenvale, situated about three miles from Launceston, on the George Town-road, was added to this parish. Here in the same year, 1851, a small church was erected and opened for divine service on April 27, by the Ven. Archdeacon Davies. This building is still in existence, and is used as a state school.
Mr. George Banks-Smith (afterwards canon and rector of St. George’s, Hobart) was first placed in charge of this parish as catechist. The first building used for divine service in St. Paul’s parish was the Frankland-street school; a building which was erected in the year 1847 and a school established there under the supervision of the chaplain of St. John’s. It was a strange looking old weatherboard structure of the bush hut style of architecture, and was perched up on a clay bank fronting the Frankland-street, and about midway between Charles and Wellington streets on the north side. The ‘Tasmanian Church Chronicle’ for November, 1854, contained the following account of the opening of the parish:- “On Sunday, October, 13, the opening of the new parish of St. Paul’s, Launceston (a sub division of St. John’s) took place. The sermon in the morning was preached by the Rev. P. V. M. Filleul, warden of Christ College, and in the afternoon by the lord Bishop of the Diocese. The building commonly known as the Frankland-street school room, has been temporarily fitted up for the performance of Divine worship, and on the occasion in question was well filled, the collection amounting to £25. The parish comprises a thickly populated part of Launceston, principally inhabited by the working classes, who have now the means of religious worship brought home to their doors with the benefits of a resident clergyman.”
The Rev. G. B. Smith worked hard in his new parish, and was ably assisted by the late Mr. Wm. Henty, Mr. and Mrs. Cleveland, and many others who formed the congregation in those days; and amongst those who took a great interest and did much to keep the congregation together at Newnham, were the late Messrs. Smith and Hutchinson, who, although residing in Launceston, walked backwards and forwards to the little mission church every Sunday, regardless of the weather. The Rev. G. B. Smith resigned the incumbency of St. Paul’s in 1859, and accepted the charge of St. George’s, Hobart. The parishioners then petitioned the Bishop to appoint the Rev. E. P. Adams (late Canon Adams), he being well known to them, having taken charge of the parish for a few months during the absence of the Rev. G. B. Smith in Sydney, but the Bishop required Mr. Adams’s services for the then newly formed parish of Mersey, and offered the incumbency of St. Paul’s to the Rev. Augustus Barkway, which he accepted.
It was not to be supposed that a congregation, especially a town one, would long put up with such a miserable building as that which served the purpose of a church in Frankland-street. Accordingly in 1860 a site was purchased, and on All Saint’s Day, November 1, the corner-stone of the present church, St. Paul’s, was laid by Archdeacon Reiby, assisted by the Rev’s. A. Barkway and John Chambers. In the short space of six months the building was completed, and opened for divine service on May 12, 1861, by Bishop Nixon. The building is of wood, in Gothic style of architecture, the dimensions being – Nave, 50ft x 32ft height 40ft; the chancel being 16ft x 13ft. The whole of the seats are composed of low benches, which have a remarkably neat appearance under the lofty nave. The church contains a very handsome font, a decorated Gothic altar rail and prayer desk, besides well carved lectern, made and presented by one of the parishioners.
After the opening of the church in 1861 the old Frankland-street building was still used as a Sunday school, but in 1863 a substantial stone and brick building was erected for the purpose on land adjoining the church. This land was generously given by three of the parishioners. The cost of the school building was £420. In the year 1867 money was raised and an organ procured at a cost of £150. On account of the increasing population it was found necessary in 1871 to enlarge the church, and this was done by the addition of another aisle.
At Easter, 1882, a handsome altar cloth and two windows, one to commemorate St. Paul and the other St. Peter, were presented to the church by two of the parishioners. The beautiful chancel window was the noble and generous voluntary gift of a working class man. It consists of three lights, the central one containing a representation of Christ as the ‘Good Shepherd,’ underneath the figure is the Lamb with banner and cross, and above this I.H.S, and Alpha and Omega in very rich colours. To the right is Christ as the ‘Light of the World,’ above the symbol of St. Mark, and below that of St. John. To the left is Christ as the ‘Resurrection and the Life,’ with symbol of St. Matthew above, and that of St. Luke below.[11] A handsome memorial stained glass window was erected in the west end in 1886[12]; this was the gift of a very old family of parishioners, and another gave a carved cedar altar table, the old one being presented to the church at Frankford, in the Tamar parish.
In the year 1887, owing, unfortunately, to various causes, the congregation at the little mission church at Newnham having diminished, services, with the consent of the Bishop, were discontinued. The congregation of St. Paul’s have always looked well after their church, and entered heartily into ay scheme which would tend to increase and beautify it. The church has many benefactors. In addition to those already mentioned, the Cleveland family placed a beautiful painted window at the south end, and a marble cross was given by them also for the accommodation of a surpliced choir, and another gave a suitable brass altar desk. A handsome silver alms-dish and a silver altar table were also gifts to the church. The new chancel mentioned above was opened by the Bishop on September 19, 1888, and altogether the church, from a church man’s point of view, is the best appointed building in Launceston.
The Rev. Augustus Barkway has had charge of the parish for the last 45 years, and the many good qualities he possesses have endeared him to his congregation. The poor and afflicted have always been his special charge, and to them his kindly face is ever welcome.”

Tasmanian Govt, LINC, Record NG472, (accessed 24 Mar 2012)

“The Anglican Parish of St Paul’s was officially created and opened on 15 October 1854. Prior to this it was part of the Parish of St John’s, Launceston. It comprised the church of St Paul’s in Cleveland Street. On 5 October 1975 the final service was conducted in the church prior to its demolition to make way for redevelopment of the Launceston General Hospital on the church site. The demolition was agreed upon only if the hospital recycled the building as much as possible. Much of the fabric and contents of the St Paul’s church went to Low Head and were used in the construction of St Paul’s Chapel by the Sea, an interdenominational church which by c. 2000 was incorporated into the Ainslie House Aged Care Complex at Low Head. The chapel built at the redevelopment of the Launceston General Hospital was named St Paul’s chapel”.

The Organs Historical Trust of Australia, Christ Church Low Head, (accessed 24 Mar 2012)

“This substantial brick church was opened around 1980. It contains many fittings from St Paul’s Anglican Church, Launceston including the stained glass, memorial tablets and organ. St Paul’s was a large timber church to the south of the city centre close to the Launceston General Hospital”.

Footnotes:

[1] Launceston Examiner, Tas, Thursday 4th October 1860, page 1.

[2] Launceston Examiner, Tas, Saturday 3rd November 1860, page 3.

[3] Launceston Examiner, Tas, Tuesday 30th October 1860, page 2.

[4] Launceston Examiner, Tas, Thursday 9th May 1861, page 5.

[5] Launceston Examiner, Tasmania, Tuesday 11th April 1882, page 3.

[6] Launceston Examiner, Tasmania, Tuesday 27th December 1881, page 3.

[7] Launceston Examiner, Tasmania, Tuesday 27th December 1881, page 3.

[8] Launceston Examiner, Tasmania, Tuesday 11th April 1882, page 3.

[9] Launceston Examiner, Tas, Monday 5th July 1886, page 2.

[10] Tasmanian Govt, LINC, Record NG472, (accessed 24 Mar 2012)

[11] Windows made by Ferguson & Urie, Melbourne.

[12] Made by E. R. Suffling, London. (Ernest Richard Suffling 1855-1911)

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Jan 4 2015

1864: St Enoch’s Presbyterian Church, Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria.

St Enoch’s United Presbyterian Church was built c.1850 to the designs of architects James Blackburn (Jnr) and Arthur Newson at the east end of Collins Street in Melbourne. The church opened on the 30th March 1851 with the Rev Andrew Mitchell Ramsay as the first incumbent.

Extensive renovations and extensions were conducted in 1864 by William Ireland to the designs of architect Charles Webb and it was re-opened on the 31st of July 1864. Part of these renovations in 1864 included the installation of decorative stained glass windows by Ferguson & Urie of North Melbourne.

“…Over the entrance at the tower end is a large circular window, with plaster moulding finished with crisps, and containing a cinquefoil of Bath stone, which is filled in with a stained glass representation of the “Burning Bush,” and motto “Nec Tamen Consumebatur” – the crest and motto of the Church of Scotland. All the windows have been filled in with beautifully stained glass, and have a very fine appearance, as seen from the interior of the church during the day. This portion of the decorations is the work of Messrs Ferguson and Urie, North Melbourne, who have acquired considerable reputation for artistic productions of this description…”[1]

My reasonable assumption is that the Burning Bush window was probably the only figurative stained glass window in St Enoch’s and all the other decorative windows were most likely typical of Ferguson & Urie’s simple stained glass bordered windows of alternating red and blue glass divided by a yellow or white flower. The central diamond-shaped glass quarries in these windows would have been either plain glass or filled with the ‘Fleur De Lys’ or similar Gothic patterns.

Under increasing financial pressure and a dwindling congregation, St Enoch’s was sold in August 1870 to the Presbyterian Church of Victoria for £4,400 who intended to convert it into the Presbyterian Assembly Hall.  The modifications were completed in less than a month and on the 12th of September 1870 it was officially opened by Sir James McCulloch. [2]

Unfortunately, St Enoch’s no longer exists. The church was demolished in early 1911[3] and on its site was built the Auditorium Building next to Kurrajong House at 175 Collins Street)[4].

In 1915 the new Presbyterian Assembly Hall was opened on the opposite side of Collins Street, next to Scots Church, but there is no evidence of any Ferguson & Urie windows that may have been transferred to it.

Nothing is known as to the fate of any of the original Ferguson & Urie stained glass windows from St Enoch’s.

The slideshow photos depict various historic images of St Enoch’s Church between 1864-1911 as well as indicative examples of other ‘Burning Bush’ windows by the Ferguson & Urie company that still exist in other Presbyterian Churches in Victoria.

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Significant tabloid transcriptions:

The Argus, Melbourne, Saturday 30th July 1864, page 5.

“The additions to the United Presbyterian Church in Collins-street east having been completed the edifice will be re-opened for public worship tomorrow…”

“… The tower, which forms a central feature, is fifteen feet and a half square. On either side of it is a two-light window with appropriate tracery, filled – as are other windows in the new portion of the building – with ornamental glass, executed by Messrs. Ferguson and Urie, of North Melbourne.”

The Age, Melbourne, Vic, Monday 1st August 1864, page 5.

“ST. ENOCH’S UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

St. Enoch’s church, the name adopted by the Rev. Mr Ramsay’s congregation for their place of worship, in Collins street, was re-opened yesterday, having been closed for several weeks pending extensive alterations and improvements…”

“…The chief alteration that has been made on the building consists in the erection of a handsome stone front with a tower and spire in the decorative gothic style, and to this extent it is the second finest specimen of ecclesiastical architecture yet completed in this city. The total width of the front of the building, at the base, is 66 feet. The width of the church is 48 feet, and the remainder of the space is occupied by the manager’s office and gateway approach to the manse. The principal feature is, of course, the tower and spire, which together rise to the height of 110 feet, the spire being about 50[??] feet high. The base of the tower is about twenty feet in front by about seventeen feet in depth to the church. At the front, the sides and outer angles of the tower are supported by buttresses which stand at right angles to each other and are continued to the base of the spire, but are broken at intervals by gablets, water tables, &c. The tower consists of three divisions. The front of the lower division is occupied by an ornamental recessed doorway, enclosed between the front buttresses. The recesses of the doorway are filled in with deeply cut mouldings and pillars, with finely carved foliated capitals. The arch is similarly recessed and ornamented, and covered by a weather moulding with carved bosses. The doorway is crowned by a high gable filled up with quatrefoil and angular trefoil tracery, and surmounted by an encircled stone cross-crosslet standing about two feet in relief from the face of the tower. In a line with the base of the gable, the front and side buttresses on either side are ornamented with gablets, terminated with carved bosses and surmounted with foliated finials. The second division commences with a string-course, and contains in front a small window with a trefoil head, and at the sides quatrefoil windows with trefoil mouldings. The upper divisions, where the course is broken by weatherings, rises above the ridge of the church, and the four sides of the tower are here similarly ornamented, each with two one-light windows with trefoil heads. These windows are connected by moulded labels, and the moulding is also continued round the tower.

            The tower terminates with a cornixe [sic], enriched with ball flowers, and the buttresses are here surmounted by gablets, with foliated finials and carved bosses. The spire falls from the buttresses into an octagonal form. In the lower portion provision is made for a clock. A little above this, on four alternate sides, are one light windows, filled in with louvre slating. These windows are also ornamented with gables containing a trefoil, and the gables themselves are surmounted by foliated finials, and terminated with carved bosses. Above these, on alternate sides, are ornamental trefoil openings, with carved bosses and weatherings. The spire is then carried to a point without further embellishment, and terminates with a moulded apex, which is surmounted by a gilded encircled cross-crosslet, above which extends a lightning conductor.

            The angles of the church are supported by two buttresses, standing at right angles to each other. These are broken at the middle by water tables and are surmounted by gablets, from which spring octagonal pinnacles with foliated terminations. In the front of the church, on either side of the tower, is a two-light window with trefoil heads and a quatrefoil centering. These are further decorated by labels with carved bosses and surmounted by foliated finials.

            The manager’s office, which is built against the east side of the church, is, so far, a separate structure. It occupies part of a gable which is pierced by an arched gateway that leads to the office door in the side, the minister’s residence, class rooms, &c. The office is lighted by an ornamental on-light window, filled with stained glass, over which is a stone trefoil, while the gable is surmounted by a stone cross-crosslet similar to that over the church door.

            The front of the church and the tower are constructed of bluestone, but the ornamental portions, dressings and quoins are of Bath freestone. The spire is of Point Ventenet freestone, with Bath stone dressings. This Bath stone was imported by Messrs Miles, Kingston and Co. in the expectation that it might be chosen for the front of the Parliament Houses. That expectation, however, was not realised, and about twelve months ago a portion of the lot was purchased by Mr Adam Anderson, a member of Mr Ramsay’s congregation, and by him presented to the church for the purpose to which it has been applied.

            Internally the church has undergone a thorough renovation, and is fitted up with polished cedar pews. Over the entrance at the tower end is a large circular window, with plaster moulding finished with crisps, and containing a cinquefoil of Bath stone, which is filled in with a stained glass representation of the “Burning Bush,” and motto “Nec Tamen Consumebatur” – the crest and motto of the Church of Scotland. All the windows have been filled in with beautifully stained glass, and have a very fine appearance, as seen from the interior of the church during the day. This portion of the decorations is the work of Messrs Ferguson and Urie, North Melbourne, who have acquired considerable reputation for artistic productions of this description.

            The building stands considerably back from the street on an elevation about ten feet high, which slopes to within five or six feet of the front of the tower, and thus leaves a level platform which extends across the embankment. This platform is reached by a broad flight of stone steps opposite the main entrance, and from it a few steps within the doorway conduct to the vestibule, which at night is lighted with a beautifully stained glass lamp. The ground is enclosed in a line with the adjacent buildings by a low bluestone wall, with an elegant massive iron railing and gateway with open square pillars. These, which have a correspondence in style with that of the church, were cast at Laughton and Wilson’s (Vulcan) foundry, from designs specially furnished by Mr Webb, the architect of the building. The whole of the work has been completed in a way that affords the highest satisfaction, and reflects the utmost credit upon the builder, Mr William Ireland. The stone carving, which was executed by Mr William Allen, commands the highest admiration, as regards the capitals, bosses, and foliated ornaments, which in some cases are capable of being interlaced with a thread.

            An addition has been made to the building in the rear, which provides a commodious classroom on the ground floor, and a comfortable study in the second floor.”

The Australian News for Home Readers, Vic, Thursday 25th August 1864, page 12.

“ST ENOCHS UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH”

“St. Enoch’s church, the name adopted by the Rev. Mr Ramsay’s congregation for their place of worship, in Collins street, was re-opened on 31st ult, having been closed for several weeks pending extensive alterations and improvements…”

“… The office is lighted by an ornamental one-light window, filled with stained glass, over which is a stone trefoil, while the gable is surmounted by a stone crosslet similar to that over the church door…”

“…Over the entrance at the tower end is a large circular window, and containing a cinquefoil of bath stone, which is filled in with a stained glass representation of the “Burning Bush,” and the motto “Nec Tamen Consumebatur”[5] – the crest and motto of the Church of Scotland. All the windows have been filled in with beautifully stained glass, and have a very fine appearance, as seen from the interior of the church during the day. This portion of the decorations is the work of Messrs Ferguson and Urie, North Melbourne, who have acquired considerable reputation for artistic productions of this description…”

“…the vestibule, which at night is lighted with a beautifully stained glass lamp…”

Geelong Advertiser, Vic, Wednesday 10th August 1870, page 3.

“St. Enoch’s Church, in Collins-streets Melbourne, has now been handed over to the Presbyterian Church of Victoria, by which body it will be used as an Assembly Hall. The price was £4400, which is to be paid before the 1st of July of next year. The necessary alterations of the building are about to be proceeded with to adapt it to its new use.”

The Bacchus Marsh Express, Vic, Saturday 13th August 1870, page 4.

“THE Telegraph reports that the Church of St. Enoch, in Collins street east, has been purchased by the Presbyterian Church of Victoria as an assembly hall. The price given is £4,400. There is a mortgage of £1,700 on the property. The terms of the arrangement are that the balance of the price amounting to £2,700, and expenses should be paid on or before the 1st July, 1871. It is proposed to turn the building to several uses. Amongst these are primarily as assembly hall. Provision can also be made for committee-rooms, for the custody of the records of the church, for offices of the church, and for a theological library. Accommodation for ministers and elders visiting Melbourne for a day or two, it is suggested, should be provided; and the building can be used to hold meetings of young men’s societies, missionary meetings, &c., which may be expected to bring revenue to the church.”

The Argus, Melbourne, Vic, Tuesday 13th September 1870, page 5.

“Last night the Presbyterian Assembly Hall, Collins-street east, which was formerly St Enoch’s Church, was opened by a tea and public meeting, at which Sir James McCulloch presided. About 400 persons sat down to tea, and more than that number took part in the subsequent proceedings.”

Table Talk, Melbourne, Vic, Thursday 20th April 1911, page 4.

Brief article summary – In mid 1911 the Presbyterian Assembly Hall (formerly St Enoch’s United Presbyterian Church) is to be pulled down to make way for a public amusement hall.

The Age, Melbourne, Vic, Tuesday 18th May 1915, page 11.

“The Governor, attended by Mr. Victor Hood, was present last night at the opening of the New Assembly Hall of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria, in Collins-street.”

(The new Hall was built on the opposite side of Collins Street to the left of Scot’s Church.)

Footnotes:

[1] The Age, Melbourne, Vic, Monday 1st August 1864, page 5.

[2] The Argus, Melbourne, Vic, Tuesday 13th September 1870, page 5.

[3] Table Talk, Melbourne, Vic, Thursday 20th April 1911, page 4.

[4] http://175collinsstreet.com.au/history.htm

[5] The motto of the Church of Scotland is ‘Nec Tamen Consumebatur’ (Latin) – ‘Yet it was not consumed’, an allusion to Exodus 3:2 and the Burning Bush.

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Mar 10 2014

1870: The Convent of Mercy, Albury, New South Wales.

The Convent of Mercy at Albury, New South Wales, has remnants of original Ferguson & Urie stained glass. The main entrance doors originally contained the figures of St Bernard and St Bridget with the Virgin and child in the window above the doorway.

The convent was formally opened on the 4th February 1870 by the Bishops of Bathurst and Maitland and the Freemans Journal of 19th February published very a detailed account of the proceedings.

In December 2013 Fr. Joel Wallace sent me some photos of the entrance windows and the stained glass above the doorway appears to be the most intact. The St Bridget window in the right door panel looks to have had multiple fractures over the last 144 years and there is evidence of many additional lead lines introduced to arrest the past damage. The St Patrick window in the left doorway unfortunately no longer exists.

Photos were kindly supplied by Fr. Joel Wallace, 13th December 2013.

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Freeman’s Journal, Sydney, NSW, Saturday 19th February 1870, page 10.

“OPENING OF THE CONVENT OF MERCY, ALBURY”
(From a Correspondent)

“On Friday, the 4th February, their Lordships the Bishops of Bathurst and Maitland arrived in Albury to formally open and bless the Convent of Mercy…”

“…On Sunday the 6th the ceremony of opening and blessing the Convent took place, an event marking a new era in the Catholic history of this important and fast rising town not soon to be forgotten…”

“…Entering the hall under the verandah arches, the visitor is struck with the magnificent appearance of the stained glass in the upper panel of doors and fanlights over. In the centre of fanlight is a splendid medallion representing the Blessed Virgin and Child; on one side of the medallion the monogram of St. Bernard, on the other I.H.S. In one panel of the doors a full length figure of ‘St. Bridget,” whose name the Convent bears, the other panel the figure of St. Patrick, both in elaborately wrought canopies. The glass is from the manufactory of Messrs. Farguson [sic], Urie, and Lyon, of Melbourne, on whom it reflects great credit…”

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Nov 11 2013

1874: Sacred Heart College, Newtown, Geelong, Victoria.

Sacred Heart College at Newtown, Geelong, contains a number of historic stained glass windows created by the Ferguson & Urie Stained Glass Company circa 1874.

Originally established as a Convent and boarding school by the Sisters of Mercy in 1860 it was extended over a number of years and in 1874 a Gothic chapel was built to the designs of Melbourne architect Thomas Anthony Kelly and was formally opened on the 24th of May 1874 [1].

The liturgical east end of the chapel contains one of the most unique stained glass windows produced by the Ferguson & Urie Company and was designed by the firm’s senior artist David Relph Drape (1821-1882). What is probably even more remarkable is that the original design for this window still exists amongst a collection of sketches by Drape at the State Library of Victoria.

“The most outstanding feature of the ornate domed sanctuary is a large stained window on the rear wall above the altar. The window was a gift to the sisters from the families of the early boarders.”[2]

Photos taken: 17th October 2013.

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The liturgical east window is technically known as a five light window with a series of smaller stained glass windows in the tracery above. The two outer lights depict the fourteen scenes of the Stations of the Cross which represent the significant events Jesus endured in the hours leading to his death.

Each of the fourteen scenes have been intricately designed and painted by Drape to closely represent the scenes as they have been represented in many publications over the centuries.

The scenes are:

1st:  Jesus is condemned to death

2nd: Jesus carries His cross

3rd: Jesus falls the first time

4th: Jesus meets his mother

5th: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry his cross

6th Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

7th: Jesus falls the second time

8th: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem

9th: Jesus falls a third time

10th: Jesus clothes are taken away

11th: Jesus is nailed to the cross

12th: Jesus dies on the cross

13th: The body of Jesus is taken down from the cross

14th: Jesus is laid in the tomb

The centre light of the window contains a life size depiction of Jesus and his Sacred Heart and below that is the Pelican in the act of self sacrifice feeding its young with blood from her chest.

The smaller windows in the tracery above contain a quite complex series of biblical symbols which mostly represent some of the Instruments of the Passion. The symbolism represented in the upper tracery of the window are;

The Scourging Post, 

The Seamless Garment,

The Bread of Life or Holy Sponge?

The Holy Chalice & Host,

The Crown of Thorns with the Three Nails,

The La Salette Crucifix with pincers and hammer on either side.

The four evangelists depicted as their winged biblical representations;

Mathew (the Angel), Mark (the Lion), Luke (the Ox) and John (the Eagle).

The centre of this arrangement of windows in the tracery contains the “Agnus Dei” – Lamb of God carrying the victory banner with cross to represent the risen Christ, triumphant over death.

In the south wall near the east window are another two Ferguson & Urie windows set in rose or wheel shaped tracery. Each window contains three quatrefoils with biblical scenes and smaller windows around the edges contain cherubic angels to give the whole arrangement the appearance of a round window.

The first rose window contains the following three scenes:

1. St Christopher with Jesus on his shoulders – Christopher was known as a man of great strength who devoted himself to Jesus by helping travellers cross a dangerous river. One day a child asked to ride on Christopher’s shoulders across the river, but the child grew heavier and heavier with every step. When they arrived on the other side, the child identified himself as Christ and told Christopher he had just carried the weight of all the sin of the world. St Christopher is best known as the patron saint of travelers!

2. The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple – This event is described in the Gospel of Luke (2:22-40). Mary and Joseph took the baby Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem to complete Mary’s ritual purification after childbirth and to perform the redemption of the firstborn. Luke explicitly says that Joseph and Mary take the option provided for poor people (those who could not afford a lamb –Leviticus 12:8), by sacrificing a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. One was for the burnt offering and the other for a sin offering.

3. The Flight into Egypt – The Flight into Egypt is described in Matthew (2: 13-23), in which Joseph and Mary fled to Egypt with baby Jesus after learning that King Herod intended to kill all the infants of the area in the hunt for the baby Jesus.

(The Flight into Egypt scene in this window has also been matched to one of the original drawings by Drape located at the State Library).

The second rose window contains the following three scenes:

1. The Nativity – The baby Jesus is shown in the manger with emanating rays of light.

2. The Annunciation – This is described in Luke (1:26-38) where the Angel Gabriel was sent from God to visit the Virgin Mary and told her that she was with child who was the son of God and to name him Jesus.

3. Visit of Mary to Elizabeth – The Visit of Mary to Elizabeth (Luke 1. 39-56).

Outside the chapel, above a door in the hallway, is a round window by Ferguson & Urie depicting the Madonna and Child and at the far end of the hallway at the landing of the first flight of stairs are two single light windows. One depicts the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the other a monogram of the letters “AM” (Auspice Maria).

 

The founder of Sacred Heart – Mother Mary Cecilia Xavier [Elizabeth Maguire] (c.1819-1879)

Elizabeth Maguire was the eldest daughter of Richard Maguire and Margaret McCann and was born in County Meath Ireland circa 1819 [3].

She entered the Mercy Convent in Baggot St, Dublin, Ireland on the 1st May 1843, took the name Sister Mary Cecilia Xavier and was professed on the 26th November 1845. Three of her younger siblings also followed in her footsteps [4].

On the 25th May 1855 she was elected as Mother Superior of the Baggot Street Convent for a term[5] and in 1859, Archbishop James Alipius Goold of Melbourne, petitioned the Sisters of Mercy in Dublin to establish a community in Australia at Geelong.

Mother Maguire, in the company of five other Sisters of Mercy; Sherlock, Mullally, Lynch, Manly and Ryan, they departed Liverpool in ‘Saloon Class’ aboard the Ocean Chief on the 7th September 1859[6].

On the 28th November 1859, after 83 days at sea, the ship arrived in Hobson’s Bay and the following day the ships passengers penned a testimonial letter of thanks to Captain William Brown of the Ocean Chief to which “The Six Sisters of Mercy” were a signatory to[7].

After a short stay in Melbourne as the guests of Mother Ursula Frayne at the Nicholson Street Convent in Fitzroy, they boarded the train for Geelong and arrived at St Augustine’s Orphanage on the 3rd of December;

 “ARRIVAL OF NUNS.- Amongst the passengers by the Ocean Chief were Mrs. McGuire, the superioress or the principal of Bagot-street convent, Dublin, and five other nuns of the Order of Mercy. Their ministrations will be confined for the present to Geelong, whither they go to-day, and they will assume the control and conduct of the St. Augustine’s Orphanage, and other charities of the town. Ultimately, as the sisters become more intimately acquainted with the district, their sphere of action will be extended.- Herald.”[8].

The Sacred Heart Convent of Mercy began in a house named ‘Sunville’ in the Mercer’s Hill estate at Newtown, Geelong, which was formerly owned by the wealthy Geelong solicitor Joseph William Belcher (1784-1865). As early as January 1855 agents for Belcher, who had returned to Ireland in 1852, had been advertising the property ‘to let’ with the advertisements describing it as;

“…Being a large and commodious House, is very suitable for a Boarding School, or Seminary for young ladies…”[9].

It wasn’t until January 1859 that Sunville was eventually to be used as a boarding school when Mrs Sarah Scales (c.1821-1884) [10], the wife of independent congregational minister Reverend Alfred Scales (c.1814-1893)[11], moved her pupils from their premises in Virginia street[12] to Sunville on the 18th January 1859 [13]. Mrs Scales’s boarding school was still at Sunville as late as July 1859 [14] but within a few months of the arrival of the Sisters of Mercy in December, the Sunville mansion and twelve acres of the surrounding Mercer’s Hill estate would become the home of the Convent of Our Lady of Mercy.

On the 17th of February 1860 the Argus Newspaper reported;

“The house and grounds known as Sunville, on Mercer’s Hill, have been purchased for a convent by the Catholic clergymen here. There are about 12 acres of pleasure-grounds attached to the mansion, which is in every respect well adapted for the purpose. Six ladies of the Order of Mercy, who were sent out from the parent house in Dublin by Mrs. Cecilia Zavier McGuire [sic], have arrived in Geelong, for the purpose of establishing this new institution. Some of these ladies are said to have been in the Crimea on the same holy errand. They will attend the poor, the maimed, the sick, and the dying at their own homes, and in the public hospitals, and will superintend a boarding and day school to be attached to the institution. Mrs. McGuire is the founder of the Mater Miserecordia [sic] Hospital also. The house and grounds of Sunville are beautifully situated for the purpose for which they have been brought.”[15]

In late April 1860 the Sisters advertised for their first boarders and Mother Mary Cecilia Xavier Maguire would be the first Mother Superior of the new institution[16].

The following fourteen years saw the rapid expansion of the convent buildings with the Orphanage building erected in 1864, the boarding school in 1869 and the chapel in 1874.  The construction of the chapel was not without mishap as the newly erected belfry-wall and corridor-gable blew down in a storm on the 19th December 1873[17]. They decided not to continue with the construction of the belfry and within six months the building was ready to be opened.

The official opening occurred on Sunday the 24th May 1874 and the Melbourne Argus reported;

“The new conventual church at Newtown-hill was formally opened this morning, in the presence of about 400 persons. The dedication ceremony was performed by the vicar-general. Previous to this the children of the convent formed a long procession, and marched several times through and around the church. They were all dressed in white. The children of St. Mary’s headed the procession, wearing wreaths of blue flowers and scarfs of the same colour. The children of the Sacred Heart followed, wearing rich crimson regalia. Then came the children of St. Catherine’s, with brilliant green scarfs, followed by the Orphan and Industrial School children. The effect altogether was very striking. After the dedication ceremony, High Mass was celebrated by the Archdeacon Slattery, assisted by the Rev. Fathers Kelly and Hegarty. The Rev. Father Kelly afterwards preached a sermon suitable to the occasion. About £300 was obtained from the collection. During the afternoon two young ladies took the veil.”[18]

On the 30th August 1879 Mother Mary Cecelia Xavier Maguire died at the age of 60 and was interred in the Convent cemetery[19].

Today the historical establishment founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1860 is known as Sacred Heart College which celebrated its 150th anniversary in April 2010.

Acknowledgements:

Thanks to Claudette Brennan, Archivist of Sacred Heart College, for inviting us to see and photograph the windows and for her very generous time to show us around and impart her extensive knowledge of the history of the College.

Footnotes:

[1] The Argus, Melbourne, Vic, Monday 25th May 1874, page 5.

[2] Mercy Girls, The Story of Sacred Heart College Geelong 1860-2010, Watts, Turnbull, Walsh, 2010, Sacred Heart College 2010. P22.

 

Jun 3 2013

1869: St Katherine’s Church, St Helena, Victoria.

St Katherine’s Church, also known as the “Rose Chapel” and the associated heritage listed cemetery, is located at St Helena, twenty eight kilometres north of Melbourne.

A two light stained glass window in the chancel of St Katherine’s was erected to the memory of Anthony & Katherine Beale and a single light window in the south wall to the memory of Luther Maplestone. These windows were originally created by the Ferguson & Urie stained glass company of Curzon street North Melbourne in  1869.

The Church of England Messenger, Melbourne, Vic, Thursday 12th August 1869, page 8.
“The little church at St. Helena Park, near Eltham, built by the late Mr. Beale to the memory of his wife, and which, together with three acres of land, including a cemetery, has recently been presented by the family to the Bishop, was re-opened on Sunday, 4th ultimo. A new chancel and vestry have been built and other improvements affected, and two beautiful stained-glass memorial windows, by Messrs. Ferguson and Urie, have also been added.”

Photos taken 26th May 2013. Historical photos from the State Library,  J. T. CollIins collection, dates, pre 1957.

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St Katherine’s was originally built as a small private chapel by Major Anthony Beale, a retired paymaster of the East India Company who was formerly stationed on the historic island of St Helena in the Atlantic Ocean. The island is infamous as the place that Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) was exiled to after his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

The British Government took over the administration of the Island of St Helena in 1836 and Anthony Beale and his family returned to England for three years, surviving on his yearly £500 pension from the East India Company.

Anthony, Katherine, and ten of their surviving children left London in early 1839 aboard the ‘Cecilia’, arriving at Launceston, Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania), on the 29th July 1839[1]. Two of the elder sons, Edward and Anthony, remained in England to pursue military and medical careers[2]. Edward Charles Beale (1816-1877) reached the rank of Major-General (posthumously) in the Bombay Army having died aged 61 in London in 1877[3]. Anthony Beale (1817-1880) became Surgeon-Major of the Bengal Army and died aged 63 at Cheltenham, England, in 1880[4].

Two weeks after the Beale’s arrival in Launceston, at about 10 o’clock on the evening of the 14th August 1839, Beale’s eldest son Onesiphorus James Beale left their house and disappeared without a trace.

On the 18th August, in desperation, his father Anthony Beale offered a reward of 50 guineas for his recovery[5]. Nearly a month had passed with no news of his whereabouts and on the 12th September 1839, Anthony Beale and one of his sons (possibly the 15 year old Adam) departed Launceston for Port Philip aboard the “Perseverance” [6]. This may have been an early reconnaissance trip to secure a home near the newly proclaimed (1837) township of Melbourne before returning to collect the remainder of his family from Launceston.

Only a day after his departure for Port Philip, the body of Onesiphorus was found.

Just before 7 a.m. on the 13th of September, a fisherman named John Snailhurst found the body on the left bank of the North Esk River, a month after he had disappeared. An inquest was held on the 14th of September and his sister Catherine, and fellow traveller named Catherine Monk, who came from London with the family on the Cecilia, identified his body via his clothing, a handkerchief and the tattoo of an anchor on the right arm, and two hearts and a dart on the left. It was revealed that he had drowned on the evening of the 14th August 1839[7] whilst attempting to board[8] the ship Cecilia via a dangerously narrow plank, intending to visit Captain Waddell of the Cecilia, who was good friends with the Beal family.

The Beale family departed Launceston, aboard the “Perseverance,” on the 4th   of November 1839 bound for Port Phillip[9]. The eldest daughter, Katherine Ann Sibella Beale (1821-1907), remained in Launceston where she married John Burt, also of the East India Company, at St John’s Church at Launceston in January 1840[10]

Originally settling in the outskirts of Melbourne at New Town (now known as Fitzroy)[11], Anthony Beale later took up land in north east of Victoria near the River Plenty c.1841 where he built his home which he named after the island of St Helena where he was born and had spent 46 years of his life.

His wife Katherine Rose (nee Young) died at the St Helena estate on the 5th August 1856 and in 1858 Beal resolved to build a small private chapel in the garden next to his home in memory of his beloved Katherine. Known as the “Rose Chapel,” it was small one room building with a fire place and made of hand made bricks produced on the estate[12].

After Katherine’s death, his diaries fall into despair and paint him as lonely defeated man who spent much of his time in the tiny chapel he built. He died at St Helena on the 4th of September 1865 and was buried with his wife and other family members in the adjoining Church cemetery.

The chapel was later altered from being a private family chapel to a parish church by Beale’s son in law Charles Maplestone[13].

In 1869 the two light stained glass windows in the apse and a single light window in the centre of the south wall were erected as memorials to the Beal family. These windows were created by the Ferguson & Urie stained glass company of North Melbourne for a cost of £18/10/ [14].

The Memorial text at the base of the two light Gothic chancel window reads:

“IN MEMORY OF ANTHONY BEALE, WHO BUILT THIS CHURCH DIED 4 SEPT 1865 AGED 75 YRS”

“IN MEMORY OF HIS BELOVED WIFE KATHERINE ROSE. DIED 5 AUG. 1856, AGED 61 YEARS”

Another decorative single light memorial window, also by Ferguson & Urie, was erected in the centre of the south wall in memory of Luther, the son of Charles Maplestone.

The memorial text at the base reads:

“TO THE MEMORY OF LUTHER, THIRD SON OF CHARLES MAPLESTONE OF IVANHOE LODGE, WHO DIED AT ANNISKILLEN, QUEENSLAND, 18TH FEB 1869 AGED 23 YEARS”

Note: Mount ‘Enniskillen’ is between Longreach (in the north) and Charleville (in the south) in the Queensland outback.

A tablet in the church is in memory of Onesiphorus James Beale who drowned at Launceston on the 14th August 1839.

After Anthony Beale’s death, the Rose Chapel was left to the Church of England and was consecrated as “St Katherine’s” by Bishop Thornton of Ballarat on the 16th May 1876[15]. The nearby church of St Margaret’s, at Eltham, was also consecrated by Bishop Thornton on the same day and St Margaret’s has the earliest extant stained glass window by the Ferguson & Urie Company which was created in November 1861.

A century later St Katherine’s Church was destroyed by a bush fire which occurred on the 28th February 1957[16]. The local inhabitants of St Helena resolved to reconstruct their historic church and under the direction of architect Kenneth Crosier it was faithfully restored from old architectural diagrams and photographs and re-dedicated on the 7th November 1957.

Historical black and white photos of the interior of St Katherine’s, taken prior to the 1957 fire, show the Ferguson & Urie chancel window, the window on the south wall, and to the left of the chancel a WW1 memorial window, depicting St Michael, which was created by stained glass artist William Montgomery and unveiled on the 6th December 1919[17].

None of the original windows survived the fire but as part of the reconstruction effort, detailed replicas of the original Ferguson & Urie windows, and the St Michael window by William Montgomery, were re-created in 1957. The most likely firm to have undertaken this work at such high quality may have been the Brooks, Robinson & Co stained glass company of Melbourne. This firm started creating stained glass windows in the late 1870’s and was taken over by Email Pty Ltd in 1963. The company’s stained glass department was closed in 1967.

TRANSCRIPTIONS OF THE HISTORICAL NEWSPAPER ARTICLES.

Launceston Advertiser, Tas, Thursday 22nd August 1839, page 3.

“A FAMILY recently arrived in the Cecilia from London, named BEALE, has been plunged into the greatest affliction by the sudden disappearance of their eldest son, a gentleman of about twenty-four years of age, who left his home about ten o’clock on Wednesday evening, the 14th instant, and has not since been heard of. His absence is the more distressing, as there is reason to fear he has perished by drowning. It is supposed that he left home with the intention of proceeding on board the Cecilia, lying at the wharf, and may have fallen from the stage leading on board that vessel.

            Bills have been posted throughout the town, offering a reward of 50 guineas for the recovery of his body, if he be dead; or for information (if he be alive) which shall lead to his discovery. He is described as about 5 feet 9 inches, and as [sic] wearing a white hat, blue pilot cloth coat, brown and blue stripe trowsers, and colored stockings. We understand he is the eldest of a family of ten children, Mr. and Mrs. BEALE, senior, being advanced in years, which renders the affliction doubly distressing”.

The Cornwall Chronicle, Launceston, Tas, Saturday 31st August 1839, page 3.

“FIFTY GUINEAS REWARD.
WHEREAS, about 10 o’clock on Wednesday night, the 14th inst. A young Gentleman, named Onisipherous James Beale, late a passenger by Cecilia, left his father’s house for the purpose, as it is supposed of going on board that vessel, but has never since been heard of, having it is feared fallen from an insecure plank into the River.
This is to give notice, that the above Reward will be paid to any person who will give such authentic information to his afflicted relations, as shall be the means of recovering his body, and upon their obtaining possession of the same. Or, should he be alive, a like reward will be paid to any person who will give me immediate intelligence where he may be found.
ANTHONY BEALE.
His dress when last seen, was a White hat, blue pilot cloth Coat, brown blue-striped Trowsers, coloured Stockings, and shoes. Age 24 years, height about 5 feet 9 inches.
August 18, 1839”.

The Cornwall Chronicle, Launceston, Tas, Saturday 14th September 1839, page 2.

“DEATHS.- …”
On the 14th August, Onisiphirous Beale, aged 24 years”

The Cornwall Chronicle, Launceston, Tas, Saturday 14th September 1839, page 2.

“An Inquest was held this day upon the body of the late Mr. Beale, the report of which reached us too late for insertion. Verdict – Found Drowned”.

The Cornwall Chronicle, Launceston, Tas, Saturday 14th September 1839, page 2.

“SEPTEMBER 12.- …” “…Passengers per Perseverance, for Port Philip, A. Beale, Esq., Master Beale…”

 Note: ‘Master Beale’ was his son, possibly being the 15 year old Adam Beale.

 Launceston Advertiser, Tas, Thursday 19th September 1839, page 3.

“On Saturday last, before P. A. Mulgrave, Esq., Coroner, on view of the body of Mr. Onesiphorus James Beale, who it will be remembered was missed from his home, on the evening of the 14th ultimo, and for whose discovery the reward of 50 has subsequently offered. The body was found on Friday morning, by a fisherman, about two miles above Launceston, in the North Esk, and was fully identified by witnesses to whom deceased was known. From the evidence there could be no doubt that the deceased had fallen from a plank, going on board the Cecilia, late at night of the 14th July. The jury returned a verdict of Found Drowned”.

The Cornwall Chronicle, Launceston, Tas, Saturday 21st September 1839, page 1.

“An inquest was held on Saturday last, the 14th instant, at the Ferry House, at the Bridge, before P. A. Mulgrave, Esq., Coroner, on the body of Mr. Onesipherus James Beale, a young gentleman who came out in the Cecilia, and has been missing for the last month, and for whom a reward of 50 guineas has been offered by his disconsolate father, who has just left the colony for Port Philip. The following is the evidence adduced:-
Catherine Monk – I came from England in the barque Cecilia, with Mr. Beale’s family; we landed at Launceston on the 29th July. The deceased Onesipherus James Beal was 24 years of age, always in good spirits, and on the best terms with his family; I never heard him express any intention of leaving them. He was quite well an in his usual good spirits on Wednesday, the 14th ult; Captain Wadell, of the Cecilia, spent a part of that evening at his father’s house, he left about 10 o’clock; I saw the deceased about 9 o’clock that evening; he wore the same clothes that are now on the body, as viewed by the inquest; I can speak positively as to the coat and trowsers and I know, by the marks on his arms, viz., an anchor on the right arm, and two hearts and a dart on the left arm, that they are the remains of Onesipherus James Beale; The handkerchief now produced was the property of the deceased, and I know he had it in his pocket on the 14th August last; I know he left his father’s house about a quarter of an hour after Captain Waddell that evening, I supposed he had gone into the gardens; some time afterwards search was made for him, and it was discovered he was absent; we supposed he had followed Captain Waddell, to whom he was much attached, and who he knew purposed leaving the port next morning.

Captain Bateman – I am Harbour master at Launceston. The barque Cecilia was lying alongside the wharf on Wednesday, the 14th ult.; the stage from the wharf to the Cecilia had been taken to pieces preparatory to her sailing next morning, and there was only a plank on the evening of that day from the wharf to the vessel; it was a very narrow plank, and required great caution in passing over it; I came on shore on it after dark that evening. The Cecilia was about a fathom and a half from the wharf; It was low water between 10 and 11 o’clock that night; there was only three feet and a half water between the Cecilia and the wharf; the mud was very soft and deep. Captain Waddell left Launceston about three weeks ago, and before he went the deceased was missing, and he (Captain Waddell) told me that he passed part of the evening of the 14th ult. in company with the deceased at his father’s house, and that he (the deceased) said he should call and see him on board that night, it was a dark night.

            Miss Catherine Beale – I am sister to the deceased Onesipherus James Beale; the last time I saw him was on Wednesday evening, the 14th ult., in my father’s house; he was in very good spirits that evening; captain Waddell spent part of the evening with us; the deceased wished to accompany him on board; Captain Waddell advised him not to do so; about 10 minutes after Captain Waddell left the deceased wished us all good-night; we supposed he had gone to bed; a few minutes afterwards I heard him go out the back door, and shortly after, as he did not return, he was sought for, and it was discovered he had left the house, and had taken his hat with him from his bed room. He had the mark of an anchor on one arm, and two hearts and a dart on the other; he had not had any difference with any person that evening, and was not labouring under any depression of spirits.

            Dr. Pugh – I have examined the body of the deceased Onesipherus James Beale. There is not any mark of violence upon it, and I have no doubt his death was caused by suffocation from drowning; the body appeared to have been lying in the water for a month or upwards.

            John Snailhurst – I am a fisherman; I found the body which has been viewed by the inquest about ten minutes before 7 o’clock yesterday morning, on the left bank of the North Esk river, about two miles from Launceston by water; the head was upon the mud on the bank; the other part of the body was in the water, except the upper part of the back; it was then in the same state as it is now. Joseph Firkin * was with me in the boat when I first saw the body; he was alarmed, and would not allow me to take it into the boat; we immediately returned to Launceston, and reported the circumstance to the Police.

 * This man was called Joseph Dudley by the man Snailhurst, while giving his evidence, but this is merely a bye name which he has, his proper name being Joseph Firkin, in which he was tried and convicted, and by which he is known to the Police.
– REPORTER.

 Joseph Firkin corroborated the former witness, as to finding the body.

 Constable Webster – In consequence of information I received from John Snailhurst, I went yesterday morning up the North Esk river in a boat, and found the body which has been viewed by the inquest in the same place and position as described by the two previous witnesses.

Verdict – Found drowned”.

From the evidence given at the inquest of the death of Onesipherus James Beal, it was identified that his cause of death was drowning, having fallen off the thin plank in the dark[18] leading from the Launceston wharf to the ship Cecilia on the evening of the 14th August 1839.

The Cornwall Chronicle, Launceston, Tas, Saturday 9th November 1839, page 2.

“EXPORTS…” “NOVEMBER 4. – Perseverance, (schooner,) 45 Tons, Dryden, master, for Port Philip…”

“…Passengers per Perseverance, for Port Philip, Anthony Beale, Esq., Mrs. Beale, Miss Isabella Beale, Miss Elizabeth Beale, Miss Rose Beale, Miss Margaret Beale, Master Adam Beale, Master Lindsay Beale, Master Young Beale, Master Haliburton Beale…”

Passengers are identified as: Anthony Beal Snr 1790-1869, Katherine Rose Beal (nee Young) 1795-1856, Isabella 1822-1840, Elizabeth Maria 1823-1899, Rose Ellinor 1826-1856, Margaret Lindsay 1827-1914, Adam 1829-1909, John Lindsay 1830-1911, James Young 1831-1905, Halliburton 1833-1899

The Cornwall Chronicle, Launceston, Tas, Saturday 18th January 1840, page 2.

“MARRIED – By special licence, by the Revd. Dr. Browne, at St. John’s Church, Launceston, John Burt, Esq., late of the East India Company’s Service, to Katherine, Ann, Sibella, eldest daughter of Anthony Beale, Esq., late Paymaster to the East India Company’s Establishment at St. Helena.”

Note: The Church of St John’s at Launceston has a stained glass window by Ferguson & Urie, but it wasn’t created unntil 1866.

The Australian, Sydney, NSW, Friday 4th November 1842, page 2.

“SEQUESTRATION OF INSOLVENT ESTATES.- The following persons have sequestrated their estates since the 1st of September:-…” “…Anthony Beale, settler, River Plenty…”

The Argus, Melbourne, Vic, Friday 10th December 1852, page 8.

“In the Insolvent Estate of Anthony Beale, of the River Plenty, in the Colony of Victoria, Settler.

NOTICE is hereby given, that Edward Courtney, Esq., of Melbourne, in the Colony of Victoria, has been hereby elected and confirmed a Trustee, for the collection, administration, and distribution of the estates and effects of Anthony Beale, the above-named insolvent, in room of Archibald Cuninghame, Esq., who has been removed from his office of trust on said estate, on account of absence from this colony.

Dated at Melbourne, this 9th day of December, AD, 1852,

FREDERICK WILKINSON,

Chief Commissioner of Insolvent Estate’s”.

The Argus, Melbourne, Vic, Wednesday 13th August 1856, page 4.

[Katherine Rose Beale (nee Young) 1795-1856]

“On the 5th inst., at St. Helena Farm, River Plenty, Katharine Rose, the beloved wife of Anthony Beale, Esq., aged 61.”

The Argus, Melbourne, Vic, Wednesday 6th September 1865, page 4.

[Maj Anthony Beale 1790-1865]

“BEALE.- On the 4th inst., at his residence, St. Helena, River Plenty, Anthony Beale, Esq., of the Hon. E.I.C.S., and formerly Paymaster-General of the Island of St. Helena, aged seventy-five years”.

Note: E.I.C.S – East India Corps Service

The Argus, Melbourne, Vic, Saturday 1st May 1869, page 4.

“MAPLESTONE.- On the 18th February, at Mount Enniskillen, Queensland, Luther, third son of Mr. Charles Maplestone, of Ivanhoe-lodge, and No. 8 Elizabeth-street, Melbourne, aged twenty-four years.”

The Argus, Melbourne, Vic, Monday 22nd May 1876, page 5.

“On Tuesday last the churches of St. Margaret’s, Eltham, and St. Katherine’s, St. Helena, both being in the same parochial district, were consecrated by the Right Reverend Dr. Thornton, Bishop of Ballarat, who was assisted by the Vicar-General, Dr. Macartney, and the Revs. Canon Vance and A. J. Pickering. At the former place the rite of confirmation was also administered to 54 persons, being the largest number that had ever assembled together in the district for that purpose. Large congregations were present to witness the ceremonies. A collection, which was made at the two places, realised the sum of £5. 5s. It is worthy of note that the St. Helena church was erected at the sole expense of one individual – the late Mr. Anthony Beale; and that the Eltham church, together with a commodious parsonage (though situated in a very poor district), were, when completed at a cost of over £1,600, entirely free from debt, a circumstance upon which the resident in that locality pride themselves greatly.”

The Argus, Melbourne, Vic, Friday 1st March 1878, page 1.

[Major General Edward Charles Beale 1816-1877]

“BEALE.- On the 31st December, 1877, at 66 Lansdown-road, Notting-hill, London, Major-General Edward C. Beale, Bombay Army, aged 61 years, Second son of the late Anthony Beale, Esq., H.E.I.C.S., and of St. Helena, River Plenty.”

The Argus, Melbourne, Vic, Tuesday 21st December 1880, page 1.

[Surgeon-Major Anthony Beale 1817-1880]

“BEALE.- On the 25th ult., at 12 Royal-crescent, Cheltenham, England, Anthony Beale, aged 63, late Surgeon-Major Bengal Army, third son of A. Beale, Esq., H.E.I.C.S., St. Helena, River Plenty”.

Northern Star, Lismore, NSW, Friday 12th December 1924, page 12.

“…There are tablets to the memory of Onsephesoris James, son of Anthony and Katherine Rose Beale, drowned in Tasmania on August 14, 1839[19], and to three of their great grandsons who fell in the Great War. A fine brass tablet, given by the mothers, commemorates the supreme sacrifice made by local soldiers…”

“…There are stained glass memorials to Margaret Lindsay Beale, who was born at St. Helena in 1827 and died in 1914, and to Luther, son of Charles Maplestone, Ivanhoe Lodge, who died in 1869. A nice stained glass window is a tribute to the district’s contribution to the A.I.F…”

The Argus, Melbourne, Vic, Saturday 15th March 1926, page 8.

“ST. HELENA

VICTORIA’S LINK WITH NAPOLEON.

By R. H. CROLL

Very far from Australia – a mere speck on the map of the South Atlantic – lies the lonely island of St. Helena, famous for the fact that it served as prison for Napoleon. Close to Melbourne – within the outer-suburban area, in fact – is another St. Helena. It, too, unlikely as the tale may seem, links up directly with the “eagle of Corsica.”
Major Anthony Beale, sometime paymaster-general to the East India Company’s forces in the British possession of St. Helena, supplies the association. Napoleon died in 1821. The East India Company resigned its interests in the island in 1834, and a few years later Major Beale retired on a pension of £500 a year, packed up his household goods, and transported them to Australia. Those were early days in Victorian annals, and when he established a home near where now stand the townships of Eltham and Greensborough he was a pioneer in the wilderness. Later he erected a chapel next to his house. That chapel stands to-day as a place of public worship, and the jubilee of its consecration for general service will be celebrated to-morrow 9Sunday). All values are relative; this shrine represents antiquity to Victoria. No reason has been advanced for Major Beale’s preference in all the wide world for this remote and scarcely known portion of the British dominions. In 1839, the year he arrived in Melbourne, the Port Philip settlement was still in swaddling clothes. The township had had its first land sale. It had escaped with a decent title after being threatened with such names as Bearbrass, Barchurp, Bearburp, Yarrow Yarrow, The Settlement, Glenelg, and Batmania, all of which were in actual use; and though, as Bonwick remarks, its affairs were a source of much merriment to the people of Sydney, the settlement was still a part of New South Wales.
So it was a tiny clearing in the bush that the newcomers saw when they arrived at the spot noted by Batman, four years before, as “the place for a village.” The party had come by way of Van Diemen’s Land, and while waiting in Launceston for a vessel to cross the Straits the eldest son of the Beale’s, Onesiphorus, was drowned in the Tamar. Beale kept a diary – still in the possession of the family – and he records therein his highly unflattering opinion of the land agents of the day, including John Pascoe Fawkner, who were united in their endeavours to unload upon the stranger some undesirable holdings. It is interesting to reflect to-day upon the possible value of even the worst of those old-time properties. Eventually Beale went as far afield as the Plenty River, then hopelessly out in the bush – he mentions being lost where now the City of Collingwood has replaced with houses the scrub and timber and on the brow of a pleasant hill, near where the ancient lava flow failed, he put in the foundations of his home. The house, built of imported weatherboards, with chimneys of hand made bricks, is intact to-day. Beale evidently had an eye for beauty. The outlook is over wooded hills, past Kangaroo Ground and Ringwood, to the blue lift of the high mountains at the back of Healesville.
A patriarchal life began. That was in 1842. The first break occurred when, as shown on a memorial window in the church, his wife died in 1856. The building dedicated to her memory he named Rose Chapel. It is a handsomely proportioned building of Gothic type. Stained glass windows shed delicate tones through the interior, and one reads there, and in the little graveyard without, much of the simple history of the place. The two leadlights beside the altar are in honour of the founder and his wife; at the south end are two more bearing inscriptions relating to the dedication of the chapel and the death of the eldest son. The dwelling-house is close at hand, and the family name is still represented by grandchildren and great grandchildren. In the churchyard, in true old-world fashion, the forefathers of the hamlet are buried.
Since the church building has been handed over to the Church of England for public use it has been renamed “St. Katherine’s,” and the graveyard has been opened as a general burying-place. But as portion remains sacred to the Beale family and its connections, and here may be learned the fact that Anthony Beale was born in 1790 and died in 1865. Here, too, lies a well-remembered identity in Charles Symons Wingrove, who was for 46 years secretary of the shire of Eltham. He died in 1905. In the outer portion lie the remains of Walter Withers, whose “Tranquil Winter” and other pictures in our National Gallery are perpetual delight. He loved this countryside. And it is fitting that this should be his resting place. An outstanding monument – outstanding from the nature of its inscription – is to Graham Webster, once a police magistrate, in Victoria. Born in Essex, England, in 1830 he died at Greensborough, Victoria, in 1903. The epitaph makes a remarkable claim. It reads:- “Here lies Graham Webster, the last of his race, who descended in one unbroken line from father to son for a period of 779 years.” That first forefather possibly saw the Crusaders!  It recalls Gray’s line:- “The paths of glory lead to the grave.”

Note:

England terminated its interest in the island of St Helena in 1836.

The Beale’s returned to England for about three years after leaving St Helena and departed London in 1839, arriving in Launceston 29 July 1839 aboard the ‘Cecilia.’ The family departed Launceston, aboard the “Perseverance,” on the 4th   of November 1839 bound for Port Phillip.

Advertiser, Hurstbridge, Vic, Friday 27th September 1929, page 1.

“A CHAPEL IN THE HILLS.
WHERE EARLY SETTLERS WORSHIPPED

(By E. J. T. Oliver in the “Argus” Camera Supplement)

“A few miles beyond Greensborough, and about 15 miles from Melbourne, on top of a grassy hill, stands a small church known as St. Catherine’s [sic] Chapel. It was built nearly 90 years ago by Major Anthony Beale, a retired paymaster of the East India Company, who had been at St. Helena during part of Napoleon’s exile.
Major Beale set out in a sailing ship in 1835, and by way of what was then Van Diemen’s Land he reached Victoria four years later. After having sought a suitable spot for a residence, he selected this breezy hillside, and here he built a substantial mansion, which still stands there, and which, in memory of his former island home, he called St. Helena. The house has also given its name to the district, which is still but sparsely populated.
Major Beale imported the timber with which to build his house, and it is in admiration and astonishment that visitors look at the stout beams and weatherboards that have withstood storms and defied decay for nearly 90 years. The house is built with the boards laid horizontally instead of upright, and the bricks of the huge chimneys are hand-made. Major Beale built some kind of brick kiln on the estate. The bricks are thin and narrow, and of a different color from that of the machine-made bricks of to-day. The dining-room fireplace is almost the size of a small room, with seats built on either side so that husband and wife might sit opposite to each other on winter nights.
The chapel, which was later added as a private place of worship, is indeed charming, with its gothic windows of stained glass. Through them beams of purple and gold light up the quiet interior. A beautiful little etching of the building hangs in the wall, “a gift from the etcher.” Church of England service is held there weekly, and the folk of the surrounding district file in to fill the old-fashioned pews, where the early settlers worshipped so long ago.
The church is surrounded by a graveyard, after the fashion of the land of Major Beale’s birth. Here lie the pioneers and their sons, and here we may read of one Graham Webster, descended in a direct line for more than 700 years and now sleeping, “the last of his race,” beneath Australian skies. Here also we may see the stone to the memory of Major Beale and his wife and several members of their family.
The roads that lead to this spot of interest are good, and motorists will enjoy the journey through Ivanhoe and Heidelberg. It is a delightful journey for a Saturday afternoon, with a picturesque objective for all who love quiet and beautiful places.”

The Argus, Melbourne, Vic, Tuesday 25th July 1944, page 3.

“ST HELENA PIONEER’S FUNERAL IN FAMILY CHURCHYARD.

“A link with early Melbourne was broken yesterday by the death of Mr Anthony Beale, of St Helena, near Greensborough. Mr Beale, who was 86, was a grandson of Major Anthony Beale, a pioneer settler of Greensborough district, who came with his family to Port Phillip settlement in 1839, from the island of St Helena, where he had been stationed as paymaster-general of the British East India Company for many years, including the period of Napoleon Buonaparte’s exile in captivity on the island. After living for a few years in a home built at New Town (now Fitzroy), the Beale family moved to a selection about 12 miles to the north near the Plenty River, in what is now the Greensborough district, and named their new home St Helena. The major’s wife, Katherine Rose Beale, died in 1856, and to her memory her husband erected the miniature chapel which still stands in a cluster of cypress trees by the St Helena home, a mile or so off the main Greensborough road. Originally it was named the Rose Chapel, but after Major Beale’s death it was given to the Church of England, and became known as St Katherine’s Church. The little churchyard has been used as a private burial ground for members of the Beale family, and it is there that Mr Anthony Beale will be buried on Wednesday after a service conducted in the little church by Rev. A. J. Barford, vicar of Greensborough. The home, from which the casket will be carried, is the fourth house built by the Beale family on the St Helena property.”

Footnotes:

[1] The Cornwall Chronicle, Launceston, Tas, Saturday 21st September 1839, page 1.

[2] Bryan James; http://www.ozgenonline.com/~mytwigs/beale_a.html; accessed 29 May 2013.