Jul 26 2013

13-07-1885: St David’s Mission Chapel, Campbell Street, Hobart, Tasmania.

In July 1885 the Ferguson & Urie stained glass company of North Melbourne created a stained glass window for the St David’s Mission Chapel in Hobart, Tasmania. It was erected in the chapel in late October the same year.

The ‘rose’ or ‘wheel’ shaped window is still extant in the original building in Campbell-street Hobart. The window was donated by a “Miss Parson’s” and comprises three trefoil shaped windows with the upper trefoil containing a Hexagram symbol representing the Star of David. The lower left trefoil contains the descending Dove and the lower right trefoil contains the Paschal Lamb carrying the St George Banner. Three curved triangular shaped windows appear on the outer edge between the trefoils to give the whole arrangement the appearance of a large round window. Each of the three triangular pieces contains the face of an angel with wings. The perimeter of each individual piece has the typical Ferguson & Urie stained glass border design of alternate red, blue and yellow separated by a small flower design.

Photos of stained glass courtesy of Ms Danielle Pacaud, 8th March 2012.

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The foundation stone of St. David’s Mission chapel was laid on the 24^th of November 1884 by the Bishop of Tasmania, Rev. Dr. Daniel Fox Sandford. The site chosen for the building was in the poorer working class district of Hobart in Lower Campbell-street, an area originally known as ‘Wapping.’[1]

Before laying the foundation stone of St. David’s, Bishop Sandford placed the usual casket or time capsule beneath the stone which contained the following items:

“…coins of the realm, from a farthing upwards, a twopenny stamp, copies of newspapers of that day’s date, and a document bearing the following inscription:- “St. David’s Mission Chapel, Lower Campbell-street. This stone was laid by the Right Reverend Daniel Fox Sandford, D. D., Bishop of Tasmania, on the 24^th November, a.d., 1884. His Excellency Major Sir George Cumine Strahan, R. A., K.C.M.G., being Governor of Tasmania, the Ven. Archdeacon Davenport, B.A., Archdeacon of Hobart; Ven. Francis Hales, B.A., Archdeacon of Launceston; the Rev. H. C. Hancock, acting incumbent of St. David’s; Messrs. E. H. Butler, B. Travers Solly, J. G. Steele, churchwardens of St. David’s parish; H. Hunter, architect; Joseph Sharpe, Arthur Harrison, Adolphus Inches, contractors. The chapel has been erected by voluntary subscriptions to supply a want long felt in this portion of the parish of St. David’s.”[2]

The chapel was designed by architect Henry Hunter and was underestimated to cost of £1,500. It was constructed by contractors Sharpe, Harrison, and Inches and opened by Bishop Sandford on the 12^th of July 1885. At the opening ceremony a detailed account of the building and furnishings was published, amongst which was a description of the windows:

“…Above the altar in the eastern elevation is a “rose” window. It is to be filled in with stained glass by Miss Parson’s, Brown’s River, and when completed will have a pretty and effective appearance. The stained glass for the window is being prepared by Messrs. Ferguson and Ure [sic], Sydney [sic], and its arrival is shortly expected. There are six windows along one side of the church, and five on the other, while in the western end there is one on each side of the entrance. They are all filled in with ribbed glass, and the building is thus well-lighted…” [3]

Three months later the stained glass windows arrived from Melbourne and on the 15^th of October 1885, the Rev Henry Charles Hancock, acting as chairman, reported to the committee:

“…The chairman stated the Mission Church was all finished, with the exception of putting in the stained glass windows, which had arrived, and would be in by the end of next week…” [4]

The St David’s Mission Chapel is no longer a consecrated church and its most recent commercial use from 2008 was the home of the “Detached” Art Gallery.

“… Built in the Victorian Free Gothic style at the end of the nineteenth century, the former church lends itself to the creation of an artistic space. The high gothic roof trusses with the original dark timber purlins and rafters provide a dramatic contrast to the open space that appears below. Heritage Advisor with Heritage Tasmania, Danielle Pacaud, said the combination of clever design and retention of the features of the original church was impressive. “The space provides an ingenious arrangement of movable walls giving the flexibility the gallery needs, while protecting its heritage fabric,” Ms Pacaud said. An original stained glass window in vibrant blue, yellow, red and green at the rear of the building is highlighted against the white walls of the gallery. The window was the subject of a condition placed by the Heritage Council in the conversion of this church, which owner, Penny Clive, was more than happy to comply with…” [5]

Footnotes:

[1] http://www.utas.edu.au/library/companion_to_tasmanian_history/W/Wapping.htm

[2] The Mercury, Hobart, Tas, Tuesday 25^th November 1884, page 3.

[3] The Mercury, Hobart, Tas, Monday 13^th July 1885, page 3.

[4] Launceston Examiner, Tas, Thursday 15^th October 1885, page 3.

[5] Heritage Tasmania, place ID 2190. Tasmanian Heritage Council Report 2007-2008, page 12.

Note: The Church at 7 Campbell street Hobart was recently sold on the 4th Nov 2019.

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Mar 14 2013

1875: St John the Baptist Church, Ouse, Tasmania.

The foundation stone of St John the Baptist church at Ouse, was laid in 1842 and opened for services in 1843. No newspaper records of the time have been found to corroborate these dates but a stained glass window, erected in the liturgical south wall of the nave in 1943 commemorates the centenary of the church. The text at the base of the window has the following inscription:

“To the glory of God and in commemoration of the centenary of this church of St. John the Baptist 1843 – 1943 Erected by the parishioners”

(The window was made by the Mathieson & Gibson stained glass company of Melbourne and depicts Jesus being Baptised by St John in the river Jordan)

The oldest and most historical stained glass window in the church is the three light liturgical east window behind the altar. The window was created by the Ferguson & Urie stained glass company of North Melbourne and was erected to the memory of Thomas Lloyd Gellibrand circa 1875.

Photos taken 7th October 2010.

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Each of the three lancets in the window contains the unique Ferguson & Urie scrolling ribbon design with a piece of scripture from the the King James Bible.

Two ribbons either side of the apex of the centre light have the text “Ecce Agnus Dei ” (Behold the Lamb of God), also known as another title for Jesus. It appears in the Gospel of John 1:29, where John the Baptist sees Jesus and exclaims, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”

The three pieces of scripture depicted in each of the three lights of the window are:

“BLESSED ARE THEY THAT MOURN FOR THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED”.
(Matthew 5-4)

“LIKE AS A FATHER PITIETH HIS CHILDREN SO THE LORD PITIETH THEM THAT FEAR HIM”.
(Psalms 103-13)

“DELIGHT THOU IN THE LORD AND HE SHALL GIVE THEE THY HEARTS DESIRE”.
(Psalms 37-4)

The Mercury, Hobart, TAS, Thursday 1^st July 1943, page 5

“The centenary of the Church of St John the Baptist, Ouse, was celebrated by a service in the church on Sunday. Miss Bolland was organist. In the unavoidable absence of the rector (Rev L. L. Oldham) the service was taken by the Rev. J. W. Bethune, who preached the sermon and also spoke to the children. The preacher reminded all of their heritage and sacred associations with the church they loved, and urged them to be true to the faith of their fathers. The offerings for a special centenary commemoration exceeded £113. The following extract from “Church News” more than 50 years ago was written by the late Canon Adams, of Hagley, and authenticated by the late Mr. Bethune, of Dunrobin, the late Rev H. W. Adams, and others: “The Ouse Church was built entirely by the parishioners during the incumbency of Dr. Pogson. The land for the church and cemetery, on a gentle rise, in the midst of the township, was given by the late W. A. Bethune, Esq., of Dunrobin. The east window in St. John’s Church, Ouse, is in memory of T. L. Gellibrand, Esq., late of Lleintwardine, Ouse.”

Thomas Lloyd Gellibrand (1820-1874):

Thomas Lloyd Gellibrand, was the eldest son of Joseph Tice Gellibrand (1792-1836), the first Attorney-General of Tasmania (1825) and Isabella Kerby.
(Also see: 22-10-1864: All Saints Anglican Church, South Hobart, Tasmania, Australia).

Thomas was a grazier and landowner around Bothwell and Ouse in Tasmania and a parliamentarian. He married Isabella Brown, on the 1^st of December 1860 at All Saints Anglican Church in South Hobart[1]. He was a member of the House of Assembly in 1856-61[2] and appointed as Captain in the ‘Third Rifles” Southern Tasmanian Volunteers in 1861[3]. He died at his house ‘Vaucluse’ in Macquarie street Hobart on the 9^th November 1874 aged 53[4]. His funeral took place on the 12^th:

“…The remains of the late Mr. T. L. Gellibrand were yesterday morning conveyed on board the steamer Enterprise, which vessel afterwards left for South Arm, where the family vault is situated. The relatives, and a large number of friends of the deceased proceeded by the steamer. Throughout the day the vessels in harbour lowered their flags to half mast, out of respect to the memory of the deceased gentleman.” [5]

His wife Isabella later married Dr. Edward Clayton Ling (1844-1882)[6] in Suffolk in December 1876. She died in Sussex, England, on the 11^th March 1907 aged 67[7].

The Mercury, Hobart, TAS, Wednesday 11^th November 1874, page 2.

“Thomas Lloyd Gellibrand, son of Joseph Tice Gellibrand, Attorney-General of Tasmania, in 1856,(sic:1825[8]) who was removed from office by Governor Arthur on charges made against him by persons who have been since convicted of swindling, robbery of the Government, and murder. Mr. Thomas Gellibrand was born in 1821 and educated at Thompsons Academy in Melville-street. In 1848 Sir H. Dennison placed the young colonist who had commenced farming on his own account in the Hamilton district, in the Commission of the Peace, and here on the banks of the Dee, Mr. Gellibrand formed an extensive sheep farm. In Sept. 1856 he was elected a Member of the first House of Assembly for the district of Cumberland, in which he resided and sat in the House an useful active member till the dissolution of the House in 1861. In I860 Session he saw the necessity of protecting the game of his native country, and brought in the first Bill which became law on the subject and which is still in force. He married a daughter of Mr. Thomas Brown the well-known merchant of the New Wharf, and has several children, the youngest being only a few weeks old. His wife’s brother’s death by accident occurred on tho 5th inst[9]., and whilst mourning the death of a favourite brother, Mrs. Gellibrand has now to mourn the death of a husband. To Mr. Thos. Gellibrand the inhabitants of the Bothwell and Hamilton Districts are indebted for the security of the water supply of the Clyde River, which it is well-known rises in the Lakes Crescent and Sorell and which in l856-7, he took great pains to legislate for. Useful colonists of this type, educated, active, zealous men, always eager to push on the latent resources of the colony are fast fading away. Day after day has the record of the loss of one after another; whilst their places, which should be filled by their sons or relatives, are either vacant, by the emigration of those who should fill them, to other lands, where they are more highly appreciated, and much more highly remunerated. An active magistrate – a good master – a kind father and husband – Mr. Thomas Gellibrand has gone to the fullness of repose.”

One of his sons was Sir John Gellibrand (1872-1945) (Major General Sir John Gellibrand, K.C.B., D.S.O) He was was highly decorated in WW1, promoted to Major General circa 1918, appointed as Chief Commissioner of Police in Victoria in 1920 to 1922, elected to the House of Representatives in 1925 and was a founding member of the organisation now known as ‘Legacy’. He died at his property at Murrindindi in 1945 and is buried in the Yea cemetery in Victoria.

Footnotes:

[1] The Mercury, Monday 3^rd December 1860, page 2.

[2] http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/history/tasparl/gellibrandt15.htm

[3] LINC Tasmania NS187/32/1/3

[4] The Mercury, Hobart, TAS, Thursday 12^th November 1874, page 1.

[5] The Mercury, Hobart, TAS, Friday 13^th November 1874, page 2.

[6] http://www.gellibrand.com/fam00244.html

[7] The Mercury, Hobart, TAS, Saturday 6^th April 1907, page 1.

[8] The Mercury, Hobart, Thursday 12^th November 1874, page 2.

[9] The Mercury, Hobart, TAS, Monday 16^th November 1874, page 2.

Other Sources:

Dr.Bronwyn Hughes, email, 14 Dec 2013

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Feb 19 2013

25-09-1866: St John’s Anglican Church, Launceston, Tasmania.

St John’s Anglican Church in Launceston contains a three-light Ferguson & Urie stained glass window representing the ‘Ascension’.

This window was originally erected in the chancel of St John’s in 1866 and later moved to the nave in the 1930’s, but in its current configuration it is missing the upper portions of the window above the three main lights which are known as the tracery windows.

The figures or emblems that may have been in the missing pieces have been a mystery until recently. A report of the window in September 1866 described the main body of the windows in detail and “…At the top is the figure of a dove…”[1] As luck would have it I found a copy of Ferguson & Urie’s original design for this window in the State Library of Victoria’s collections. In the original design, the tracery above the three main lights contains three quatrefoil shaped windows with the descending dove in the one at the apex and the symbols Alpha and Omega in the ones below. There are only minor differences in the figurative designs in comparison to the entire window that was actually made and these can be seen in the slideshow of photographs.

Interestingly, the bottom of the original design for the window has the date 1864 which, at minimum, is about nineteen months prior to when it was finally erected in St John’s!

Photos taken: 11th October 2011.
(The copy of Ferguson & Urie’s original design for the window is dated 1864).

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Lieutenant George Arthur (1784-1854), Governor of Tasmania, laid the foundation stone of St John’s Anglican Church at Launceston on the 28^th of December 1824[2]. On the 19^th of February 1826, the church was opened[3] for the first time by Archdeacon Thomas Hobbes Scott (1773-1860) assisted by the first incumbent, Rev John Youl (1773-1827).

Governor Arthur had disapproved of the original plans for St John’s and controversially made an executive decision to have it changed:

“…Sir George ARTHUR, without asking the opinion of any professional man, executive or other council, glanced at the plan, saw that a church built upon it would accommodate as large a congregation as the Colonial Cathedral in his Southern Metropolis[4]. He was a man of action – not words. Assuming at once that Launceston would scarcely ever require so large and extent of Church accommodation as the Architect proposed to provide, he struck a red ink pen mark across the plan of the body of the Church, cutting two windows, or more than one third of the entire length off…”[5]

Some of the most significant and controversial changes to the church began in the mid 1860’s. In February of 1866, in the vestry of St John’s, a meeting was held to discuss the erection of a chancel at the east end with plans and specifications by architect Peter Mills. At the same meeting there was also mention of the new stained glass window to be donated by Mr John Cameron Esq that would be erected in this new chancel:

“The beautiful illuminated window to be presented by John Cameron, Esq., on the enlargement of the church, will be placed in the Chancel. We have seen a photograph of this window, which is richly ornamented. The centre piece is the Ascension of our Saviour.”[6]

The chancel didn’t quite go as expected. It was generally understood by the Rev Dr. Browne and the Wardens that the new chancel would be built up to the height of the original church roof, but miscommunication between the church wardens, the contractor (J. W. Lloyd) and the misinterpretation of the architects plans, caused much confusion between the parties[7].

On Wednesday the 15^th August, 1866 John Cameron’s stained glass window arrived from Ferguson & Urie’s workshops in Melbourne aboard the ‘Black Swan’:

The Cornwall Chronicle, Launceston, TAS, Saturday 18th August 1866, page 4.

“The beautiful illustrated window, the munificent gift of the late John Cameron. Esq., arrived here by the Black Swan on Wednesday. The Rev Dr Browne requires the architect’s certificate that the new chancel to St John’s Church is in a fit state to receive this beautiful work of art, and then it can be placed there.”

John Cameron was a staunch supporter and liberal donor to St John’s Church in Launceston. In February 1865 he suffered a serious stroke[8] and although it was reported in the following June that he was recovering[9] he only enjoyed mediocre health for a further year and on the 28^th June 1866 suffered another stroke and died at his home ‘Oakburn’ in Launceston, aged 60 years[10]. He never saw his magnificent stained glass window. His obituary was published three days later:

The Cornwall Chronicle, Launceston, TAS, Saturday 30th June 1866, page 4.

“DEATH OF JOHN CAMERON, Esq.
We sincerely regret to announce the demise of John Cameron, Esq, J.P., an old colonist of high standing in this community. Mr Cameron had been attacked with paralytic and apoplectic fits last year, and for a time his recovery to health was doubtful. He soon became convalescent, however, and has enjoyed tolerable good health since. He drove into town almost daily from his residence, Oakburn, Elphin Road, and a short time back paid a visit to Hobart Town. He was in Launceston on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday last, and said he felt even in better health than usual, but about midnight on Wednesday night he had another fit of apoplexy, and though the usual means were promptly resorted to for his recovery, he sank and died at 10 o’clock on Thursday morning. Mr Cameron amassed a large fortune many years since in this colony by commerce, and since retiring from business he has paid several visits to England. He last returned to this colony some four or five years ago. He was respected and esteemed by all classes for his mild and charitable views and kindly disposition. He was attached to no political sector party; and considered that unanimity amongst the people would tend more to the prosperity of the country than division. Mr Cameron came to this colony about forty years ago at the age of twenty years, and has, therefore, spent nearly two-thirds of his lifetime in Tasmania. He was one of a class of sterling, hard working, successful men who by their energy and perseverance laid the foundations of prosperity in this colony. If the example set by Mr Cameron and other old colonists of his stamp was more closely followed, it would be well for the best interests of Tasmania. Mr Cameron was connected with some of the families of the highest standing in this colony, the present mayor of Hobart Town being his son-in-law, and few men had a wider circle of friends. His removal from amongst them will be felt throughout the colony as a serious loss.”

John Cameron’s funeral was held in St John’s on Tuesday the 3^rd of July 1866, two months before his stained glass window was to be erected in the chancel of the church. In late September the Launceston Examiner reported that the window had been erected:

The Launceston Examiner, Tasmania, Tuesday 25th September 1866, page 2.

“RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE – CHURCH OF ENGLAND”
“The chancel in connection with St. John’s Church, Launceston, has been finished, and a portion of the service has been conducted in it. The Bishop, it is anticipated, will visit the north in a week or two, when the building will be consecrated. Two handsome stained-glass windows have been erected in the chancel. One is the gift of the late John Cameron, Esq., and represents the Ascension. A half figure of our Saviour is exhibited at the bottom of a centre light, and above that is the Ascension with the words beneath “I go to prepare a place for you.” On either side are the eleven Apostles, looking with wonder and adoration to their ascending Lord. At the top is the figure of a dove. The work does infinite credit to Messrs. Ferguson and Urie, of Melbourne, by whom it was designed and executed. The antique glass – which is a late discovery of the glass used by glass painters in the middle ages – has a very rich although subdued tone, and being heavy in substance gives great additional strength to the window. This contrasts favourably with the smaller window, the resurrection, the gift of the Rev. Dr. Browne, chaplain, in memory of the Venerable Archdeacon Hutchins, the first Archdeacon appointed to the diocese. This window is of common glass, by Headsland [sic: ‘Hedgeland’], of London”.

Seven months after the erection of the window it was subjected to vandalism by boys with slingshots:

The Cornwall Chronicle, Launceston, TAS, Wednesday 8th May 1867, page 5.

“The use of the toy catapult has become a serious nuisance in Town. Schoolboys seem to consider that they have a prescriptive right to do damage to the full extent of the power of the catapult. Whether accidentally or on purpose, the beautiful memorial window in the chancel of St. John’s Church, the gift of the late John Cameron, Esq., has been injured in this way, and ladies and children are daily and hourly subjected to annoyance and danger from the juveniles armed with the catapult. The masters of schools have it in their power to check this nuisance by condemning the use of the catapult in the streets; and the police can also do much to out down this new species of entertainment, so dangerous to persons passing through the streets.”

The lower portions of the window show an extensive number of cracks in the small figure of Christ at the bottom of the window, but whether these were a result of the vandalism from more than a century ago is not known.

In September 2015, David Morris, from St John’s, Launceston, provided the following information in regards to the missing three quatrefoils from the window;

“I was reading your article on your website about a window designed and executed by Ferguson & Urie in 1866 for Mr John Cameron’s donation to St John’s Anglican Church in Launceston. In that article you refer to “the missing three quatrefoils depicting the Dove and Apha & Omega” that were part of the original window. I am happily able to report that those “missing” quatrefoils were saved, and are alive and well, and are on display in the same church, St John’s Church in Launceston, in a history display cabinet available to public view, properly labelled. Your article correctly records that these parts did not fit into the clerestory where the rest of the window has been for many years now.” [11]

Other related posts that mention this window:

13-08-1867: James Urie visits Tasmania on Ferguson and Urie business.
07-08-1867: Decorative Art. James Urie sojourning in Tasmania.

Footnotes:

[1] The Launceston Examiner, Tasmania, Tuesday 25th September 1866, page 2.

[2] Hobart Town Gazette and Van Diemen’s Land Advertiser, TAS. Friday 14th January 1825, page 3.

[3] Hobart Town Gazette, TAS, Saturday 25th February 1826, page 2.

[4] In reference to St David’s Cathedral in Hobart.

[5] The Cornwall Chronicle, Launceston, TAS, Wednesday 15th March 1865, page 4.

[6] The Cornwall Chronicle, Launceston, TAS, Wednesday 14th February 1866, page 4.

[7] Launceston Examiner, TAS, Tuesday 29th May 1866, page 3.

[8] The Cornwall Chronicle, Launceston, Saturday 18th February 1865, page 10.

[9] The Cornwall Chronicle, Launceston, TAS, Saturday, 10th June 1865, page 4.

[10] The Cornwall Chronicle, Launceston, TAS, Saturday 30th June 1866, page 4.

[11] David Morris, St John’s, Launceston, Email, 12 Sep 2015.

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Nov 25 2012

02-10-1871: St George’s Church, Battery Point, Hobart, Tasmania

The foundation stone of St George’s Anglican Church was laid by Governor George Arthur[1] on the 19th October 1836 on land at Battery Point, previously known as ‘Kermode’s Hill’ that was purchased from William Kermode[2] for a reported £250.

St George’s has a Georgian facade and three-tiered bell tower which is quite unusual amongst the predominantly Gothic Architecture of other Hobart Churches. The main body of the church was designed by the Government architect John Lee Archer[3] and the later tower and porch by the convict architect James Blackburn[4]. The church was consecrated in 1838[5] by the Bishop, Rev William Grant Broughton[6]. The unusual three tiered bell tower designed by Blackburn is supposedly a copy of the ‘Temple of the Winds[7]’ in Athens.

In late 1871, it was reported that a Ferguson & Urie stained glass window was erected in the chancel of St George’s, but the current chancel window, seen as at 2012, does not resemble anything like other known Ferguson & Urie windows. The obscure description given in the tabloids of the time only described it as “neat and un-ostentatious”. That description could easily apply to the window seen in the chancel now, but such an obscure description could broadly apply to anything.

Photos taken: 13th August 2012.

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On the 4^th February 2012, the Rev John Langloise from St George’s wrote:

“The only record I am aware of is in a booklet on the history of the church which records this: Sanctuary Windows: Obtained from Germany in 1871, and said to be unique. It is of very thin German glass with the colours burnt in. The Greek key design surrounds it, and we remember that St. George is the patron saint of Greece. It is 8½ feet (2.59 metres) across at the bottom, and is now backed with plate glass. Please note that all the windows are of the same shape. The window is still there in its original condition, though the colour seems to me to be painted on rather than burnt in, But I am no expert : -)…”

This throws some confusion into the windows origins. There isn’t any actual evidence to confirm the window as being of “German glass” other than the obscure mention of , “Obtained from Germany in 1871,” in the church history booklet. There is no source reference given. The mention of the windows as being “the same shape” is probably not quite correct either, as the bottom of the window is probably a good 20cm wider than the top and each of the ten panes on the left and right edge are each slightly smaller as they reach the top of the window.

In two separate instances, in October 1871, the Hobart Mercury reported that a window by Ferguson & Urie “has just been placed in the chancel of St. George’s Church, Battery Point”. There maybe three likely possibilities that explain this:

Option 1: Possibly the newspaper reports of the time were incorrect.. This has been known to happen, but it seems highly unlikely in this case considering that they actually got the company name correct. There are also no known “letters to the editor” of the time that refute the claim that the makers were not Ferguson & Urie.
Option two: If this is actually German glass, then it must have been installed many years later to replace the 1871 Ferguson & Urie window. How much later is another matter to consider! Between 1871 and 1942 is a reasonable guide.
Option three: I consider this scenario to be the most likely and in fact I’m absolutely convinced of it!
The original newspaper articles were indeed correct and the window was, as reported, supplied by Ferguson & Urie. I’m sure that the window is a very, very rare example of one of the companies transfers or transparencies on glass[8], of which no others are known to still exist. The transfers were of a similar process to the “Glacier” or “Crystograph” patent window film of which Ferguson & Urie were known to have done en-masse during the 1867 Royal Visit to Melbourne .The likelihood of this is plausible, but its longevity to this point in time is questionable, as any prolonged exposure to light (especially in the case of over a century or more) causes this window film to degrade and ‘craze’ so it looks like thousands of cracks as the window film deteriorates on the surface of the glass. In this case it could be possible as the chancel window is completely internal and doesn’t have any direct exposure to light. The other unusual factor to consider is the complete lack of any lead lines. There are none whatsoever! One of the closeup photos is the best clue as to the windows composition which shows a very distinct trait of a dull greyish film on the glass. An article in 1882 referred to the window as “the mansion staircase window behind the communion table”?

On Christmas day in 1905 an article about the Christmas decorations in St George’s included a short description of the chancel window which describes the designs seen in the window today.

“…The principal decorative feature was the chancel, which, in its simplicity, resembles a tabernacle, across which runs the appropriate line, “The Lord is in this Holy Temple,” the effect being heightened by the lofty oblong window of pale white glass at the back, covered with differently coloured mathematical figures resembling crosses and stars…” [9]

Another unusual aspect of the window is its shape. The article from 1905 describes its shape correctly as an oblong. The frame gives the illusion that the window is a true rectangle but, it is wider at the bottom than at the top, which gives the impression that the window was possibly custom made to fit an opening that may have been the result of a building design flaw, or it was designed that way to give the illusion that it is taller than it really is!

In May 1938[10], the Hobart Mercury included a picture of the chancel of St George’s which, although black and white and poor quality, clearly shows the patterns in the window as seen in 2012.

At the height of WWII, the civil defence regulations placed stringent rules on exposed plate glass windows. Whether these rules applied to the chancel window or not is not known but the church decided to remove the window as a precaution against air raids. In March 1942 the Hobart Mercury included a photo of workmen loading the entire window frame onto a truck with the caption:

“The stained glass windows of St. George’s Church of England are being removed to a safer place as a precaution against possible air raids”[11]

A close inspection of the newspaper picture shows that there are ten panes deep and five wide in the frame of the window, which exactly matches the number of panes seen in the chancel window as at 2012.

The Mercury, Hobart, Monday 2nd October 1871, page 2.

“ST. GEORGE’S, BATTERY POINT. – A neat and un-ostentatious stained glass window manufactured by Messrs. Ferguson, Urie, and Lyon, of Melbourne, has just been placed in the chancel of St. George’s Church, Battery Point. Most of the cost has been collected from the working classes by ladies of the congregation. Yesterday at both morning and evening services collections in aid of the same object were made. …”

The Mercury, Hobart, Tasmania, Saturday 7th October 1871, page 4.

“… Sermons were preached at St. George’s Church, Battery point, on the 21st inst., and collections made to supplement subscriptions (principally) by the working classes for a neat and unostentatious stained glass window, manufactured by Messrs. Ferguson, Urie, and Lyon, of Melbourne, and placed in the chancel of the church…”

The Mercury, Hobart, TAS, Friday 7th April 1882, page 3.

(About St Georges Church Hobart)

“…But the interior, elegant, well-arranged and admirably lighted, leaves little to be desired, except stained “ecclesiastical: glass to replace the “mansion staircase” window behind the communion table”

Foot notes:

[1] Sir George Arthur (1784-1854)

[2] William Kermode (1780-1852)

[3] John Lee Archer (1791-1852)

[4] James Blackburn (1803-1854)

[5] The Hobart Town Courier, Tas, Friday 25th May 1838, page 2.

[6] William Grant Broughton (1788-1853)

[7] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_of_the_Winds

[8] https://fergusonandurie.wordpress.com/category/transparencies-on-glass/

[9] The Mercury, Hobart, Tas, Monday 25th December 1905, page 6.

[10] The Mercury, Hobart, Tas, Saturday 14th May 1938, page 17.

[11] The Mercury, Hobart, Tas, Wednesday 18th March 1942, page 4.

External links: St. Georges Battery Point web site

Short link to this page: http://wp.me/p28nLD-1rR

Aug 23 2012

1869: The Alfred Kennerley Mansion ‘Rouseville’, Davey Street, Hobart, Tasmania.

The two storey sandstone mansion named “Rouseville” was built in Davey Street Hobart in 1869 for Politician and Philanthropist Alfred Kennerley (1810-1897).

The 900 sq meter mansion was built by Tasmania’s famous architect Henry Hunter who also designed Hobart’s Town Hall. Rouseville cost of £3,400 and was named after Kennerley’s wife, Jane Rouse.

The mansion still stands on the corner of Davey and Elboden Streets in South Hobart and contains a large Ferguson & Urie stained glass window in the stairwell and a stained glass transom light above the front entry door. The side lights either side of the door were vandalised many years ago but pieces of the sidelights are still in the possession of the current owner.

Photos taken: 13th August 2012.

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In 1867 Alfred Kennerley had also donated a pair of, two light stained glass windows depicting the apostles ‘St Matthew & St Luke’ and ‘St Mark & St Peter’ to the All Saints Church at the same time as his friend and fellow parliamentarian, John Foster, had commissioned Ferguson & Urie to create a stained glass memorial to his seven year old son who died in December 1866 as a result of a coach accident.

The Mercury, Hobart Tasmania, Wednesday 7^th August 1867, page 2
“…the firm [Ferguson & Urie] are in receipt of commissions from John Foster, Esq, for a memorial window to be placed in All Saints’ church, Hobart Town, in remembrance of the donor’s deceased son, and from A. Kennerley Esq, for other decorated windows for the same church…”

The Foster memorial window and those donated by Alfred Kennerley were all crafted by the Melbourne stained Glass firm Ferguson & Urie and are all located along the north side of All Saints Church in what is known as the “Kennerley Aisle”.

In late 2012 the Ferguson & Urie stained glass windows will be restored by Tasmania’s heritage stained glass conservator, Gavin Merrington. As at August 2012 restoration and conservation work has commenced on the three light west window of the church created in 1864 by the London stained glass firm of Charles Clutterbuck.

The Mercury, Hobart, TAS, Tuesday 16^th November 1897, page 3.

“DEATH OF HON. ALFRED KENNERLEY”

“The Hon. Alfred Kennerley, on of the most philanthropic and high principled men of Hobart, died yesterday at his residence, Elboden-place[i], in his 88^th year, of old age and general decay, accelerated to some extent by the results of a stroke of paralysis having for some years prevented him getting about. He had spent a long and exemplary life in seeking to promote the good of others. A man who used to like to give expression to Tennyson’s lines – “Howe’er it be, it seems to me Tis only noble to be good; Kind hearts are more than coronets, And simple faith than Norman blood.”

He was no ordinary man, and has done an immense amount of good in his time. Mr. Kennerley was an English gentleman of means, who came out in the early days to New South Wales, where he acquired some property and was soon made a magistrate. Finding that the climate there was very trying, he and Mrs. Kennerley removed to Hobart, and permanently took up their residence in this city. Mrs. Kennerley, to whom he was devotedly attached, died 28 ye; ars ago, and shortly afterwards everyone heard with deep regret that Mr. Kennerley had suffered a paralytic stroke. He rallied wonderfully, though the effects never wholly disappeared, and few expected that his life would have been spun out to the great age he has attained. Being a man of means and leisure, upright and shrewd, with a very active mind, his good counsel was soon sought in public affairs. He was elected an alderman of the city early in his sixties, and was Mayor of Hobart in 1862 and 1863, and again in 1871 and 1872. He was also returned to Parliament, and was Premier of the colony from August 4, 1873, to July 20, 1876, his Ministry being composed of: Mr. Chapman, Colonial Secretary, to April 1, 1876, when he resigned; Mr. G. Gilmore, Colonial Secretary, from April 10, 1876; Mr. P. O. Fysh, Colonial Treasurer, to March 12, 1875, then without office; Mr. F. M. Innes, Colonial Treasurer, from March 13, 1875; Mr. Giblin, Attorney-General; Mr. W. Moore, Minister of Lands and Works. The munificent acts of the deceased have been numerous; he has aided very many good objects in a very generous manner. Mr. Kennerley was first and foremost a staunch adherent of the Church of England, and has been a very liberal supporter of All Saints’ Church for many years, giving an annual sum towards the salary of the incumbent, another annual sum towards the offertory, and also contributing towards the improvements of the edifice. The poor of the parish he was also ever mindful of. He purchased the property, and founded and endowed the Boys’ Home at a cost of about £3,000. The deceased gentleman leaves no children, his nearest relatives being his two nephews, Messrs. R. R. and Edward Terry, who resides in New South Wales, but who are well-known to a large circle of friends in Hobart. They are now on their way here to attend their uncle’s funeral.”

External links:

Australian Dictionary of Biography: Alfred Kennerley (1810 – 1897)

Wiki: https://wikivisually.com/wiki/Alfred_Kennerley

Short link to this page: http://wp.me/p28nLD-1dP

Aug 18 2012

13-08-2012: All Saints Anglican Church, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.

All Saint’s Anglican Church at South Hobart is restoring the church and it’s historic stained glass windows. The restoration of the stained glass windows will be carried out by Tasmanias restoration and Conservation expert Gavin Merrington over a period of more than a year. The church contains stained glass by Ferguson & Urie of North Melbourne, William Wailes of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, London and Charles Clutterbuck, London.

ABC News, Monday 13th August 2012. Interviews include, Ray Brown, Gavin Merrington and Duncan Foster.

1. Ray Brown: 3xGreat Grandson of James Ferguson of the Colonial Victorian Stained Glass firm Ferguson & Urie. The church contains three two light stained glass windows by the firm.

2. Gavin Merrington: Tasmania’s own historical restoration and conservation expert with over 30 years experience in stained glass.

3. Duncan Foster: Tasmania’s expert heritage Stone Mason

1868: All Saints Anglican Church, South Hobart, Tasmania.

Short link to this page: http://wp.me/p28nLD-1dM

Aug 15 2012

1879: St Luke’s Church, Bothwell, Tasmania, Australia.

The chancel of St Luke’s Church at Bothwell in Tasmania has a magnificent memorial stained glass window by Ferguson & Urie created circa 1879.

The memorial subject of the window is ‘Hunter Young’ (1823-1878) who died in his sleep at the age of 54 in the historic town of Bothwell in Tasmania on Sunday the 19th of May 1878. Hunter had the unfortunate employment title of “Scab Inspector for Bothwell.” His unenviable task was to inspect and fine any farmer found to be selling diseased sheep from the local properties. By all accounts, despite his job, he was well respected and had many friends who later subscribed for the erection of the window. His gravestone still exists at Bothwell Municipal Cemetery.

Photos taken: 12th August 2012.

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The memorial text on the window reads: “ERECTED IN AFFECTIONATE REMEMBRANCE OF HUNTER YOUNG BY SOME OF HIS NUMEROUS FRIENDS. A.D. 1879”.

Historic newspaper transcriptions:

Launceston Examiner, TAS, Monday 20th May 1878, page 2.

“TASMANIA (From our own correspondent) Bothwell, May 19”.

“Mr. Hunter Young, Scab Inspector for this district, was found dead in his bed this morning. An inquest will be held at noon to-morrow”

The Mercury, Hobart, TAS, Tuesday 21st May 1878, page 1.

FAMILY NOTICES

“YOUNG.- On May 19, at Bothwell, Hunter Young, aged 54”.

Launceston Examiner, Wednesday 22 May 1878, page 3.

“DEATH OF MR. HUNTER YOUNG.- A telegram from Bothwell in yesterday’s Mercury gives additional particulars to those already published by us. It states that Mr Hunter Young, Inspector of Sheep, was found dead in his bed at his lodgings at Bothwell on Sunday morning. Mr Bumford knocked at his door a little before church time, and receiving no answer, he entered his room and found Mr. Young lying apparently asleep, but quite dead.”

Launceston Examiner, TAS, Friday 24th May 1878, page 3.

“BOTHWELL. (From our own Correspondent.)”

“An inquest was held at the Council Chambers on Monday last, before A. Reid, Esq., and a jury of seven, on the body of Hunter Young, late sheep inspector of this district, who died suddenly at his lodgings early on Sunday morning last. The principal witness examined was Mr Edward Bumford, who deposed – I am a householder residing at Bothwell; I knew the deceased Hunter Young, the subject of this enquiry; I have seen his body this morning in presence of the coroner; he lodged at my house; his duties as inspector of sheep called him from home frequently; he returned home on Saturday afternoon last, having been away since Tuesday; he appeared well and more cheerful than usual; he took a hearty supper after he came home, and went out about 5 p.m., but returned about 8 o’clock and asked if his watch had been sent home, but on being told that it had not said, that he must go and enquire about it; after I had been in bed a good while I heard Mr Young return and slam the door to, but I do not know what time it was; as he did not rise at the usual hour on Sunday morning I knocked at his bedroom door about half-past ten, and receiving no answer I opened it and went inside and found deceased apparently asleep but quite dead; I closed the door and reported the circumstance to the Superintendant of Police. The superintendant of Police and Constable Bumford were also examined, Dr Naylor having made a post mortem examination gave evidence as to the cause of death – he described in professional language the result of his examination, the purport of which was that deceased had died from natural causes, namely, cerebral apoplexy. A verdict to that effect was returned accordingly.

The remains of the deceased gentleman were interred at the Bothwell cemetery on Tuesday afternoon, when a large concourse of friends attended the funeral, Mr Young was a very old resident of the Clyde and Ouse districts and was well known and much respected by settlers generally. May 21st.”

The Mercury, Hobart, TAS, Saturday 8th June 1878, page 2s.

“OBITUARY”

“Mr. Hunter Young died suddenly at Bothwell on the 18th may. He was a son of the late Captain Young, formerly of the Ouse, and brother-in-law to William Tarleton, Esquire, the present Police Magistrate of Hobart Town. He held the office of Inspector of Sheep for the Western portion of Tasmania for many years, and not withstanding the disagreeable duties pertaining to his office, which he had occasionally to carry out, it is not known that he ever made and enemy. He will be much missed in the Bothwell district, and, in fact, everywhere else where he was known, which was everywhere on the south side of the island”.

Restoration/Conservation:

This Ferguson & Urie window underwent restoration and conservation work by Tasmania’s stained glass expert, Gavin Merrington of ‘Original Stained Glass’, Hobart. Tasmania, in June 2004.

Short link to this page: http://wp.me/p28nLD-1dg

Jun 25 2012

1868: All Saints Anglican Church, South Hobart, Tasmania.

The Colonial Victorian Stained Glass firm, Ferguson & Urie created the John Henry Foster Memorial Window, and the ‘St Matthew & St Luke’ and ‘St Mark & St Peter’ windows at All Saints Anglican Church, South Hobart, Tasmania.

The vast majority of our historical stained glass memorial windows have an element of tragedy and mystery surrounding them, but over the course of more than a century the story behind who they were memorials to has long faded from memory.

In August 1867, James Urie, a principal partner in the Colonial Victorian Stained Glass firm, Ferguson & Urie, was travelling Tasmania with a portfolio of the companies secular and ecclesiastical stained glass designs. Amongst the many commissions he had received for stained glass windows, was one for Mr John Foster Esq, to be erected as a memorial to his eldest son, John Henry Foster[1].

“DECORATIVE ART– The admirers of art workmanship will be glad to hear that there has for the last couple of weeks been sojourning in Tasmania, a partner of the Victorian firm of Ferguson, Urie, and Lyon, to whom many ecclesiastical and private edifices in this and the neighbouring colonies are indebted for some of the finest specimens of pictorial decoration on glass, of which they have yet become the possessors…”[2]

“…the firm are in receipt of commissions from John Foster, Esq, for a memorial window to be placed in All Saints’ church, Hobart Town, in remembrance of the donor’s deceased son, and from A. Kennerley Esq[3], for other decorated windows for the same church…”

Photos taken 8th October 2010.

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The two light Foster memorial window for All Saints Anglican Church in Hobart was created by Ferguson & Urie and erected circa 1868.

A trefoil above both lights depicts the Lamb of God (Latin ‘Anus Dei”) carrying the Christian banner.

The central figures in each light depict beautifully coloured and intricately designed figures that correspond with verses from Mark 11:22, with the text below: “HAVE FAITH IN GOD” and Luke 18:16 with the text, “SUFFER LITTLE CHILDREN TO COME UNTO ME”.

Above each figure is an angel carrying a ribbon with text from Revelations 14:13 “Blessed are the dead” and “Which die in the lord”

The bottom edge of the window has the memorial text:

“ERECTED BY JOHN FOSTER ESQ. IN MEMORY OF HIS DEAR SON”.

The memorial text on the window doesn’t reveal much information, but the prominent Tasmanian newspapers of the time reveal the sad story of the boys demise.

On the evening of the 3^rd of December 1866 a tragic accident occurred near the Foster family home at 94 Davey street Hobart. In the vicinity of the barrack gates in Davey street, the young John Henry Foster was knocked from his pony by a coach and subsequently run over by its wheels and he died shortly after.

“DISTRESSING AND FATAL ACCIDENT.- One of the most distressing and fatal accidents, which it has for some time past been our lot to record, occurred in Davey-street at about half past four o’clock yesterday afternoon. It appears that Master Foster, son of John Foster, Esq., of Davey-street, a promising little lad between six and seven years of age, was riding on his piebald pony along Barrack-street, being accompanied by Master Hinsby, who was also on horseback. When nearing the corner opposite the barrack gate a cab was observed coming down Davey-street at full speed. Master Hinsby kept his right side, taking a full sweep, and passing the cab. He was closely followed by Master Foster, but the cab took rather a wide sweep in turning the corner and ran right into the poor lad, who was struck it is believed by the pole, knocked off his pony and the wheels of the cab passing over him. He was at once picked up, and under the direction of the Hon. R. Q. Kermode, Esq., and Dr. Benson, who were passing at the time, he was conveyed into a cottage near the residence of Captain Clinch…”[4]

Young John Henry Foster was subsequently dispatched to hospital and Dr Bright was in attendance within half an hour but “…on his arrival the poor little fellow had breathed his last.”[5] Equally tragic was the fact that the boys parents were away in Melbourne at the time and it was left to the Hon R. Q. Kermode to contact them and advise of the tragedy.

“Mr. Kermode has, we believe, written to the bereaved gentleman informing him of his terrible loss.” [6]

An inquest was held in the absence of the boys parents, at the Greyhound Inn on Wednesday the 5^th of December 1866 [7] before A. B. Jones, Esq,. and a jury of seven. The jury foreman was none other than the long time friend of John Foster, the Hon Alfred Kennerley, Esq.

The inquest found that the cab was not speeding as previously reported and that the pole brace attached to the collar of the cabs outside horse had bumped the rear of the boys pony causing the boy to fall off and go under the wheels. No blame was attributed to any anyone for the accident.

“…The jury would not call upon the coroner to go through the evidence, and returned a verdict that deceased had been accidentally killed, requesting that it might be noticed by the press that no blame was attached to John Newhey, the driver of the cab, nor did the jury attribute any blame to Mr. Hinsby, junior. The inquest was then closed.” [8]

The funeral of Master John Henry Foster didn’t occur until his parents had arrived back from Melbourne some twelve days later and was interred in the Foster family vault at Cornelian Bay Cemetery, Hobart, on the 15^th of December 1866 [9].

Over 144 years has passed since the tragic event and the windows creation by Ferguson & Urie. The newspaper article from 1867 also mentioned that Alfred Kennerley had also commissioned Ferguson & Urie for other decorative windows:

“…and from A. Kennerley Esq[10], for other decorated windows for the same church…”

The windows donated by Alfred Kennerly are the ‘St Matthew & St Luke’ and ‘St Mark & St Peter’ windows. None of these windows appear to be memorials as such and are likely to have been erected at the same time as the Foster memorial window.

Biographies:

John Foster (1792-1875)

Alfred Kennerley (1810-1897)

End Notes:

[1] John Henry Foster, born 27th January 1860. (date as per memorial at Cornelian Bay Cemetery, Hobart)

[2] The Mercury, Hobart Tasmania, Wednesday 7th August 1867, page 2.

[3] The Hon. Alfred Kennerley. Alfred Kennerley (1810-1897)

[4] The Mercury, Hobart, Tasmania, Tuesday 4th December 1866, page 2.

[5] ibid

[6] ibid

[7] The Mercury, Hobart, Tasmania, Thursday 6th December 1866, page 3.

[8] Ibid

[9] The Mercury, Hobart, Tasmania, Saturday 15th December 1866, page 1.

[10] The Hon. Alfred Kennerley.

Restoration/Conservation:

The Ferguson & Urie windows are undergoing restoration in 2013 by Gavin Merrington. The Foster memorial is the first in the series to be restored and has been removed as at May 2013.

Short link o this page: https://wp.me/p28nLD-1a3

Apr 22 2012

24-06-1879: St Peter’s Church of England, Hamilton, Tasmania.

The three light chancel window at St Peter’s Church of England at Hamilton in Tasmania was created by the Ferguson & Urie stained glass company of North Melbourne circa 1880 and is a memorial to Ann Jane Wright (c.1835-1879). The original sketches for this window were done by Ferguson & Uries senior glass painter David Relph Drape and are held in the State Library of Victoria’s manuscripts collection. Photos of Drapes sketches and the window are included in the slideshow of images below.

St Peters is one of the oldest existing churches in Australia and even pre-dates the founding of Melbourne in Victoria. The church was designed by Edward Winch, Chief Clerk of the Colonial Architect’s Department, with some modifications by architect John Lee Archer (1791-1852). The cost was stated at £700 minus the tower and the first committee for the construction of the church was appointed with Mr.D.Burn as Secretary. The Government agreed to pay half the cost of the church and construction began in 1834 with J.J.Turnbull as builder. Apparently the walls had to be rebuilt in 1835, just after the laying of the foundation stone by Lieut. Governor Arthur in June, 1834 and the new builder contracted to complete it was W. Sibley. The church was consecrated on May 8th, 1838, by the first and only Bishop of Australia, the Rev Dr. W. G. Broughton, who also consecrated the burial ground. The first confirmation service was held on the same day at 10:30.

Photos were taken 7th October 2010.

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The Reverend George Wright arrived in Van Diemen’s Land on the ‘Fortune’ on the 21^st March 1838, and became the third incumbent of St Peter’s circa 1844. He remained there for 30 years until failing eyesight forced him to retire from active work in 1875, but he still took an active role in many ceremonies alongside the new incumbent, the Rev Charles Andrews, from 1875 until mid 1878. The Rev George Wright’s wife, Anne Jane, died on the 24^th of July 1879 and a minor reference to the triple light east window was mentioned in the Mercury in 1934, “The east window is a handsome “In memoriam” window erected by the parishioners and friends in memory of the wife of the Rev. Geo. Wright”. The memorial text on the window states:

“IN MEMORIAM | ANN JANE WRIGHT | DIED JULY 24th 1879”.

The three scenes depicted in the windows with accompanying chapter and verse are are:

MARK 10-14: (Suffer Little Children to come unto me).
LUKE 22-6: (Judas betrays Jesus).
MATT 26-7: (The woman with the Alabaster box of precious ointment).

The Rev George Wright died on the 23^rd of August 1893 and he and his wife Anne are buried in St Peter’s graveyard which surrounds the church.

An original sketch of this windows design, by Ferguson & Urie’s senior stained glass artist, David Relph Drape, was found in the manuscripts collection at the State Library of Victoria. The style and colours are very typical of Ferguson & Urie’s work from the mid 1870’s to 1880’s. The glass painting also exhibits some signs of degradation of the brown medium used in facial features on the glass which at that time was a typical failing seen in other similar examples of Ferguson & Urie work of the same period. A copy of the original sketch and the window are depicted in the slideshow of photos.

The Mercury, Hobart, Monday 14th June 1937, page 9.

“ST. PETER’S, HAMILTON. Established 100 Years”.

“The 100th anniversary occurs this month of the completion of St. Peter’s Church of England, Hamilton, one of the oldest country churches in Tasmania. According to available records, it was reported in August, 1836, that the church would be completed in two months. This must have referred to the stonework, for a later report stated that the church was completed and inspected in June, 1837, a bill for the interior fittings having been dated June 14. In 1831 a movement was inaugurated with a view to the erection of an Anglican Church at Hamilton. The prime movers appear to have been Messrs. W. A. Bethune, of Dunrobin, William Roadnight, of Hamilton, David Burn, of Rotherwood, and Thomas Marzetti, of Cawood. A building committee was appointed, and in 1833 this included Messrs. W. S. Sharland, and Edward Lord jun., of Lawrenny, and other well-known pioneers. The foundation stone of the building was placed in position on June 26, 1834, by the then Lieutenant-Governor of Tasmania (Col. George Arthur), and the church was completed in 1837. The first rector was the Rev. M. J. Mayers, who came out from England with the first Archdeacon, the Venerable William Hutchins, in the Fairlie, which arrived at Hobart on January 6, 1837. Another passenger on the ship was Sir John Franklin, the new Lieutenant-Governor of Tasmania. St Peter’s Church was consecrated on May 8, 1838, by the Rt. Rev. Dr. W. G. Broughton, the first Bishop of Australia.

The Mercury, Hobart, Tasmania, Friday 29^th June 1934, page 6.

“[…] The east window is a handsome “In memoriam” window erected by the parishioners and friends in memory of the wife of the Rev. Geo. Wright […]

The Mercury, Hobart, Tasmania, Wednesday 31^st March 1875, page 2.

[In reference to Bishop Davies address to the Synod]:

“… I have ordained deacon, Mr. C. Andrew, who had previously worked in that diocese as a lay reader. He has undertaken the temporary charge of Hamilton, in order to relieve the Rev. George Wright, who, after many years of valuable service, has been compelled, I regret to say, through a physical infirmity, to abandon his duties for a season entirely…”

The Mercury, Hobart, Tasmania, Saturday 26^th July 1879, page 1.

“WRIGHT- On July 24, at Hamilton, in her 44^th year, Anne Jane, wife of Rev. George Wright, for thirty years incumbent of the parish. Friends are informed that the burial will take place on MONDAY NEXT, at 2 o’clock p.m.”

Launceston Examiner, Tasmania, Thursday 24^th August 1893.

“DEATH OF THE REV. GEORGE WRIGHT. (BY TELEGRAPH)

WESTBURY, Wednesday, The Rev. George Wright, colonial chaplain, and former incumbent of Hamilton for many years, a very old and highly esteemed and Christian minister of the Anglican Church, passed away peacefully at his lodgings, Westbury, about midnight last night. His remains will be removed to Hamilton for interment, where he laboured so long in the service of his Master.”

External links:

Biography: Archer, John Lee (1791–1852)

The history of St. Peter’s Church, Hamilton, Tas., 1834 to 1934. by William George Brown.

Apr 1 2012

14-11-1885: Wesleyan Methodist Church, Ross, Tasmania.

The Mercury, Hobart, TAS, Saturday 14^th November 1885, page 1s.

“ERECTIONS.- A church at Ross, in the Campbell Town circuit, which has been in process of erection for some time, has been finished, and may now be reported. It is a substantial structure of freestone, built in Gothic style of architecture, cruciform in shape, with gable spire. Two of the gables will contain handsome memorial windows of stained glass, one presented by Messrs. Geo. And Thos Parramore, and the other by Horton College. It occupies a commanding site, and is an ornament o the neighbourhood. The architect is Mr Percy Oakden…”

Launceston Examiner, Tasmania, Friday 1st January 1886, page 2.

“On Nov. 23 a new Wesleyan Church was opened at Ross. It is built of freestone, and cost £4241, and contains two stained glass windows, one presented by the old students of Horton College, and the other by the family of the late Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Parramore.”

Both triple light windows were created by Ferguson & Urie of Melbourne.

Photos taken 6th of October 2010.

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The text and definitions of the Horton College window are as follows:

Cinqfoil light (above the three lancets):

PERSEVERANTA PALMAM OBTINE BIT

Corrected to: “Perseverantia Palman Obtinebit”. This translates to“Perseverance yields the prize.”

For many years prior to this the school motto was “Nil sine magno labore” (Nothing without great labour)

Left light:

SAMUEL PROPHETTA

PUER SAMUEL MINISTRABAT DOMINO CORAM HELI. 1.SAM.3.
(1 Samuel 3-1, “puer autem Samuhel ministrabat Domino coram Heli et sermo Domini erat pretiosus in diebus illis non erat visio manifesta” – “And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision”)

Centre light:

INVENERUNT ILLUM IN TEMPLO LUCII46
(Luke 2-46 “et factum est post triduum invenerunt illum in templo sedentem in medio doctorum audientem illos et interrogantem” – “And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions”.)

THIS WINDOW WAS PLACED HERE BY A NUMBER OF OLD STUDENTS OF HORTON COLLEGE AS A MEMORIAL OF THEIR CONNEXION WITH THAT SCHOOL

MDCCCLXXXIV (1884)

Right light:

TIMOTHEUS EPISCOPUS

AB INFANTIA NOSTI SACRAS LITTERAS II. TIMOTH
(2 Timothy 3-15 “et quia ab infantia sacras litteras nosti quae te possint instruere ad salutem per fidem quae est in Christo Iesu” – “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus”.)

A collection of articles and history can be found here on my Evernote account about the historical Horton College (1852-1920)

The three light Parramore window text:

Left light:

BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT FEARETH THE LORD. PS EX??
(Psalm 112-1: Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments).

Centre light:

IN LOVING MEMORY OF THOMAS & FRANCES PARRAMORE BY THEIR THREE CHILDREN

Text in the scroll: I AM HE THAT LIVETH – I WAS DEAD & BEHOLD I AM – ALIVE FOR EVER MORE
(Revelation 1-18: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death).

Right Light:

A WOMAN THAT FEARETH THE LORD SHE SHALL BE PRAISED PROV? XXXI
(Proverbs 31-30: Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised)

External links:

Obituary: Thomas Parramore (1840-1913)

Short link to this page: https://wp.me/p28nLD-CJ

Apr 1 2012

20-10-1885: Christ Church, Frederick St, Launceston, Tasmania.

The Launceston City Baptist Church (former Prince’s Square Congregational and Christ Church Congregational Church) 11 Frederick Street, Launceston.

Launceston Examiner, Tasmania, Tuesday 20th October 1885, page 3.

“OPENING OF CHRIST CHURCH.”

“A handsome stained glass memorial window has been placed on the eastern side of the church near the north end, by Mr. C. S. Button, of Scottsdale, Mrs. Calvert, of Hobart, and Miss Helen Button, the present organist, in memory of their father, Mr. W. S. Button (first Mayor of Launceston), and their mother. The window was obtained from the firm of Messrs. Ferguson and Urie, Collins-street, Melbourne.”

Photos by Gavin Merrington taken 23rd June 2012.

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William Stammers Button (1795-1876) was born in Nayland, Suffolk, England. He arrived in Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) with his brother Thomas and other family members in 1833 aboard the ship “Forth,”[1] and initially starting business as a brewer in partnership with his brother-in-law, Jonathan Stammers Waddell, at Norfolk Plains (later known as Longford), and then at Launceston as “Button & Waddell”[2].

On New Years day in 1853, under much controversy and accusations of collusive fraud, the first elections for Aldermen for the town of Launceston were conducted[3]. Seven men were elected, one of whom was William Stammers Button (as well as his brother Thomas). Prior to the Aldermen retiring to elect the position of Mayor, each took the stand to address the crowd;

“William Williams, alias William Stammers Button advanced amidst a tornado of yells, groans, and hisses, and from what we could hear, we understood him to say – Gentlemen, I shall attend to my duties as well as I can. The public good I shall always endeavour to keep in view, and I will maintain it. The interests of the working man shall occupy my especial attention, and I will do all in my power to find employment – remunerative employment – for the free poor of this town. Gentlemen, I heartily thank you for the honor you have done me. (A voice – ‘much obliged to you – well done ali-ass Mr. Williams,’)” followed by groans and hisses.”

“…The successful candidates then retired to one of the apartments at the back of the court house to elect the mayor, when after the absence of about half an hour, the Sheriff, to the astonishment of every one present, declared William Williams, alias WILLIAM STAMMERS BUTTON, (brewer) first mayor of Launceston.”[4]

The reference to William Stammers Button as being William Williams is shrouded in controversy. Ten years earlier, in 1843, Button successfully won a law suit against a William Lushington Goodwin for “printing and publishing a malicious libel” against him in the Cornwall Chronicle[5], to which Goodwin was convicted and fined. After the election in 1853, further publications appeared to cast aspersions as his origins as the unknown William Williams[6].

William Stammers Button held the position of the Mayor of Launceston for four consecutive years and was universally admired for his efforts in the advancement of Launceston. He held many other public and private positions and in 1856 was elected to represent the Tamar district in the Legislative Council[7]. He was a liberal donor to all deserving institutions, and a served as a deacon of the Congregational church for over 40 years[8].

William Stammers Button died on the 17^th September 1876 and was buried in the Mulgrave Square Cemetery in Charles street Launceston. The cemetery was closed for further interments in 1925[9].

In October 1885[10], the surviving children of William Stammers Button erected a stained glass window to his and his wife Marianne’s memory, in the City Baptist Church (former Christ Church Congregational) in Frederick Street, Launceston.

The window was crafted by the Colonial Victorian stained glass firm Ferguson & Urie of Melbourne.

The Mercury, Hobart, Tasmania, Wednesday 21st October 1885, page 3

“…On each side of the organ alcove there are round openings in the end wall, filled with geometrical designs on stained glass. There is also a stained glass window with a tablet, marked, “In loving memory of William Stammers Button, M.L.C, for nearly 40 years deacon of this church, also the first Mayor of Launceston, and Marianne, his wife, this window is dedicated.” The window, which bears the inscriptions on stained glass, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord,” and “Honour thy father and thy mother,” has been erected by Mr. C. S. Button, of Scottsdale, Mrs. Calvert, of Hobart, and Miss Helen Button, the organist of the church, the children of the deceased deacon.…”

The Mercury, Hobart, Saturday 26^th January 1907, page 8.

“…There are some interesting, and indeed historic, memorials in Christ Church. A marble tablet perpetuates the memory of Mr. West, the historian of Tasmania, and a stained-glass window is a memorial of Mr. William Stammers Button, the first Mayor of Launceston…”

“…The window to the memory of the first Mayor bears this inscription:- “In loving memory of William Stammers Button, M.L.C., for nearly 40 years deacon of this church, also the first mayor of Launceston, and Marianne, his wife, this window is dedicated.” There is also a stained-glass window to the memory of another mayor of Launceston, Mr. Landon Fairthorne, who died in 1890…”

The Mercury, Hobart, TAS, Saturday 7^th March 1953, page 20.

“MR. WILLIAM STAMMERS BUTTON, who was Launceston’s first mayor, and held office from 1853 to 1856. Mr. Button was associated with the beginnings of the Princes Square Independent Church, now Christ Church, where a memorial window honours his name.”

The Mercury, Hobart, TAS, Saturday 7th March 1953, page 20.

Launceston Examiner, Tasmania, Tuesday 19th September 1876, page 2.

“THE LATE MR W.S. BUTTON. (1876, September 19). Launceston

One more old colonist has finished his course. Mr. W. Button died peacefully at his residence, St. John-street, at a quarter-past eight on Sunday morning, aged 80 years, having lived in Tasmania 43 years. He was born at Nayland, in Suffolk, in the year 1795, where his early boyhood was spent, removing to Sudbury, in the same county, while yet young, in which place he was associated in business with his uncle, in whose service he frequently travelled to various parts of England, visiting also France and Flanders, when travelling by land and sea was attended by numerous perils. He was wont to recount to some of his friends the incidents of his wintry voyages and long journeys by coach, contrasting them with modern methods of conveyance. From his retentive memory he would sometimes recall the state of England in his youthful days during the awful struggles of the Peninsular war, and describe with the graphic power of a keen observer those days of dear bread, iron rule, and wearing anxiety. On his marriage he removed to Long Melford, a place historically famous like the other towns where he had lived. While there, he took an active part in politics, working hard on the liberal side, and especially seeking with others the repeal of “The Test and Corporation Acts,” which was happily accomplished in the year 1828. In 1833 he came to this colony in the ship Forth, bound to Circular Head and Launceston. He was accompanied by his brother Mr Thomas Button, Mr J. S. Waddell, and other members of his family. He first took up his residence at Norfolk Plains, removing to Launceston for business purposes. During his 40 years residence in Launceston he has been one of our most prominent and useful citizens. He was from the beginning one of the chief members of the Anti-Transportation League, giving cheerfully of his time and money. He was among the earliest promoters of the Cornwall Insurance Company in 1842, one of its first Directors, for many years Chairman of the Company, and to the last was warmly devoted to its interests. When Launceston was declared a municipality he was elected a member of the first Council and its first Mayor on January 1st, 1853. He filled the office by successive elections for four years, and during his mayoralty the chief portion of the work was done in supplying the town with water – a work that took up much of his time, yet by some strange oversight no notice is taken of his efforts on the commemorative fountain in Prince’s Square or on the pillar at St. Patrick’s River. Mr Button was appointed a justice of the peace in 1855, and has rendered good service in that capacity, his clear judicial mind eminently fitting him for the post. In October, 1856, he was elected a member of the Legislative Council for Tamar, and served in that capacity for six years. In the Council he was looked upon as a valuable member. His unobtrusive manners, wide experience, and extensive knowledge made him a man of power; he was firm and fearless – an independent member, one courteous and true. With the Launceston and Western Railway Mr Button was connected from the very beginning. Anxious to see the colony advance he gave labour and money to aid in improving our means of transit. For a while he was chairman of the Railway Company, till increasing years compelled him to retire. As one of the early shareholders of the Gas Company and a Director from its formation until his death, he took great interest in its working, and read carefully to qualify himself for his duties. Mr Button was also one of the chief agents in establishing the Launceston Examiner, though he never took an active part in the management; and was also one of the founders of the Launceston Mechanics’ Institute, of which he was subsequently President. It may be safely said that few men have ever striven more zealously and unselfishly than Mr Button did to advance the interests of our town, district, and colony. It cannot be expected that all his public actions will have secured the approval of all men, but there are none who will not admit that his integrity of purpose, his resolute method of work, his general wisdom, and his hearty sympathy with all onwards movements, were beyond question. Those who knew Mr Button best were most aware that he was distinguished for his religious zeal: he was a man who feared God, and sought to serve his day and generation as one who must give account at last. No notice of his life amongst us, even in a public newspaper like this, would be complete that passed over this aspect of his life. As a friend and fellow-worker of the late Rev. J. West, he greatly aided in the building and support of the Prince’s Square Independent Church. From the formation of the congregation until within a recent period he had served the church faithfully as Treasurer, for a short time was Superintendent of the Sunday school, and at his death was senior deacon. He also for many years acted as Treasurer of the Northern Branch of the Congregational Home Mission, and had taken an active interest in the working of the mission on the N.W. Coast. In his death the Bible Society loses an attached friend. As a working member of it’s local committee, and subsequently President for years, until failing health compelled him to resign, he gave one of the many proofs of the catholic nature of his religious principles and life. We have been given to understand that not withstanding the conservatism natural to old age, Mr Button had very considerable acquaintance and sympathy with many liberal forms of modern thought on religious matters. Mr Button’s family life is not a theme to dwell upon in a newspaper, but it may be mentioned that a few months ago his golden wedding was appropriately honored by a few friends, on which occasion he ascribed much of his public usefulness to his happy home life. He has left many sincere friends, who will cherish his memory to the very last. His interest in al things relating to colonial life was as fresh and strong as in his days of robust strength and willing work.

Though old, he still retained
His manly sense and energy of mind;
Virtuous and wise he was, but not severe,
He still remembered that once he was young.

Most of places of business wee partially closed yesterday as a mark of respect for the deceased gentleman, and the Municipal Council adjourned immediately after meeting for the same reason. The funeral will take place this afternoon, friends assembling at Prince’s Square Congregational Church at half-past three”.

The Mercury, Hobart, TAS, Tuesday 19^th September 1876, page 3.

“OUR LAUNCESTON LETTER.
[From our own correspondent.]
LAUNCESTON, Monday morning.

“I regret to have to record the death, at about a quarter past eight o’clock on Sunday morning, at his residence St. John-street, of Mr. William Stammers Button, at the ripe age of 81 years. Mr. Button is a very old colonist, having arrived in the colony in 1832. He first settled in Longford, where he entered into partnership with a brother-in=law, the late Mr. William Waddell, in the establishment of a brewery on that township. After carrying on the business for some three years at Longford the firm removed to Launceston, taking the premises then known as Barnes’ brewery, opposite the gaol, and in this business Mr. Button continued til 1853. Up to this time he had been very active in taking part in all matters calculated to promote the advancement of the town, and initiating schemes of public utility. When municipal institutions were established in 1853, Mr. Button was one of the first members, and the first mayor elected. The election of mayor at that time was for two years, and Mr. Button was elected twice in succession, holding the office for four years. He then retired from the municipal council. In Oct., 1856 he was elected a representative of the Tamar in the Legislative Council, and filled that position til 1862. He had always been considered an industrious and energetic patron of Agricultural and Horticultural pursuits, and a liberal contributor to any institution calculated to improve the condition of his fellow townspeople. In public life he has taken a very active part. He was one of the founders of the Cornwall Insurance Company established in 1842, and has been connected with it ever since having occupied the position of chairman of directors till within a short time of his death. He was also one of the founders of the Mechanics’ Institute, established in the same year, and has ever since evinced a lively interest in its rise and progress. In the initiatory stages of the agitation for a water supply to the town he took a prominent part, and it was mainly through his instrumentality that the great boon of a waterworks was obtained. In the establishment of the Launceston Steam Navigation Company, which is now incorporated in the Tasmanian Steam Navigation Company, and in the support given to the Launceston Gas Company, of which he was for many years a director, he contributed greatly to their success. In all religious and philanthropic efforts Mr. Button was always to the fore, and amongst other positions he held for some time was that of the President of the Bible Society. He was connected with the Congregational denomination, and attended the Prince’s Square Church, of which the Rev. Wm. Law is the pastor. To the erection of this handsome and commodious edifice the deceased gentleman contributed largely, and continued his liberality up to the time of his death. He was generally esteemed by the townspeople as an honourable and upright man, and a steadfast friend, and his decease is universally regretted. Although the deceased gentleman’s health and strength had been visibly declining some time, it was not till a few days ago that any serious consequences were anticipated by his friends. He attended divine service on Sunday the 10^th inst., and was working in his garden on Thursday last. On Thursday night, however, serious symptoms manifested themselves, and he then sank rapidly up to the time of his death, which took place on Sunday morning. The pastor of Prince’s Square Church, the Rev. Wm. Law, in his morning service, both in his prayer and sermon, alluded in feeling terms to the long connection of Mr. Button with the church, and his many excellent qualities, and then announced that the funeral service would take place on Tuesday afternoon, at three o’clock, at the church; and that on the following Sunday evening he should preach a memorial sermon.”

The Mercury, Hobart, TAS, Thursday 21^st September 1876, page 3.

“The funeral of Mr. William Stammers Button left his late residence, St. John-street, at 25 minutes past 3 this afternoon, arriving at the Prince’s Square Congregational Church about half-past 3. During the passing of the funeral cortege to the church, the bell of St. Andrew’s Church was tolled. The funeral service was conducted by the Rev. J. Lindsay and the Rev. C. Price, after which the Rev. W. Law delivered a funeral oration in which he commented at length on the many estimable qualities of the deceased, and his long and useful career. The funeral was largely attended, and after leaving the church the procession was formed in the following order:- The Revs. W. Law, J. Lindsay, and C. Price; next Drs. Miller and Hardy; then the hearse with the following gentlemen acting as pall bearers:- Messrs. E. L. Diteham, H. Dowling, E. Dickens, J. Kemp, F.L. Fyah and J. Steer, senr. Alderman C. S. Button, son of the deceased gentleman, followed, and with him the other near relations and connections of the deceased. The Mayor, the Town Clerk, the members of the corporation and those of eh Maritime board cam next, and then followed a long procession, there being some 200 persons present. The remains were conveyed to their last resting place the cemetery in Mulgrave Square.”

The Cornwall Chronicle, Launceston, TAS, Monday 2^nd October 1876, page 4.

“THE LATE MR. W. S. BUTTON

Mr. William Stammers Button died at his residence, St. John street, Launceston, on the morning of Sunday, 17^th September, a little after eight o’clock. His illness had been a very short one. He was about as usual on the 13^th September, was taken unwell in the course of the evening, gradually sank into a comatose state, and passed quietly away. Mr. Button came to the colony 43 years ago, and after a short residence at Norfolk Plains came to Launceston, where he won for himself a large measure of general respect and confidence. His active public life has brought him into connection with most local objects. As the first mayor of Launceston from 1^st January, 1853, to 31^st December, 1857, Mr Button had a great amount of work to perform, and during his mayoralty the chief difficulties connected with the water supply of Launceston overcome. He was for some years a member of the Legislative Council of this Colony, in which capacity his services were highly valued. Mr Button was one of the promoters of the Launceston and Western Railway, for a long time chairman of the company, and was ever ready to aid in all public works. His devotion to the interests of the Cornwall Insurance Company was well known; as its chairman for many years, he was one of he most trusted counsellors. He was a director of the Launceston gas Company. We believe that few men amongst us were more zealous and useful in public life than the subject of our notice. All our local societies of a philanthropic and religious kind shared in his gifts and labors [sic]. Mr Button was also well known in association with Prince’s Square Independent Church, of which he had been a member and officer from its formation til the time of his death, and was always a liberal supporter of its funds. He was a man who early in life had received a good education, was gifted with considerable natural powers, and had always been a great reader. Mixed up as Mr Button had been in many questions in which considerable diversity of opinion prevailed, it cannot be expected that he always in his public life pleased everyone; but he was recognised throughout his long career as a man whose wish was to do good, and one who had fully identified himself with the land of his adoption. In private life Mr Button was an intelligent companion – a kind and faithful friend. He lived to reach the age of eighty years.”

The Mercury, Hobart, TAS, Tuesday 26^th September 1876, page 3.

“At the Prince’s Square Congregational Church on Sunday evening, the Rev. Wm. Law delivered a memorial sermon on the death of the late Mr. William Stammers Button, choosing his text from Acts, xiii., 36. “For David after he had served his own generation by the will of God fell on sleep.” Both the body of the church and the galleries were filled. The rev. gentleman made the text the basis of an appropriate and impressive sermon, and concluded with an enumeration of the many acts of philanthropic and Christian usefulness, which had marked the long and honoured life of their departed townsman.”

Launceston Examiner, TAS, Saturday 14^th January 1843, page 7.

“SUPREME COURT, CRIMINAL SITTINGS.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 12.
The Queen, at the instance of W. S. Button, v. W. L. Goodwin, for printing and publishing a malicious libel…”

On the 16^th of April, William Lushington Goodwin published in the Cornwall Chronicle the following malicious libel against William Stammers Button:-

“In all transactions let us honest be,
And honour give to strict integrity,
Let bolters by their creditors be scouted,
And their professions afterwards be doubted;
In whatsoever clime they take their fight
Let them be doomed to everlasting night,
And honest men with them all business shun,
Fearful they might again up stick and run!
For Button may once more design,
For the same reason choose to cross the line,
Which once he crossed. God knows the reason –
Whether for highway robbery or treason.
But true it is, as Williams he did fly
He’s Button now – though folks say ‘tis a lie’;
Some day the truth will out, if not too late.
And that the bolter will not ‘scape his fate’;
Perhaps the hulks – perhaps a halter –
Exhibited to public gaze – this malster,
Newspaper-man, hypocrite and bolter.”

Goodwin was found guilty of the libelous slander against Button and ordered to pay a fine to the Queen of £30 and be imprisoned until it was paid. He paid it immediately!

Footnotes:

[1] Launceston Examiner, Tasmania, Tuesday 19th September 1876, page 2.

[2] Launceston Examiner, TAS, Saturday 9^th April 1853, page 3.

[3] The Cornwall Chronicle, Launceston, TAS, Wednesday 5^th January 1853, page 4.

[4] The Cornwall Chronicle, Launceston, TAS, Wednesday 5 © Copyrightth January 1853, page 4.

[5] Launceston Examiner, TAS, Saturday 14^th January 1843, page 7.

[6] The Cornwall Chronicle, Launceston, TAS, Wednesday 5^th January 1853, page 4.

[7] Colonial Times, Hobart, TAS, Thursday 16^th October 1856, page 3.

[8] The Mercury, Hobart, Tasmania, Wednesday 21st October 1885, page 3

[9] Examiner, Launceston TAS, Tuesday 29^th September 1925, page 4.

[10] Launceston Examiner, Tasmania, Tuesday 20th October 1885, page 3.

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Mar 25 2012

04-03-1882: St Matthew’s Church, New Norfolk, Tasmania.

The Anglican Church of St Matthew is in Bathurst Street New Norfolk, opposite Arthur Square. It was built in 1823 and is the oldest church in Tasmania. The church was consecrated in 1828 by Archdeacon Scott from Sydney and has been altered a number of times since. In 1833 extensive additions transformed it significantly. The tower was added in 1870 (no longer exists) and in 1894,the chancel was added and the windows, roof and transepts also altered. All that remains of the original church are the walls, floor of the nave, and part of the western transept.

The church contains many historical stained glass windows, among which are the ‘Moore’ and ‘Sharland’ stained glass windows crafted by Ferguson & Urie of North Melbourne.

Photos taken 7th October 2010:

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The Mercury Hobart, Tasmania, Saturday 4th March 1882, page 3.

“… The church is without pretentions to good looks – it is neither imposing nor elegant. Yet with all its plainness it is a building endeared to many by sacred associations; and also contains features of interest to the visitor. Over the communion table is a stained glass window, representing our lord’s interview with the two disciples at Emmaus, and erected by Mr. W. S. Sharland, in memory of his first wife. Another stained glass window, placed at the back of the font, and representing the baptism of Christ in the River Jordan, was presented by the late Dr. Moore and his son, to commemorate their escape from shipwreck on the occasion of the loss of the s.s. City of Launceston in Hobson’s Bay…”

The Dr. Moore window:

On the evening of 20^th November 1865 the ‘SS City of Launceston’ departed Launceston and within two hours of departure it had collided with the SS Penola from Adelaide in Hobson’s Bay. All passengers and crew were rescued by the severely damaged Penola before the Launceston sank.

“…One cabin passenger, Dr. Moore, got his portmanteau, containing £100 in money, into the boat, but it fell overboard [1] …”

It was thought that the SS City of Launceston could be raised and tenders were called for the work however this never eventuated. Although there were many newspaper reports in 1865 that appeared to describe the exact location of where the ship sank, the Maritime Archaeologists Association of Victoria only found the intact wreck in 1980.

Dr. John Anthony Moore died on the 6^th of July 1878 at New Norfolk aged 62[2].

The text on the Moore memorial window reads:

“S. Mark 1:9” “ERECTED BY J. A. MOORE, SENr & JUNr, TO COMMEMORATE A DELIVERANCE FROM SHIPWRECK, NOVr 19th, 1865”.

The window depicts St. John the Baptist, Babtising Christ in the river Jordan.

The Sharland window:

The text on the Sharland memorial window reads:

“TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN MEMORY OF FRANCES SARAH WIFE OF WILLIAM STANLEY SHARLAND WHO DIED ON THE VIIIth DAY OF MARCH IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD MDCCLIX” (8th March 1859).

Although the biblical scene the window represents is not written anywhere on the window, Janice Ball, from New Zealand, has identified it (07 Apr 2012) as “Emmaus” (Luke 25: 13-37) where Christ is seen breaking bread with two disciples who were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus .

Wikipedia – “The two disciples have heard the tomb of Jesus was found empty earlier that day. They are discussing the events of the past few days when a stranger asks them what they are discussing. “Their eyes were kept from recognizing him.” He soon rebukes them for their unbelief and gives them a Bible study on prophecies about the Messiah. On reaching Emmaus, they ask the stranger to join them for the evening meal. When he breaks the bread “their eyes were opened” and they recognize him as the resurrected Jesus. Jesus immediately vanishes”.

The top third of the window has the symbol letters “IHS”. The centre depicts three men with Christ in the middle with a disciple on either side and Christ is breaking bread. The lower has a rather unusual depiction of the Hexagram or Star of David.

27-12-1881: St Paul’s Anglican Church, Launceston, Tasmania.

In 1881 a Ferguson & Urie three light stained glass window depicting the “Resurrection and the life, Good Shepherd, and Light of the world” was supposed to have been erected in the chancel of St Paul’s, Launceston and unveiled on Christmas day 1881. Unfortunately the company couldn’t complete the window in time and requested an extension.

By April 1882 the three light chancel window was in place and at the same time two other single light windows by Ferguson & Urie, depicting St Peter and St Paul, were awaiting arrival to be subsequently placed either side of the chancel.

The church was demolished circa 1875 to make way for the Launceston Hospital.

The Ferguson & Urie window and others were relocated and now appear in St Paul’s Chapel by the Sea at Low Head.

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….”

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 record for 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”.

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Mar 11 2012

06-01-1876: Holy Trinity (Greek Orthodox), Hobart, Tasmania.

The Mercury Hobart, Tasmania, Thursday 6^th January 1876, page 2.
The Mercury Hobart, Tasmania, Monday 24^th January 1876, page 2s.

“MEMORIAL WINDOW – A beautiful and richly coloured window (says the Church News) has lately been placed in Holy Trinity Church, Hobart Town, by a large number of the parishioners and friends of the Rev. Canon Davenport as a memorial of his eldest son. It is the work of Messrs. Ferguson and Urie, Melbourne, and the chief design is a Cross with the words, “Thou art my hope, O God. Jesu, Mercy”. The window also bears the following inscription:- “WALTER CHARLES DAVENPORT. Died 31^st March, 1875. Aged 22 years. A tribute from Friends”. This mark of sympathy is deeply valued by Cannon Davenport and his family.”

Holy Trinity was designed in the Gothic Style by the convict architect James Blackburn. The Governor, Sir John Franklin, laid the foundation stone in October 1841 and the church was consecrated on the 27th December 1849.

Despite many attempts by the Anglican diocese to retain the church, it was found uneconomical to pay the four million ongoing repair bill and it was eventually decided to sell it to the Greek Orthodox Church in 2009.

Apart from the Davenport memorial window, there are two other Ferguson & Urie windows in the church. The three windows are:

1. The Davenport memorial window has a blue cross with IHS above, floral and geometric designs with text : “THOU ART MY HOPE O GOD, JESU MERCY”, “WALTER CHARLES DAVENPORT. DIED 31st MARCH 1875 AGED 22 YEARS. A TRIBUTE FROM FRIENDS.”

2. Christ carrying the cross with text: “THE LORD HATH LAID ON HIM THE INIQUITY OF US ALL – ISAIAH 53 VER 6”.

3. A depiction of the Suffer little Children with the text, “OF SUCH IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN”. The memorial text reads: “TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN MEMORY OF SARAH NOWELL , DIED 29th NOV 1880”

All three windows, with closeup detail, are depicted in the slideshow:

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External links:

Website: Holy Trinity Hobart

Website: Greek Orthodox Hobart

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Mar 9 2012

22-05-1874: Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Westbury, Tasmania

The Mercury, Hobart, Tasmania, Friday 22^nd May 1874, page 2.

“OPENING CEREMONIES AT THE CHURCH OF HOLY TRINITY, WESTBURY”

“The Nave is lighted by a magnificent Oriel window in the centre which is a representation of the Divine Lord, surrounded by a representation of the Pelican in the wilderness, the cross and Heart, the cross with the hammer and nails, the cross with the circle of thorns, with I.N.R.I; a representation of the undivided garment of Christ, the lamp of faith, and the lamb. This window was executed by Messrs Ferguson & Urie. It was the gift of Daniel Burke Esq the Warden of Westbury […]”.

“[…] Two stained glass windows with two lights being St Patrick and St Bridget and the other, The Annunciation – a gift from Mrs William Smith of Westbury and the Rev W.J Dunn vicar general. These windows were executed by Ferguson & Urie.[…]”

Photos taken 11th October 2010.

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See post 21-05-1874 for additional article about the Westbury windows.

21-05-1874 > 22-05-1874

Mar 9 2012

21-05-1874: Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Westbury, Tasmania.

Launceston Examiner, Tasmania, Thursday 21st May 1874, page 3.

“CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY, WESTBURY”.

“OPENING CEREMONIES. WEDNESDAY, MAY 20”.

“…The east end window is the gift of Mr John barber and family; it represents the nativity, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection, with artistically enriched borders; the colors are exquisitely beautiful. This presentation window came from the establishment of Messrs Couttes and Sons, London, and is an admirable work of art. Another window is of stained glass in two lights each, one representing St. Patrick and St. Bridget, the patron saints of Ireland, the gift of Mr William Smith; and the other “The Annunciation,” the gift of the Very Rev. Vicar-General Dunne. A third window, also of stained glass, is the gift of Mr Dignam, formerly of Westbury, and represents “father, Son, and Holy Ghost,” the church being dedicated to the Holy Trinity. There are also presentation windows by Mr D. Burke, Churchwarden of the church and Warden of the Municipality of Westbury, emblematic of the Crucifixion; and another from funds collected by Mrs Steward, representing Faith, Hope, and Charity. All the stained glass windows, with the exception of the barber presentation at the east end, are the artistic work of Messrs Ure [sic] and Ferguson, Melbourne, and are well worth inspection and study. All the lead lights were made by Howard Bros., Launceston…”

Photos taken 11th October 2010.

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There are a significant number of errors in the article about the windows. According to the actual text on some windows, the Ferguson & Urie windows were donated by the following:

1. Nave – “St Patrick” and “St Bridget” – “The gift of Mrs Thomas Field”.

2. Nave – The Annunciation –“Ave Maria” and “Gratia Plena” – (Hail Mary Full of Grace), “The gift of Mrs William Smith” and “The gift of the Very Rev Dr Dunne V. G”

3. Transept – The only text on the window reads – “Sancta Trinitas Unus Deus” – (The Trinity – The Father, Son & the Holy Ghost) – written in the article as the gift of Mr Dignam.

4. Transept – The only text on the window reads “Fides Spes Caritas” (Faith, Hope & Charity) and written in the article as from funds collected by Mrs Steward.

The window not mentioned in the article is the oriel shaped west window. It was specifically mentioned in an article published the following day but has been included it in this slideshow to complete the full cycle of the Ferguson & Urie windows at Holy Trinity Westbury.

See related posts: 22-05-1874

The east window described as being made by “Couttes and Sons, London” can be see on my alternate site: http://stainedglassaustralia.wordpress.com

Mar 4 2012

10-07-1873: St. David’s Cathedral, Hobart, Tasmania.

St David’s Church Hobart Town is being built with the nave, aisles and transepts completed.

The Illustrated Sydney News, 10^th June 1873 and Illustrated Australian News for Home Readers, Melbourne, Friday 10th October 1873, page 170.

“NEW CATHEDRAL OF ST. DAVID, HOBART TOWN”

“[…] The west elevation consists, in its lower stage, of a porch of no great projection, the front of which exhibits three arched openings. Above this is a noble Gothic window of five lights with decorated tracery in the head. This is filled with plain “cathedral glass” imported from Ferguson, Urie and Co., of Melbourne, as are the windows of the clerestory. Several of the windows of the aisles are filled with stained glass of English manufacture, presented in memoriam by friends of deceased persons.[…]”

The original plain five light west window has been replaced by a modern stained glass window by Joseph Stansfield (date unknown). The plain clerestory windows by Ferguson & Urie are all still original.

Photos taken: 7th Oct 2010 & 12th Aug 2012.

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External links:

Web Site: St David’s Cathedral Hobart Tasmania

Mar 2 2012

26-07-1872: Memorial Congregational, Elizabeth and Brisbane streets, Hobart, Tasmania.

The foundation stone of the Memorial Independent Church was laid on the corner of Elizabeth and Brisbane streets in Hobart by Henry Hopkins (1787-1870) on the 16^th August 1870 [1] and was formally opened on Thursday 7^th November 1872 [2].

In late July 1872 the stained glass windows for the church had arrived from the Ferguson, Urie, and Lyon stained glass company of Melbourne[3] and were promptly erected. A further two “variegated pattern” windows were expected to arrive by the Southern Cross from Victoria on the 4^th of August 1872[4].

Photos taken 8^th October 2010.

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The Memorial Independent church was built in the decorated gothic style to the designs of the architect Francis Butler (1823-1916) and erected by the contractors ‘R & R Shield’ who tendered for the construction at a cost of £6,835.

The laying of the foundation stone by Henry Hopkins was one of his last public events. The 16^th of August 1870 also marked his 83^rd birthday and he died five weeks later on the 27^th September 1870 [5].

Preceding his laying of the foundation stone of the church the usual affair of placing a time capsule beneath the stone occurred and;

“…A zinc box containing copies of The Mercury, Tasmanian Times, Tasmanian Independent, Friend, and other journals, various coins of the realm, photographs of the old and proposed new church, and cartes de viste of the Rev. F. Miller, H. Hopkins, Esq., the late Mrs. Hopkins, and the Rev. W. C. Robinson. The zinc box was hermetically sealed, and laid in the cist beneath the memorial stone…” [6]

Also included in the box was the speech read by the Rev. W. C. Robinson, after which the elderly Henry Hopkins was assisted to the platform from his nearby carriage and seated on a chair where he was then presented with;

“…A beautiful box made of Tasmanian light wood, by Mr. Wooley, of Macquarie-street, containing a handsome silver trowel, manufactured and presented by Mr. C. Gaylor, of Liverpool-street, and a mallet, made of coloured myrtle wood, with ivory handle, the work of Mr. Haywood, of Goulburn-street, was then presented to Mr. Hopkins. The silver trowel bore the following inscription: “Presented by Charles Gaylor to the congregation of the Memorial Church, Hobart Town, on the occasion of laying the foundation stone, by Henry Hopkins, August 16th, 1870.” On the lid of the box was a photograph of the proposed edifice. Mr. Shields, the contractor, having had the memorial stone raised about three feet, the mortar was spread, the box containing the records, deeds, &c., placed in the cist, and the stone was slowly lowered to its permanent position. Mr. Hopkins, after giving the stone two or three knocks with the trowel, said: “I declare this foundation stone laid in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; and may the blessing of God attend the labours of all concerned in it. Forty years ago I had the privilege of introducing the first Independent minister to this colony, and thirty years since I was the means of the introduction of the first Independent minister into Victoria. Two months ago I had the privilege of laying the foundation stone of the new Wesleyan Church in Davey-street, and now I am called upon to lay the foundation stone of the Memorial Church, which stone bears the name of the Rev Frederick Miller, who arrived in this place forty years ago. He was a man of piety and energy and he felt a great love for the people, and for every cause that had for its object the glory of god and the good of his fellow man. I rejoice in having the opportunity of laying this stone; and may the blessing of God attend the labours of all those who shall be engaged in this building.” The following is the inscription engraved on the brass plate which is let into the stone:- “Memorial Congregational Church, the first Christian Church formed in the Australias upon Independent principles; the Rev. F. Miller, pastor, A.D. 1830 to the year 1862. This stone was laid by Henry Hopkins, Esq., 16^th August 1870.” [7]

The church was to be known as the ‘Memorial Congregational Church’ in memory of the first Independent or Congregational minister, the Reverend Frederick Miller (1806-1862), who arrived in Van Diemen’s Land in 1830 and commenced his ministry on the 17^th of October in the same year. The very first chapel on the site was funded solely by him at a cost of £500 and opened on the 20^th April 1832[8]. He died on the 13^th in October 1862 aged 56 [9].

Since 2006 the Memorial Congregational church has been the Seventh Day Adventist & Multicultural Church.

Significant tabloid transcriptions about the windows:

The Mercury, Hobart, Tasmania, Friday 26th July 1872, page 2,

“THE MEMORIAL CHURCH – The whole of the windows for the Memorial Church having arrived from Melbourne, with the exception of the transept windows, the contractors are busy fitting them in, so that the internal work of the building may be proceeded with as soon as possible. The large front window is completed. It is of stained glass, beautifully designed and ornamented, bearing the inscription in the lower panes, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” There will be four windows on each side, some of them with a quarter-foil over the two side lights, and others with cinque-foil and six-foil, while the borders will be of different colours, blue, yellow, purple, or green. There will be two vestry windows with blue borders, three apse windows with yellow borders, and a large number of small windows, the colours of the borders in each instance being varied. The whole of the windows, except the front and transept, which are stained, are of cathedral glass; and the makers, Messrs. Fergusson[sic], Urie, and Lyon, of Melbourne, have eminently sustained the name which they have already obtained in these colonies as stained glass manufacturers. The large window in the gable is a piece of work which shows the remarkable progress which has been made in this art during the last few years in Victoria.”

The Launceston Examiner, Saturday 3rd August 1872, page 5.

“…The stained glass windows, so far as they go, give the building a picturesque appearance; two more windows have to be supplied, and they are expected to arrive by the Southern Cross tomorrow, from the establishment of Messrs. Ferguson, Urie, and Lyon, Curzon-street, Melbourne. The pattern, variegated and blending colors of the glass are of an artistic description, and in due proportion with the general coup d’oeil of the interior of the building…”

The Mercury, Hobart, Tasmania, Saturday 10th August 1872, page 3.

“The Memorial Church, at the corner of Elizabeth and Brisbane-streets, is in an advanced state toward completion, and some idea can now be realised of the very elegant appearance the church will present when it is entirely finished. While externally it will have the semblance of a magnificent building, internally its appearance will be fully compatible with the outside. The embellishments are of a rich chaste character, consistent with the beautiful design of the building. The roof and the gallery are finished. The windows are also in. The front and transept windows are of stained glass, beautifully designed and ornamented, while the remainder of the windows, which are of cathedral glass, are improved by borders of various colours. The makers, Messrs. Ferguson, Urie, and Lyon, of Melbourne, have eminently sustained the name which they have already obtained in these colonies as stained glass manufacturers. The church, it is anticipated, will be opened as soon after its completion as possible.”

External links:

Biography: Henry Hopkins (1787-1870)

State Library Vic: A Sermon occasioned by the death of Mr. Henry Hopkins, Rev George Clarke, 9 Oct 1870.

Biography: Rev Frederick Miller (1806-1862)

Biography: Rev George Clarke (1823-1913)

Footnotes:

[1] The Mercury, Hobart, Tas, Wednesday 17th August 1870, page 3.

[2] The Mercury, Hobart, Tas, Tuesday 5^th November 1872, page 1s.

[3] The Mercury, Hobart, Tasmania, Friday 26th July 1872, page 2

[4] The Launceston Examiner, Saturday 3rd August 1872, page 5.

[5] The Mercury, Hobart, Tas, Wednesday 28^th September 1870, page 2.

[6] The Mercury, Hobart, Tas, Wednesday 17th August 1870, page 3.

[7] The Mercury, Hobart, Tas, Wednesday 17th August 1870, page 3.

[8] The Mercury, Hobart, Tasmania, Tuesday 5th November 1872, page 3.

[9] The Mercury, Hobart, Tas, Tuesday 14^th October 1862, page 1.

Short link to this page: http://wp.me/p28nLD-hR

Feb 26 2012

21-03-1871: Struan House, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.

In Cameron-street in Launceston, Tasmania, stands the historical Supreme Court Building originally built in 1870-71 as “Struan House”[1] for the wealthy Scottish Colonist James Robertson. It was designed by architect Peter Mills[2] and constructed by building contractor Edward Ford.

In 1893 the building was used as a private maternity hospital and in 1929 was acquired by the Tasmanian Government for use by the Launceston Supreme Court.

During the construction of Struan House in early 1871 the Launceston Examiner tabloid reported;

“…We must not omit to mention that the side and fan lights of the entrance door, and of the doors leading out on to the verandah and balcony are glazed with rich designs in stained glass, manufactured by the well known firm of Ferguson, Urie, and Lyon, of Melbourne…”[3]

In 2011, enquiries revealed that there is still an original piece of Ferguson & Urie stained glass above a doorway in the building having the year 1870 emblazoned on it!

On the 18th April 2011 Mr Chris Nason, wrote:

“Dear Ray, Thankyou for your email. I confirm that Struan House does still exist and has been maintained as part of the Supreme Court since 1929. In terms of stained glass the only item that remains is above a door that opens onto the north facing balcony. I have taken a couple of shots of the window and attached for you. Unfortunately the shot from outside is not great. I hope this is of some use to you. Regards Chris Nason, District Registrar, Supreme Court of Tasmania…“

Photos kindly provided by Mr Chris Nason, 18th April 2011.

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James Robertson (1800- 18741800- 1874).

James Robertson was a native of Alvey, Inverness-shire, Scotland and arrived in Van Diemen’s Land in the early 1820’s where he joined his brothers John, William and Daniel, breeding sheep and cattle in the Campbelltown district.

Later they diversified to form Robertson Brothers Mercantile Importers in Elizabeth Street Hobart in 1829[4], run by John & William, and in Brisbane-street Launceston in 1831[5], headed by James and Daniel.

On the 18^th of November 1833, at St David’s Church in Hobart, James married Mary McDonald, daughter of Roderick McDonald of Glengarry[6].

James had been a Justice of the Peace in Launceston since September of 1843 and was a supporter of the anti-transportation of convicts to the colony. In 1853 he declined requests to stand for the election of the first Mayor of Launceston[7] which was subsequently won, under much controversy, by William Stammers Button.

He was a local director of the Union bank of Australia and had been Captain and Paymaster of the Volunteer Artillery[8] and for many years was the treasurer[9] of the Launceston branch of the ‘St Andrew’s Society’ [10]

In January 1841 his brother Daniel had decided to dissolve his partnership leaving James as sole proprietor of the Launceston Mercantile business[11]. Just over twelve months later, on the 12th March 1842, Daniel drowned in the Esk River whilst on a fishing trip with friends[12]. In 1848 unknown persons referred to as “miscreants” attempted to rob Daniel’s grave![13].

In February 1850 James’ wife Mary died at the age of 35 [14] and on the 28^th of May 1851 he married Mary’s younger sister Margaret, the eighth daughter of Roderick McDonald of Glengarry[15].

James Robertson died on the 1^st of April 1874[16] and was interred in the Robertson family vault at the Scotch Cemetery in Launceston[17]. His wife Margaret died on the 3^rd of September 1891[18].

His former residence ‘Struan House’ now forms part of the Launceston Supreme Court. Only the top portion of a fan light window above a doorway in the building exists of the original Ferguson & Urie stained glass created in 1871.

Of coincidental interest, James Robertson’s elder brother William went on to become one of the largest landholders in the western district of Victoria and in 1877 the Ferguson & Urie Company created a large ‘Rose’ stained glass window which was erected to his memory in St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church at Colac, Victoria.

Significant transcriptions:

Launceston Examiner, Tas, 15^th January 1853, page 4.

“MR. JAMES ROBERTSON. FEW inhabitants better deserve the tribute of respect about to be paid to him on his departure for Britain, than Mr Robertson. In his sphere of public usefulness, none have been more energetic and successful; and he has often taken the most arduous part, when a benevolent or popular object was in view. There can be no question that if he had assented to the request recently addressed to, him, he would have been the first Mayor of Launceston. But business arrangements prevented compliance, and the St. Andrew’s Society, of which he is a” pillar,” have gracefully come forward to recognise his claims to general esteem. In his commercial career he has been successful, and as a staunch anti-transportationist, he will doubtless exert his influence at home, in favor of the land of his adoption; and the birth-place of his children. The invitations to gentlemen, not members of the St. Andrew’s Club, ought to be very extensive, or they should be permitted, at their own cost, to be present on the occasion. We heartily wish him a pleasant voyage home, success in his mission, and a safe and speedy return.”

The Launceston Examiner, Tuesday 21^st March 1871, page 2.

“MR. ROBERTSON’S NEW RESIDENCE. The new residence of James Robertson, Esq., situate in Cameron-street near the old Military Barracks, and now rapidly approaching completion, is a building that deserves something more than a mere passing notice, for it is one of the best finished, and certainly the most commodious of private dwellings on this side of the island. Erected on the summit of a gentle slope which extends down to the bank of the River Tamar, it commands a fine view of the windings of that stream, and a still finer view of the Cataract on the South Esk, with its bold romantic scenery, and the pretty light looking iron bridge which spans the entrance to what may fairly be termed on of the lions of Launceston. Turning his back on these, a considerable portion of the town is presented to the gaze of the spectator. But the building itself is an ornament to the town, and forms a prominent object that that is sure to attract the attention of visitors or others sailing up the river. The main building is in style Italian, and two storeys high. The walls are constructed of brick, the dressings to the windows, string courses, quoins, cornices, chimneys, and the enrichments generally being executed in Portland cement. The brickwork is uniform in color, and neatly finished with a white joint. The roofs are of slate, and the roof of the main building overhangs the wall about three feet, the projection being supported by ornamental cantalivers [sic]. The front of the building faces the north, but there is an entrance on the east, by means of a massive looking porch and steps. On the ground floor are the large entrance hall, staircase hall, dining, drawing, breakfast and ball rooms, also a business room. The entrance hall is divided from the staircase hall by fluted Corinthian columns and pilasters, supporting a decorated cornice of the same order. The dining and drawing rooms which are well proportioned, open into the entrance hall. The breakfast and ball rooms are entered from a wide corridor leading from the staircase hall to the kitchen, the former room being well lighted by a large bay window of clear plate-glass, from which an excellent view of the Cataract and Tamar can be obtained. The whole of the fittings are of bright cedar French polished, and the finishing’s round the hall side of the doors are ornamented and carved very handsomely. The principal rooms also have elaborately wrought marble mantle-pieces, and are enriched with light and elegant moulded cornices. A verandah, accessible from the staircase hall, runs round the front and a portion of the two sides of the building, terminating on one side against the kitchen wing, and on the other against the entrance porch; and above the verandah is a balcony accessible from the first landing of the staircase. The roof of this is curved and covered with corrugated iron, the railings, trellis work, and brackets being of cast iron, and in appearance very ornamental. The verandah and balcony are wide, and furnish a very agreeable promenade, in which the eye can not fail to be delighted with the surrounding scenery. We must not omit to mention that the side and fan lights of the entrance door, and of the doors leading out on to the verandah and balcony are glazed with rich designs in stained glass, manufactured by the well known firm of Ferguson, Urie, and Lyon, of Melbourne. The kitchen wing contains a large kitchen, scullery, washhouse, stores, pantries, and servants’ staircase. A first-class cooking range manufactured by Mr William Peter, Wellington-street, is fitted up in the kitchen, and from this, by means of pipes, the bedrooms on the upper floor are supplied with hot water for baths, &c. Underneath the building are dry cellars floored with cement. The upper or chamber floor is reached by a handsome staircase, having a continuous ornamental iron railing, and here we find a number of lofty, well-ventilated bedrooms with dressing and bathrooms attached. The nursery and servants’ bedrooms are placed over the kitchen, &c. The baths are fitted up so that hot or cold water can be turned on at pleasure. The whole of the fittings in the rooms, except the mantle pieces, are of French polished cedar. The court yard is enclosed by out-offices – including accommodation for men servants, a coach house, stables, harness room, cow house, hay loft – and by entrance gates, provision been made to get a carriage drive through this court yard round to the river frontage. The Cameron-street frontage is enclosed by an ornamental iron palisading of cast iron with gates, &c., to correspond.
The total cost of erecting these fine premises will be about ₤6000. Mr E. Ford is the contractor, and appears to have executed his work very faithfully. The buildings were designed by Mr Peter Mills, and have been erected under his vigilant superintendence, and we must say that the manner in which everything has been carried out reflects the greatest credit on him.”

Launceston Examiner, Tas, Thursday 2^nd April 1874, page 2.

“OBITUARY
Another old colonist has gone from our midst: JAMES ROBERTSON, so long connected with various interests of Launceston, died last evening, in his 75^th year, having completed his 74^th on the 23^rd of March.
After a few years’ occupation as sheep farmer in the Campbell Town district, in this colony, Mr Robertson came into Launceston in 1830, to enter into commercial business with his younger brother, Daniel, unfortunately drowned in the South Esk, in 1841 [sic], which business he carried on very successfully, first on premises now occupied by Messrs. Smith and Poole, and subsequently in the large premises built by the firm for the purpose now known as the International Hotel, until a comparatively recent period, when he retired from more active pursuits to the handsome residence he erected in Cameron-street, known as Struan House, and in which he died.
           Through a long mercantile career Mr Robertson maintained the character of a strictly honourable merchant, and sincere friend. Amongst his mercantile connections he numbered most of the older colonists; and he enjoyed the immediate friendship of an unusually large circle.
            There are some incidents of his “settler life” which possess unusual interest, at once characteristic of his personal courage and of the peculiar difficulties of early settlement in these colonies. On one occasion when sitting reading at the fire in his hut, his back to the door, he was surprised by the entrance of a notorious bushranger, with two equally notorious companions. They had previously secured his shepherd servant, and came so sudden upon him that resistance was useless. After helping themselves to provisions, they set off for a distant rendezvous, marching Mr Robertson and his servant before them, still tied, until they arrived at midnight, on the banks of the South Esk, at a crossing place where they expected to find a boat; which, however was on the opposite shore. One of the bushrangers crossed the river to fetch the boat for the conveyance of the party and their plunder; when the subject of our memoir, seeing an opportunity, succeeded in getting one of his arms sufficiently at liberty to get his hand into his pocket and secure a penknife. The robbers were so intently engaged in watching the progress of their companion that they gave to Mr Robertson the opportunity of communicating by signs, in the light of partial moonlight, with his servant; and after cutting the cord which confined his own arms, he cut that of his servant. They both remained in a position of apparent confinement until they could hear the splash of oars of the returning bushranger, when they each closed upon one of the confederates, and with the handkerchief torn from their own necks tied the hands of each. The man in the boat hearing the conflict turned for the other shore, but was promptly fired on with the arms now in the possession of Mr Robertson and his servant. The two prisoners were soon handed over to the police, and were conveyed to Launceston gaol; and on further enquiry the boat was found riddled with ball but abandoned by the robber, who was afterwards found wounded and captured. On another occasion the self-possession and courage of Mr Robertson were even more conspicuously displayed. A bushranger, who had become the terror of the district, occupied a mi-mi in the depths of the forest. Mr Robertson discovered it, or was informed of the locality – no matter which. Having obtained the co-operation of a neighboring settler he determined to effect capture. Keeping their secret they set out together for the place, but when they arrived found the fellow that occupied it away. They laid their plans accordingly – crouching themselves in the scrub until the evening, when they saw their man return, watched him dismantle himself of his fire-arms with the exception of pistols in his belt, cook his evening meal, and creep into his mi-mi. Mr Robertson immediately rushed in the aperture requiring almost a crawling posture whilst his settler friend made loud demonstrations of directing a body of men outside. He threatened to shoot the robber and disarm him, tied him securely, and led him out to show him (as Mr Robertson often told with considerable humour), to his great disgust, that he had been captured by two nearly unarmed men!
            Mr Robertson’s genial countenance and bustling habits will long be missed in the streets of Launceston. He leaves an estimable widow, his second wife, and a large family, comfortably provide for. Mr Robertson has been in the Commission of the Peace since the 20^th September, 1843. It will be remembered that his eldest brother William died in Victoria on 18^th January last.”

Launceston Examiner, Tas, 9th April 1874, page 3.

“THE LATE MR JAMES ROBERTSON.

The funeral of the late Mr James Robertson took place on Tuesday afternoon, and was attended by a very large number of personal friends and others from various parts of the colony anxious to pay the last tribute of respect to the memory of one who had maintained business and social relations with the colonists, especially of the Northern districts, for so lengthened a period. By request of Mr Robertson communicated shortly before his decease, the funeral obsequies were superintended by his old friend, Mr Alderman Tyson, Messrs Richards and Son being the undertakers. The remains had been enclosed in a leaden coffin which was encased in a shell, neatly covered with black cloth, and suitably furnished. Shortly after 3 o’clock the coffin was deposited in a plain hearse drawn by a pair of horses, and the mournful cortege left Struan House, deceased’s late residence in Cameron-street: the following gentlemen acting as pall-bearers, viz., the hon. James Aikenhead, M.L.C., a local Director of the Commercial Bank ; J. T. Sale, Esq., J.P., Manager of the Union Bank of Australia, of which deceased had been for many years a local director; C. J. Weedon, Esq., J.P., one of the Directors of the Bank of Tasmania; Thomas Corbett, Esq., J.P., a director of the Bank of Van Diemen’s Land; John Fawns, Esq., J.P., one of the Executive Committee of the Savings Bank; and Dr. Miller, J.P. The pall-bearers were flanked on either side by members of the Volunteer Artillery Corps, of which deceased had been Captain and Paymaster. The sons of deceased, Messrs. Hector and Angus Robertson were chief mourners with other relatives following; and in addition there were from 140 to 150 townsmen and colonists. There were also a number of private carriages behind. The route of the cortege was Cameron-street, Charles-street, Brisbane-street, and High-street to the Scotch Cemetery, where the family vault is situated; and the esteem in which deceased had been held by his fellow townsmen was evinced by the closing of the shops and other places of business along the line of route. The Revs. J. Gardner, W. Law, J. Lindsay, and R. M’Clean were among the ministers who attended. At the grave the Rev. R. McClean, of Hobart Town, read a portion of Scripture, and delivered an appropriate address. The Rev. J. Lindsay offered prayer. The coffin was borne to the hearse, and to the vault by the Volunteer Artillerymen.”

Footnotes:

[1] The Launceston Examiner, Tuesday 21^st March 1871, page 2.

[2] Peter Mills also designed the Launceston Town Hall in 1864 and several other historical buildings in Launceston.

[3] The Launceston Examiner, Tuesday 21^st March 1871, page 2.

[4] The Hobart Town Courier, Tas, Saturday 29^th August 1829, page 3.

[5] The Hobart Town Courier, Tas, Saturday 4^th June 1831, page 1.

[6] The Hobart Town Courier, Tas, Friday 22nd November 1833, page 2.

[7] Launceston Examiner, Tas, 15^th January 1853, page 4.

[8] Launceston Examiner, Tas, 9th April 1874, page 3.

[9] Launceston Examiner, Tas, Thursday 20th January 1853, pages 5.

[10] Formed in 1841 to not only entice skilled labourers from Scotland to the Colony, but to provide friendship and assistance to them and their families and benevolent acts to their widows and orphans in times of need.

[11] The Courier, Hobart, Tas, Tuesday 12^th January 1841, page 1.

[12] Launceston Advertiser, Tas, Thursday 17^th March 1842, page 3.

[13] Launceston Examiner, Tas, Wednesday 26^th January 1848, page 6.

[14] Colonial Times, Hobart, Tas, 8th February 1850, page 2.

[15] Launceston Examiner, Tas, Wednesday 4th June 1851, page 2.

[16] Launceston Examiner, Tas, Thursday 2^nd April 1874, page 2.

[17] The Scotch Cemetery opened in 1835 and closed in 1928. It was re-developed as “St. Andrew’s Gardens” from c.1951 with some of the grave stones transferred to the Carr Villa Cemetery.

[18] Launceston Examiner, Tas, 4th September 1891, page 2.

Short link to this page: http://wp.me/p28nLD-fJ

Feb 24 2012

03-07-1869: St. John’s Anglican Church, Ross, Tasmania.

St John’s Anglican Church in Ross, Tasmania, was erected to the designs of architect Henry Hunter using some of the sandstone from the original church built in 1835. The building was completed in 1868 and consecrated the following year on the 14th of May 1869 by the Bishop of Tasmania, Charles Henry Bromby (1814-1907).

Launceston Examiner, Tasmania, Saturday 3rd July 1869, page 4.

“THE NEW CHURCH AT ROSS.- From the Church News..”

“… The nave is lighted on each side by cusped lancet windows, placed in couplets. The west end has three plain lancets, over which is a circular window filled with geometrical tracery; and a small circular window is placed in the gable of the transept. The east window is of three lights, the head being filled with rich tracery. The masonry throughout is of fine Ross free-stone. The roofs are of high pitch, finished internally with pine boarding, panelled and moulded. All the windows are filled with stained pattern-glass, manufactured by Ferguson & Urie, of Melbourne…”

“… Everything was done by workmen employed by the chief benefactor of the church, Mr. Kermode, under the general direction of its designer and architect. Mr. Hunter…”

Photos: (updated) taken 12th August 2012. There are also some photos of restoration work, by Gavin Merrington. between June 2006 and Jan 2007. The August 2012 photos were taken during an awesome historical stained glass road trip with Gavin on the 12th Aug 2012.

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Note: Robert Quayle Kermode (1812-1870) also owned the mansion “Mona Vale” near the town of Ross in Tasmania, and it also contains stained glass windows made by Ferguson & Urie.

The Mercury. Hobart, Tas, Wednesday 12th May 1869, page 2.

“CONSECRATION OF ROSS’ CHURCH.- The Lord Bishop of Tasmania is to consecrate the new church at Ross on Friday, 14th inst., when divine service will be held at 11 o’clock. The clergy are invited to meet in the vestry at half-past ten and to bring their surplices”.

Short link to this page: http://wp.me/p28nLD-cu

Feb 22 2012

16-07-1868: Cook’s Tailoring Establishment, Elizabeth Street, Hobart, Tasmania.

Henry Cook’s new Tailoring establishment in Elizabeth Street Hobart, near “Lord’s Buildings”, was opened 1868 and contained a Ferguson & Urie stained glass window in the show room.

The Mercury Hobart, Tasmania, Thursday 16^th July 1868, page 3.

“… Mr Cook’s new tailoring establishment in Elizabeth-street, near Lord’s Buildings, has also been opened; two large houses and shops are converted into one place of business, and a pile of buildings at the rear has been razed, and a mansion erected on the site. Mr. Wiggins was the contractor for the new building, and Messrs. Jackson, Nicol, Martin, and Roberts were employed for the joinering work, cabinet making, and embellishment of the new business premises. A stained glass window in the show room is from the warehouse of Messrs. Ferguson, Urie, and Co, Melbourne. The premises are lighted with forty gas burners”

Henry Cook was elected as Mayor of Hobart in 1860-61. In 1868 he was appointed as Tailor[1] to H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh. On the 13^th August 1869 he was in the position of acting Mayor of Hobart and was on that day elected as Mayor[2] until the end of the year. He was as also a Justice of the Peace, Churchwarden of St David’s, and the first president of The Benevolent Society of Hobart. There is also a monument dedicated to him at the Fern Tree Pipeline development.

Henry Cooks Tailoring shop was advertised as at 45 Elizabeth Street Hobart in the late 1850’s. The Hobart Post office is now on the site formerly known as “Lord’s Buildings”.

Nothing further is known about what was depicted in the stained glass window or whether it still exists anywhere.

The Mercury, Hobart, TAS, Monday 26th May 1890, page 3.

“DEATH OF MR. HY. COOK, J.P”

“…A few years after his arrival in Hobart, he commenced business as a tailor and woollen merchant, which line he has since followed with marked success. His first premises were at the corner of Collins and Elizabeth streets, the spot now occupied by the A.M.P. Society’s offices. Afterwards he removed higher up Elizabeth-street, between Liverpool and Bathurst streets, returning some 20 years ago to the premises in Elizabeth-street, now occupied by his firm.”

Henry Cook died on the 25th May 1890. His son, Henry Jnr, carried on the business “…in a shop which at one time stood on the present site of the Commonwealth Bank, and in 1912 the business was removed to 136 Collins-street, where it is presently conducted.” Henry Cook Jnr died aged 70 on the 17^th July 1925.

External links:

Recollections of Old Hobart – The Post Office Block (The Mercury 28th July 1910)

Footnotes:

[1] Launceston Examiner, TAS, Tuesday 19th May 1868, page 5.

[2] The Mercury, Hobart, TAS, Thursday 9th September 1869, page 3.

Short link to this page: https://wp.me/p28nLD-aP

Feb 22 2012

08-08-1868: ‘Thompson Villa’, AKA ‘Enstone Park’, Falmouth, Tasmania

Note: as at 3rd Apr 2017 this marker post is due to be replaced by an extensive research article including images of the stained glass window (but please don’t hold your breath waiting).

The Launceston Examiner, Tasmania, Saturday 8th August 1868, page 2.

“FROM LAUNCESTON TO ST.GEORGES BAY. (By H. T. D., in the Australian Journal)”.

“….another half hours drive brought us to the residence of J. Steel, Esq, whom we were bent on visiting. On a gentle slope, about a half mile from the sea, stands the mansion of our host, known as Thompson Villa. The exterior of the building produces a highly picturesque and pleasing effect. The style is Italian, with projecting roof. The principal rooms open onto a wide veranda, the design of which, as also the balcony, is decidedly ornamental. The interior fittings are of the best character, the entrance hall being divided by Corinthian fluted columns, with pilasters and Corinthian cornice; and well lighted up by a beautiful ornamental stained glass window, which I recognised as the handiwork of our enterprising fellow colonists, Messrs. Ferguson, Urie and Lyon, of North Melbourne…”

Thompson Villa is now known as Enstone Park near the town of Falmouth on the east coast of Tasmania, 202km south east of Launceston. It was built by William Steel’s nephew in 1867 for £1740. After WW1 it was named ‘Enstone Park’ by L. J Steel who lived in the house until his death at the age of 102 in 1968. The property is now owned by the Enstone Park Pastoral Company Pty Ltd.

Refer to comments below regarding the existence of this window.

Short link to this page: http://wp.me/p28nLD-aQ

Feb 21 2012

03-03-1868: Wesleyan (Pilgrims Uniting) Church, Patterson street, Launceston, Tasmania.

Illustrated Australian News for Home Readers, Tuesday 3rd March 1868, page 3

“NEW WESLEYAN CHURCH PATTERSON-STREET, LAUNCESTON, TASMANIA”

“The new Wesleyan Church, in Patterson-street, Launceston, Tasmania, of which we give an engraving in the present number, was opened for worship on Friday, the 21st…”
“… The principal windows, front and rear, are fitted with stained glass, by Ferguson and Urie, of Melbourne…”

Launceston Examiner, Tasmania, Saturday 24th August 1867, page 4.

“WESLEYAN. Two stained glass decorative windows have been ordered from Melbourne for the Wesleyan Church now building in this town. They are to be of very handsome design and will be placed at either end of the edifice.”

This is now the Pilgrims Uniting Church, Launceston. The windows were ordered circa August 1867 from Melbourne. The large five light window facing Patterson street is twenty two feet high and absolutely stunning. No stained glass window was seen in the opposite end of the church on my visit in 2010 but Gavin Merrington from ‘Original Stained Glass’ at South Hobart has confirmed its existence and is hidden by the organ loft.

Photos taken 10th October 2010.

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Short link to this page: https://wp.me/p28nLD-a7

Feb 21 2012

20-01-1868: Mona Vale Mansion, Ross, Tasmania, Australia.

Mona Vale mansion, at Ross in Tasmania, was built in 1867 for the wealthy land owner and Tasmanian Parliamentarian Robert Quayle Kermode and he entertained the Duke of Edinburgh there shortly after it was completed. The stained glass windows were created by the Ferguson & Urie stained glass company of North Melbourne and were selected by the architect of Mona Vale, Henry Hunter, during a visit to Victoria in 1867.

The Mercury, Hobart, Monday 20^th January 1868, page 3.

“THE JOURNEY TO THE NORTH. (From our Special Reporter)

MONA VALE – RESIDENCE OF THE HON. R. Q. KERMODE, ESQ., M.L.C.

“In my last article I concluded my description of the trip of H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh to the northern side of the island, and landed him safely once again at the threshold of Government House. The narrative would, however, be very incomplete unless accompanied by some kind of description of the mansion at Mona Vale, where His Royal Highness stayed on his upward and downward journey, and where every provision was made for his comfort, which the real genuine hospitality of an English gentleman could devise, or Princely munificence accomplish. The mansion of Mona Vale is, I have no hesitation in saying, one of the most splendid and magnificently furnished residences in the whole of the Australian colonies, and it is replete with every comfort and conveniences that modern art has yet suggested.…”

“… Retreating to the main corridor we arrive at its junction with the main hall, and here for the first time I observed the beautiful windows of stained glass, which surround the front door. The fanlight is especially worth mention, having in the centre Mr. Kermode’s crest, an arm and dagger surrounded by a handsome design. The side lights have a stained glass bordering, with centre pieces in frosted glass of floral design. Arrived at the foot of the grand staircase, I observed that the whole of the windows by which it is lighted were also of stained glass, showing groups of flowers most tastefully arranged. The whole of these windows are in the style known as enamel painting, and were executed by Messrs. Ferguson and Urie, of Melbourne, some of them being selected for Mr. Kermode by Mr. Henry Hunter, during a late visit to Victoria…”.

Unfortunately, I don’t have any photos of the stained glass windows. Only copyright images exist in a handful of publications. The property is now owned by the Cameron family.

Robert Quayle Kermode was also a substantial benefactor and instrumental in the erection of St John’s Church in Ross which also has a complete cycle of Ferguson & Urie stained glass windows.

1869: St John’s Anglican Church, Ross, Tasmania.

External Links:

Biography – Robert Quayle Kermode (1812-1870)

Obituary – Robert Quayle Kermode (19 May 1870)

Article – ‘Fine Old Country Residence is Landmark in Northern Tasmania’

Obituary – Robert Crelin Kermode (1847-1927) [son of R. Q. Kermode]

Short link to this page: https://wp.me/p28nLD-a2

Feb 20 2012

13-08-1867: James Urie visits Tasmania on Ferguson and Urie business.

In August 1867, James Urie of the Melbourne stained glass firm ‘Ferguson & Urie’, traveled to Tasmania with a portfolio of the companies designs for ecclesiastical and secular stained glass. As of May 2013, over twenty-five Tasmanian buildings have been identified as having one or more extant stained glass windows by the firm. The newspaper article below contains a gold mine of clues for Ferguson & Urie windows erected in Tasmania and in Victoria and I have included my comments as to what have found on each clue.

The Mercury, Hobart Tasmania, Tuesday 13th August 1867, page 5.

“STAINED WINDOWS – A few days since we stated that Mr. Urie of the firm of Ferguson, Urie, and Lyon, glass stainers, &c, Melbourne, was on a professional visit to Hobart Town. This gentleman is now in Launceston, and we were much gratified yesterday by inspecting a large portfolio of designs for church and other windows which his firm has executed or has in hand. Amongst the most elegant we may mention the chancel window of St. George’s Church, Queenscliff, the subject being taken from the Litany, whilst the side lights represent the twelve Apostles and the west window other emblems; chancel window of St. Peter’s, Wooloomooloo (Sydney), embracing nine events in the life of St. Peter; Roman Catholic Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Geelong; St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, Collingwood; St. Patrick’s Church, Duneed; the Melbourne Convent; the Presbyterian Churches at West Melbourne and Ballan; the Wesleyan Churches at Daylesford and Kent Town (S. Australia). They have also erected some very elegant memorial windows including one for the late Prince Consort at Kew; Rev. R. W. Needham, at Mount Gambier; Dr. Peck, at Sale; Judge Pohlman’s wife, and wife of Mr Stoddart both in Melbourne. We have already referred to Dr. Moore’s at New Norfolk, and the two windows in St. John’s, Launceston. One of the most elegant windows is in the house of Mr. George Stevenson, at Toorak; it represents the four seasons with figures of Art, Science, Agriculture, and Commerce, with Faith and Hope, coat of arms, and crest. This window cost £250. This firm also supplied a staircase window for the new mansion of the Hon. R. Q. Kermode at Mona Vale, but it has been decided to substitute one much more elaborate. They are also to fit up two windows for the new Wesleyan Church of this town – one at either end, which will be very handsome. Several private homes in this town, and a large number in Victoria, have been ornamented in this way, and no doubt the practice will extend when it is known how skilfully the art is carried out by Messrs. Ferguson & Co.”

Notes:

1. Queenscliff, Victoria, St Georges, All windows extant.
Related posts: 22-02-1864 > 29-01-1866 > 12-02-1881 > 07-04-1882 > 30-12-1893

2. Wooloomooloo, Sydney, NSW, St Peter’s (Darlinghurst), now part of Sydney Church of England Girls Grammar School.
Related posts: 1867: St Peter’s Anglican Church, Woolloomooloo, Sydney, New South Wales.

3. Geelong, Victoria, St Peter & Paul Catholic. Three light principal east window.
Related post: 13-08-1867: St Peter & St Paul, Geelong, Victoria.

4. Collingwood, Melbourne, Roman Catholic (St Joseph’s) destroyed by fire in 2007.
See: 1863: St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Collingwood, Victoria.

5. Duneed, Victoria, St Patrick’s (Mt Moriac) foundation laid in 1858. Ferguson & Urie east window erected in 1866 but was destroyed my a massive hail storm in 1887. The church was rebuilt in 1950’s and sold at auction in February 2017..

6. Melbourne, Victoria, the “Melbourne Convent”. This is likely to be the “Convent of Our Immaculate Lady of Mercy” in Nicholson street Fitzroy. My correspondence with the Convent has revealed nothing.

7. West Melbourne, Presbyterian. Dismantled in 1935 and re-erected as St Andrews at Box Hill in 1936. It contains the original F&U windows except for one which went to the Camberwell Church on Riversdale Road.
Related posts: 27-04-1935

8. Ballan, Victoria, Presbyterian (St Paul’s). All windows are extant.
Related posts: > 22-07-1866 > 28-07-1866 > 13-08-1867

9. Daylesford, Victoria, Wesleyan. Only small ‘stock’ windows in the porch exist in poor condition. See photos <here>

10. Kent Town, South Australia, Wesleyan. Nothing further known.
Related posts: 26-10-1864

11. Kew, Melbourne. The Prince Consort window at Holy Trinity is extant and recently restored.
Related posts: 08-06-1881

12. Mount Gambier, Christ Church, Rev Needham memorial window and others are extant.
Related posts: 02-11-1867

13. Sale, Victoria, St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral. Dr. Peck memorial window is extant.
Related post: 29-01-1867

14. Melbourne, Pohlman and Stoddart memorial windows.
Nothing found in regards to the Pohlman window but the Stoddart window exists.
Related post: South Yarra Presbyterian 1867

Pohlman:

Judge Robert Williams Pohlman (1811-1877): Biography | Obit 1877 | Funeral | Obit 1878 His funeral was in St Stephen’s in Richmond and he was buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery on the 8^th Dec 1877. He was married twice. His second wife, Mercy Clifton Bachelor died of an embolism at age 26 on the 21^st January 1876 only a couple of weeks after giving birth to a stillborn daughter on the 5^th of January 1876. He only had one daughter to his second wife named Annie who married Navy Commander Frederick Owen Pike at St John’s in Toorak on the 27^th December 1893.

This would mean that the stained glass window would have been a memorial to his first wife “Eliza” who died at Richmond on the 11^th Feb 1856.

Stoddart/Stodart:

This is James Dickson Stodart (c1825-1867), Mayor of Prahran 1864/65 and councilor 1858/59-1859/60, 1863/64-1864/65.

Arrived from Edinburgh in 1853. Was later a financial agent for Cornish & Bruce railway contractors. See: Yarra Presbyterian 1867

An active member of the Scotch Presbyterian Church in Punt Road South Yarra, where his memorial stained glass window resides.

He died on Wednesday 12^th June 1867. The window has been found at the South Yarra Presbyterian Church See: http://wp.me/p28nLD-2I3.

15. New Norfolk, Tasmania, St Matthew’s, Dr. Moore memorial window is extant.
Related posts: 04-03-1882

16. Launceston, St John’s: The window is extant but no longer in its original position. The canopy glass above the main three lights no longer exists but an original design for the window shows that it contained the descending Dove and the symbols for Alpha and Omega.
Full details see post: 25-09-1866

17. George Stevenson’s house at Toorak was named “Trawalla” and is located at 22 Lascelles Avenue Toorak. Window is extant.

18. Ross, Tasmania, Kermode’s Mona Vale Mansion. This window still exists. Images are shown in various historical books written in the last 30 years.

19. Launceston, Wesleyan, (Pilgrims Uniting), window facing Patterson street is extant but nothing seen in the opposite end. Gavin Merrington from Hobart has confirmed that a wheel window exists above the organ loft.

Also see: 07-08-1867: Decorative Art. James Urie sojourning in Tasmania.

Other related posts: 03-03-1868 , 29-01-1866, 20-06-1867, 29-04-1864,

Short link to this page: http://wp.me/p28nLD-98

Feb 20 2012

07-08-1867: Decorative Art. James Urie sojourning in Tasmania.

The following historical tabloid transcriptions contain a wealth of clues for my research on Ferguson & Urie stained glass.

In 1867 James Urie has traveled to Tasmania on the quest to further the company’s interests. By all accounts it would seem that his business acumen was extremely successful and there have been quite a few tabloid articles written which trace his movements. For many years after his venture to Tasmania the company would receive commissions from all over the state.

Each of the obscure clues in the following articles has been researched in great depth and links to other detailed posts on the windows mentioned have been included.

The Mercury, Hobart Tasmania, Wednesday 7^th August 1867, page 2.

“DECORATIVE ART – The admirers of art workmanship will be glad to hear that there has for the last couple of weeks been sojourning in Tasmania, a partner of the Victorian firm of Ferguson, Urie, and Lyon, to whom many ecclesiastical and private edifices in this and the neighboring colonies are indebted for some of the finest specimens of pictorial decoration on glass, of which they have yet become the possessors. The objects of the visit have been to fulfil some orders previously given and to obtain others, and it is satisfactory to know that in the latter design the gentleman referred to, Mr. Urie, has not been unsuccessful. The name of the firm of which Mr. Urie is a member will be familiar to all visitors to the late Intercolonial Exhibition in Melbourne, in which a court furnished by them to illustrate the ornamentation of churches constituted a very interesting and pleasing feature. Mr. Urie has brought with him a portfolio of designs prepared in his establishment for the embellishment of ecclesiastical windows, and inspection of which is quite sufficient to establish the claim of the house he represents to consideration at the hands of all persons of cultivated taste, who may have made this branch of the art a subject of special study. The appropriateness with which the conventional religious symbols of the ancient church are introduced, the fidelity with which scriptural incidents are treated, and the beauty of the drawing and colouring combine to render the collection at once suggestive to the mind, and pleasing to the eye; and a familiarity with it, on the part of the rising generation of Tasmanians, would do much towards engendering and fostering a healthy appreciation of one of the highest forms of art workmanship amongst the community. The decorations already supplied by Messrs. Ferguson, Urie, and Lyon to churches in Tasmania, include a stained window erected in St Luke’s Church, Launceston, and another which has been placed in the Episcopalian Church, New Norfolk. The former contains a representation of the “Ascension,” supplemented by groups of the apostles, the entire constituting a most ornate adjunct of the building, and being completed at a cost of £130. The latter has been contributed by Dr. Moor as a memorial of gratitude for his preservation from shipwreck in the City of Launceston, steamer. The central group of figures in the latter represents the baptism of Christ. In addition to these the firm are in receipt of commissions from John Foster, Esq, for a memorial window to be placed in All Saints’ church, Hobart Town, remembrance of the donor’s deceased son, and from A. Kennerley Esq, for other decorated windows for the same church. They have also executed commissions for hall and staircase windows, some of them of highly artistic design, for R. Q. Kermode Esq, of Mona Vale, which afford evidence of the attention paid by them to the profane as well as to the religious style of decoration in the branch of pictorial art to which they devote themselves.”

Geelong Advertiser, Vic, Thursday 15^th August 1867, page 3.

“A Tasmanian paper thus refers to the success of an enterprising Melbourne firm: -“Mr Urie, of the firm of Ferguson, Urie and Lyon, of Melbourne, who, it will be remembered, designed and executed one of the stained-glass decorations in St. John’s Church, is now visiting Hobart Town, having fitted up a window in the Episcopalian Church, New Norfolk, which has been contributed by Dr Moore as a memorial of gratitude for his preservation from shipwreck in the City of Launceston steamer. The central group of figures represents the baptism of Christ. In addition to these the firm are in receipt of commissions from John Foster, Esq., for a memorial window to be placed in All Saints’ Church, Hobart Town, in remembrance of the donor’s deceased son, and from. A. Kennerley, Esq., for other decorated windows for the same church. They have also executed commissions for hall and staircase windows, some of them of highly artistic design, for R. Q. Kermode, Esq, of Mona Vale.”

All the windows mentioned in the historical articles are extant:

1. St John’s window Launceston (incorrectly mentioned as St Luke’s in the first article).

2. The Episcopalian Church, New Norfolk, is St Matthews and has the Moore window.

3. The Foster memorial window at All Saints Anglican Hobart.

4. The A. Kennerley windows are in the ‘Kennerley’ aisle in All Saints.

5. The Kermode window at Mona Vale is extant but only copyright photos exist.

Also see: 13-08-1867: James Urie visits Tasmania on Ferguson and Urie business.

Short link to this page: http://wp.me/p28nLD-95

Feb 14 2012

23-10-1863: St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Evansdale, Tasmania, Australia.

The Mercury, Hobart, Friday 23rd October 1863, page 3.

“Two very handsome stained glass windows have recently been placed in the Evandale, Presbyterian church, one on either side of the pulpit. They cost £125 and are a great ornament to the interior of the building.”

The two windows mentioned here are certainly to be by Ferguson & Urie but not yet officially attributed. Images exist in some copyright publications by Professor Miles Lewis.

Ferguson and Urie

Colonial Victoria's Historic Stained Glass Craftsmen 1853-1899

Category Tasmania

13-07-1885: St David’s Mission Chapel, Campbell Street, Hobart, Tasmania.

1875: St John the Baptist Church, Ouse, Tasmania.

25-09-1866: St John’s Anglican Church, Launceston, Tasmania.

02-10-1871: St George’s Church, Battery Point, Hobart, Tasmania

1869: The Alfred Kennerley Mansion ‘Rouseville’, Davey Street, Hobart, Tasmania.

13-08-2012: All Saints Anglican Church, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.

1879: St Luke’s Church, Bothwell, Tasmania, Australia.

1868: All Saints Anglican Church, South Hobart, Tasmania.

24-06-1879: St Peter’s Church of England, Hamilton, Tasmania.

14-11-1885: Wesleyan Methodist Church, Ross, Tasmania.

20-10-1885: Christ Church, Frederick St, Launceston, Tasmania.

04-03-1882: St Matthew’s Church, New Norfolk, Tasmania.

27-12-1881: St Paul’s Anglican Church, Launceston, Tasmania.

06-01-1876: Holy Trinity (Greek Orthodox), Hobart, Tasmania.

22-05-1874: Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Westbury, Tasmania

21-05-1874: Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Westbury, Tasmania.

10-07-1873: St. David’s Cathedral, Hobart, Tasmania.

26-07-1872: Memorial Congregational, Elizabeth and Brisbane streets, Hobart, Tasmania.

21-03-1871: Struan House, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.

03-07-1869: St. John’s Anglican Church, Ross, Tasmania.

16-07-1868: Cook’s Tailoring Establishment, Elizabeth Street, Hobart, Tasmania.

08-08-1868: ‘Thompson Villa’, AKA ‘Enstone Park’, Falmouth, Tasmania

Note: as at 3rd Apr 2017 this marker post is due to be replaced by an extensive research article including images of the stained glass window (but please don’t hold your breath waiting).

The Launceston Examiner, Tasmania, Saturday 8th August 1868, page 2.

03-03-1868: Wesleyan (Pilgrims Uniting) Church, Patterson street, Launceston, Tasmania.

20-01-1868: Mona Vale Mansion, Ross, Tasmania, Australia.

13-08-1867: James Urie visits Tasmania on Ferguson and Urie business.

07-08-1867: Decorative Art. James Urie sojourning in Tasmania.

23-10-1863: St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Evansdale, Tasmania, Australia.

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Note: as at 3rd Apr 2017 this marker post is due to be replaced by an extensive research article including images of the stained glass window (but please don’t hold your breath waiting).

The Launceston Examiner, Tasmania, Saturday 8th August 1868, page 2.

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