Tag Archives: 1863

Feb 12 2012

31-03-1863: St Paul’s, Humfray St, Bakery Hill, Ballarat, Victoria.

Ferguson & Urie fit the western window of St Paul’s Ballarat.

The Star, Ballarat, Tuesday 31st March 1863, page 2.

“During the last week the tracery of the western window of St. Paul’s Church has been fitted with stained glass, more in harmony with that in the eastern or chancel window. This latter – the first of the kind erected in Ballarat – was executed by Messrs Ferguson and Urie, of Melbourne, who have furnished the following description:- “The triplet window in the chancel is designed in accordance with the style of the recent additions to the building, that of the latter half of the fourteenth century – a period of transition from the decorated, or middle pointed style, into the perpendicular. It is filled in with a pattern in keeping with the principals of the glass painters of that period. Their details were taken from flowers and leaves. So in this design is seen the passion flower and its leaf; the vine, maple, and thistle leaves. In the top piece of tracery is the Paschal lamb and banner, and in the largest piece of tracery are monograms of our Saviour. The label in the centre of the window – emblazoned with the text “Blessed are they that dwell in Thy House, they will be still praising The” – is twisted round a floriated cross on a rich blue background”. We observe that the decorations of the chancel are not yet completed, but hope the committee will soon be able to accomplish this remaining part of the work.”

The Ferguson & Urie chancel window at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Humfray Street Ballarat. Photo: Ray Brown 17 Mar 2011.
The Ferguson & Urie chancel window at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Humfray Street Ballarat. Photo: Ray Brown 17 Mar 2011.

In 1864 the first church collapsed when the ground beneath subsided due to underground mining and heavy rain. The extant brick church was then reconstructed on more stable ground only a few meters to the west of the collapsed church, with the surviving tower now at the rear. The Ferguson & Urie chancel window was re-positioned in the new church in 1864-65.

Related posts about the window: 29-03-1862 > 14-04-1862 > 19-05-1862 > 04-06-1862 > 24-06-1862 > 15-07-1862 > 01-03-1863 > 07-08-1863

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Feb 12 2012

07-01-1863: St. Mark’s, Collingwood, Melbourne, Victoria.

The Church of St Mark, Collingwood (now Fitzroy), was consecrated on Tuesday the 6th January 1863. A newspaper article published the following day makes mention of Ferguson & Urie preparing the designs for three stained glass windows that were to be memorials to the churches benefactor Mr. Richard Grice. It would appear that this never occurred as there is no stained glass window in the church that bears the name Grice, nor is there any other stained glass by Ferguson.

The Argus, Melbourne, Wednesday 7th January 1863, page 5.

“[…] It is contemplated to perpetuate the recollection of his munificence by erecting three stained-glass windows in the church, the designs of which have been prepared by Messrs. Ferguson and Urie […]”

Fifteen years later, in June 1878, it was reported;

“…It was at one time proposed to beautify the church by a set of stained windows in acknowledgement of the unprecedented liberality of R. Grice, Esq., who has contributed some ten of twelve thousand pounds to the church and parish – nothing, however, but the drawings, has been done…” [1]

Notes:

The community hall adjacent to the St Mark’s church has a rare set of stained glass windows depicting children’s fairy tales by famous author and illustrator Ida Rentoul Outhwaite who has a distant family connection to James Ferguson’s granddaughter Elsie May Auld who’s husband, John Noel Rentoul, was Ida’s brother.

External links:

Obituary – Richard Grice (1813–1882)

Biography – Richard Grice (1813-1882)

Foot notes: