Tag Archives: Coppin

Mar 13 2012

18-11-1876: St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, Richmond, Melbourne, Victoria.

The foundation stone of St Stephen’s Church was laid in June 1850 and the incomplete church opened in November 1851. In 1863 the north aisle, designed by Nathaniel Billing, was erected and the west wall rebuilt. The south aisle and chancel were erected in 1876 and the choir vestry in 1923.

The Argus, Melbourne, Saturday 18th November 1876, page 7.

“The Church of England in Richmond celebrated its 25th anniversary on Wednesday evening by a festive gathering in the local hall […]”.

 “….The following list of special gifts was also read:- Chancel and stone work of east window at two friends’ joint cost; chancel window, Mr. George Coppin, M.L.A…”

 “… The Rev. C. T. Perks, the incumbent, in his address, said that an old friend had, unsolicited, offered to give a handsome memorial window to commemorate the 25th anniversary. The work was entrusted to Messrs. Fergusson (sic) and Urie.…”

There are four instances of Ferguson & Urie windows in St Stephens church:

1. The west 25th Anniversary window (1851-1876) is a three light window with the outer lancets having geometric designs with the year 1851 in the left window and 1876 in the right. The centre light depicts the Ascension in the top half with the words “HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN” below it and the letters “IHS” in the lower half.  The text at the bottom of the windows reads:  ”GIFT OF JOHN AND MARY J PATERSON LONDON, MARRIED JULY 26th 1859″.

The Argus, Melbourne, Vic, Thursday 28th July 1859, page 4.

“On the 26th inst., at St. Stephen’s, Richmond, by the Rev. C. Perks, John Paterson, Esq., merchant, Melbourne, to Mary Jane, eldest daughter of the late William Mungo Glaister. Esq., London.”

2. The east five light window in the chancel  was donated by entertainer and politician George Selth Coppin. It depicts a full length figure of St. Stephen, the patron saint of the church, in the centre light. The outer lights, of geometric designs, have in each a medallion of the four evangelists, St Matthew as the winged man, St Mark as a winged Lion, St Luke as the winged Bull and St John as an Eagle. Above the five lights is a roundel depicting the Agnes Dei or Paschal lamb carrying the flag of St George and is surrounded by six round lobes of flora with the heavenly Dove in the top lobe.

3. On the South side of the church there is also a quatrefoil window that depicts the holy dove within a Hexagram, or Star of David, and surrounded by floral designs.

4. On the North side there is a quatrefoil that depicts the gold crown in the centre of floral designs.

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Related posts:

12-07-1862: The Shakespeare window at the Haymarket Theatre, Melbourne (also commissioned by Coppin).

External links:

Biography: George Selth Coppin (1819-1906)

Obituary : Coppin, George Selth (1819–1906) (I submitted this transcription to Obituaries Australia on 13-03-2012).

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

© Copyright

Feb 26 2012

22-04-1870: The Haymarket Theatre Dispute. Melbourne, Victoria.

The Argus, Melbourne, Friday 22nd April 1870, page 6.

Mr P.T. Conlon, Architect, writes to the Editor of the Argus in an attempt to correct a misinformed statement made by a Mr. Sullivan at a meeting of bondholders of the Haymarket Theatre..

“THE HAYMARKET THEATRE DISPUTE”

 “Sir, – In the absence of Mr. George Coppin from the colony, will you permit me to contradict a statement made by Mr. Sullivan, at a meeting of bondholders held yesterday, at the office of Mr. Mackenzie. In your report of the meeting in this mornings issue of the Argus, it appears that Mr Sullivan made a statement to the effect that Mr. Coppin had four bonds given to him for certain articles that he provided when the theatre was built, amongst which was a stained glass window that was placed in front of the Apollo-hall. Upon this subject Mr. Sullivan must have been misinformed. The history of the stained glass window, of which so much has been said of late, is simply that in my original specification for building the Haymarket Theatre the whole of the windows in front were to be of plate glass. Messrs. Ferguson and Urie being anxious to introduce their exceedingly beautiful system of imitating stained glass, made an offer to Mr. Coppin to fill in the spaces with their workmanship, at atleast two thirds less than Its actual cost. Mr. Coppin accepted their offer and paid the difference between that and the plate-glass, and to my certain knowledge there was no source from whence Mr. Coppin could obtain the bonus (of four debentures) spoken of by Mr. Sullivan. – I am, Sire, yours, &c. P.T. CONLON, Architect. April 21, 1870.”

Note: The Shakespeare window now is on display at the State Library in Swanston St Melbourne and was restored by Geoffrey Wallace Stained Glass in 2005.

Shakespeare Window 01

Related posts:

05-07-1862, 12-07-1862 (slideshow), 06-08-1862

Short link to this page: https://wp.me/p28nLD-e4

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Feb 12 2012

12-07-1862: The Shakespeare window at the Haymarket Theatre, Melbourne.

The history of one of Ferguson & Urie’s most famous stained glass windows can only be surmised by the following article:

The Portland Guardian and Normanby General Advertiser, Saturday 12th July 1862, page 2.

“I have just received per mail, a photograph of a splendid piece of work – in the shape of a magnificent stained glass window, it is equal to anything of the kind produced in the old country, and is a credit to the colony. This splendid piece of work has just been completed for the new theatre now about opening in Melbourne, and has been manufactured at the works of Messrs. Ferguson and Urie, of Curzon-street, Melbourne, its designers and the artists to whom it will testify for years to come; they have successfully carried out a specimen of the fine arts, such as could not be excelled in any part of the Queen’s dominions. It consists of three separate parts a central and two wings – the central part has a fine life sized portrait of the immortal Will. Shakespeare, surrounded by a border of scroll and arabesque work, with flowers intermixed of the richest colours; over the poets head is a coat of arms, in a kind of oriel – under his feet is a device, emblematic of the profession – a lyre, masque, &c, &c, this as well as the oriel is likewise surrounded by borderings of quaint and original design and the whole window had a border edged each side with a narrower one – of the most chaste and beautiful description. The Poet stands in a leaning attitude, pen in hand dressed in the handsome costume of Queen Elizabeth’s time. The two side departments each contain two full length portraits of the most prominent characters, such as the Jolly Old Knight, “Sir John Falstaff,” Macbeth’s guilty Queen and other two. The whole of this beautiful work is formed of Stained Glass of the richest transparent colours and is the first thing of the kind on so large a scale, executed in Victoria.”

The Shakespeare window is now on display at the top of the dome in the La Trobe reading room. It was restored by Geoffrey Wallace stained glass studio in 2005. Originally it included two narrow side windows devoted to the Shakespearean characters, Hamlet and Lady Macbeth and Beatrice but what became of those is unknown.

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Related Posts:

05-07-1862 > 06-08-1862

18-11-1876: St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, Richmond, Melbourne, Victoria.

Short link to this page: http://wp.me/p28nLD-3d

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Feb 12 2012

05-07-1862: Coppin’s Apollo Music Hall Opening Night.

The Argus, Melbourne, Friday 4th July 1862, page 8.

“COPPIN’S APOLLO MUSIC HALL OPENING NIGHT, SATURDAY, JULY 5, 1862.”

 “The opening of the first music hall erected in the metropolis of Australia supplies a vacuity prejudicial to the musical tastes of the city. The present magnificent Building, erected by Mr. G. Conwell, under the supervision of P. Conlon, Esq, occupies 5,000 feet, is 22 feet high, and has been constructed with scientific regard to acoustics …”

“…The Chaste Parisian Decorations are by Mr. J. Hennings and assistants. The Three Principal Chandeliers Are constructed with upwards of 3,600 pieces of crystal. The Splendid Mirrors contain upwards of 600 feet of plate glass. The Stained Glass Windows, By Messrs. Ferguson and Urie, are excellent specimens of colonial manufacture.”

Related Posts:

06-08-1862 > 12-07-1862  (photos)

External links:

Biography: George Selth Coppin 1819-1906

Short link to this page: https://wp.me/p28nLD-32

© Copyright

Feb 12 2012

01-07-1862: The opening of Coppins Apollo Music Hall.

The Argus, Melbourne, Tuesday 1st July 1862, page 8.

Entertainer and Politician, George Coppin, opens his ‘Apollo Music Hall’ on the 5th of July 1862. The stained glass windows were crafted by Ferguson & Urie of North Melbourne. One of the windows depicting the stage image of Shakespeare was restored by Geoffrey Wallace Studios in 2005 and now appears at the top of the dome in the Latrobe Reading Room at the State Library of Victoria.

Photo taken 16th January 2011.

Related posts:

22-04-1870: The Haymarket Theatre Dispute. Melbourne, Victoria.