Tag Archives: Ferguson & Urie

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 16th August 1870 [1] and was formally opened on Thursday 7th 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 4th of August 1872[4].

Photos taken 8th 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 16th of August 1870 also marked his 83rd birthday and he died five weeks later on the 27th 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., 16th 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 17th 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 20th April 1832[8]. He died on the 13th 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:

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Feb 29 2012

05-02-1872: St Mary of the Angels Basilica, Geelong, Victoria.

The foundation stone of St Mary’s was laid in 1854 but work ceased in 1856 and the partial construction remained an eyesore in Yarra Street Geelong for seventeen years before the newly appointed Archdeacon Slattery resurrected the plan to have the new church built.  In January 1870 Archdeacon Matthew Downing commissioned T.A. Kelly to prepare plans for completion of the church .

Known as St Mary of the Angels Basilica, it was eventually opened by Bishop James Alipius Goold on the 4th of February 1872. 

The large rose or wheel window in the liturgical west end facing Yarra Street is the work of Ferguson & Urie of North Melbourne. The window measures more than three and a half meters in diameter and cost in excess of £300. The Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, St. Patrick, St. Bridget, St. Augustine, and St. Francis Xavier are the six prominent subjects in the window and they are surrounded by angels, crowns and floral emblems. The Agnus Dei, or Paschal Lamb, is carrying the victory banner which takes place in the centre of the whole arrangement.

Geelong Advertiser, Vic, Thursday 14th December 1871, page 2.

“The new cathedral in Yarra-street is rapidly approaching completion, and the workmen for some time past have been busily engaged with the decorative works of the interior. The side and upper roofs of Ceylon pine, have been stained and varnished, and the timber looks very handsome. Above the pillared arches, the blaster work has been very neatly and artistically executed. Instead of £200, as originally contemplated, the memorial window in front is now to cost about £300. The stained glass is being prepared by Messrs Fergus[sic] and Urie, of Melbourne.”

The Argus, Melbourne, Monday 5th February 1872, Page 5.

“The Church of St. Mary, Geelong, the solemn ceremony in connexion with the opening of which was performed yesterday, stands at the upper end of Yarra-street, Geelong, on an eminence which renders it the most conspicuous object in the town…”

 “… a beautiful and elaborate wheel window, 12ft in diameter, considered the most beautiful in the colony, filled in with stained glass, illustrative of the patrol saints of the church with their appropriate devices…”

Photos taken 18th December 2010. (Updated photos from Nov 2013 can be see on Flickr)

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In 1855, one of the original architects, Richard Dowden, exhibited some proposed designs for stained glass prepared by Kearney & Co of Glasgow and intended for the church:

Geelong Advertiser and Intelligencer, Vic, Saturday 9th June 1855, page 2.

“…Mr. Dowden also exhibited two very beautiful designs for stained glass windows, sent from home by Messrs Kearney & Co, of Glasgow; one was intended for the front window between the towers in the Yarra-street elevation, and the other for one of the transepts; the first contains the Life of the Redeemer, pourtrayed in 12 elegant medallions; the other had four magnificently colored representations of the Virgin Martyr. He stated that they would cost on average, 500 each, which does not seem at all exorbitant, when we consider the elaborate beauty of the designs. We sincerely hope these designs or similar ones will be adopted, as it is of vast importance to cultivate a true taste for the higher classes of art in this country…”

None of the original 1855 designs for the stained glass windows by Kearney & Co were ever adopted. The west oriel or wheel window was eventually made by the Ferguson & Urie stained glass company of North Melbourne circa 1871 and was dedicated to Rev. Dean Hayes;

James Francis Hogan, “The Irish in Australia” (1887), Project Gutenberg transcription.

“…In after years the original design of the church was considerably modified to suit the altered circumstances, and a portion of the nave was com­pleted, sufficiently large to answer the requirements of the reduced population. Even in this incomplete condition, the building is the most conspicuous, commodious and elegant ecclesiastical edifice in the town. Its facade contains a beautiful circular stained glass window in memory of a popular pastor of the place for many years, the Very Rev. Dean Hayes, who was on a visit to his native Ireland when he died, after having just been designated as the first Bishop of Armidale in New South Wales…”

This article from April 1871 gives insight as to how the window came about!

Geelong Advertiser, Vic, Saturday 15th April 1871, page 2.

“A meeting of the friends and subscribers to the late Very Rev. Dean Hayes’ memorial fund, was held at the Town-hall, on Saturday. The attendance consisted of Mr Johnstone, M.L.A., and Messrs Noonan, Davoren, Mansfield, O’Brien, Kelly, and McGonigal. Mr R. de B. Johnstone was voted to the chair. It was announced that £117 was now lodged to the credit of the memorial fund at the Commercial Bank. The chairman stated that the object of the meeting was to decide in what manner the amount collected should be expended, with the view of perpetuating the memory of a great and good citizen. He referred at considerable length to the career of the late Dean, and the claim his good deeds had established. As the founder of the Catholic orphanages at a time when there were no other institutions in existence for the relief of destitute children, he had proved himself entitled to the gratitude of those who came after him. In a matter of this kind he left religious considerations entirely out of the question, and he was indifferent regarding the form the memorial might take, so long as a fitting tribute of respect was paid the the memory of a great and good townsman. It was then decided on the motion of Mr. Noonan, seconded by Mr Davoren, that the memorial should take the form of a stained window, to be erected in the new Roman Catholic Church, Yarra-street. A plan of the proposed window was exhibited, and certainly if the design is carried out it will be not only an embellishment to the sacred edifice, but a suitable monument to the deceased Dean. Archdeacon Slattery, and Messrs Johnstone and Nonan were appointed a sub-committee to carry out the erection f the memorial window which is to be inserted in the building over the main entrance. Some remarks were made about the erection of a marble tablet at the Catholic Orphanage, after which the meeting closed.”

At this point the actual window has yet to arrive and be installed in the tracery!

Geelong Advertiser, Vic, Monday 17th April 1871, page 3

“While St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church is rapidly undergoing demolition a large wooden structure at the rear is to escape destruction for the present, having been converted into a temporary place of worship. The altar belonging to the old building has been transferred thither, so that, instead of the schoolhouse, the members of the congregation who are unable to attend the Ashby Church will be able to celebrate early mass in a place set specially apart for the purpose. The construction of the new church is rapidly progressing, and some idea of its architectural beauty may now be formed. The design of the front entrance is elaborate, and the carved stonework has been executed with great care and accuracy. Above the doorway in the centre frame of the memorial window to be erected to the memory of the late Dean Hayes has been so far completed that only the stained glass is wanting to complete the design. The window is circular, and the stonework about it is carved in such a manner as to produce a striking and elegant effect.”

Geelong Advertiser, Vic, Wednesday 30th August 1871, page 2.

“Great progress is being made with the building of St. Mary’s. Nearly all the stonework of the windows has been completed, and sandstone ornamental work is now being placed on the walls. The designs of the windows are a fitting match for the Very Rev. Dean Hayes memorial window, and are very chaste.”

Geelong Advertiser, Vic, Monday 20th November 1871, page 2.

“It will be remembered that some time ago a meeting of the subscribers to the memorial intended to be raised in honour of the late Very Rev. Dean Hayes, was held at the Town Hall. It was then re solved that the money collected for the purpose by Messrs Johnstone and Noonan, amounting to £130, should be applied towards the erection of a memorial window in St. Mary’s Church, and the Rev. Archdeacon Slattery, Messrs R. de B. John stone and W. P. Noonan were appointed trustees of the fund. The whole of the ornamental stonework of the window has been completed, and is ready for the reception of the stained glass, but some additional funds are required to meet the expense. £230 is the estimate for the window, so that £100 has yet to be raised. Under the circumstances Messrs Johnstone and Noonan intend to resume their canvass, and it will be observed that subscriptions are invited.”

St Mary’s was opened on Sunday February 4th 1872 by Bishop Goold and the following article gave a bit of history, the ceremony, and a lengthy description of the church and the memorial window facing Yarra Street. The detail in the article also indicates that the memorial window of stained glass was the only figurative window erected in the church at that time and all other windows contained amber tinted cathedral glass. Today most of the windows are all filled with stained glass by many other stained glass studios but the two large windows in the north and south transepts are still original. The Rev Dean Hayes memorial window by Ferguson & Urie is the oldest stained glass window in the Church.

Geelong Advertiser, Vic, Monday 5th February 1872, page 3.

“…its magnificent wheel window, 12 feet in diameter. This window is filled with flowing tracery, slightly French in its idea, and glazed with stained glass, intended as a memorial to the late Ven Dean Hayes, the subjects represented being the Blessed Virgin, St. Joseph, St. Patrick, St. Bridget, St. Augustine, and St. Francis Xavier, with their corresponding symbols…”

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Feb 29 2012

01-01-1872: Welsh Church, Latrobe street, Melbourne, Victoria.

The Argus, Melbourne, Monday 1st January 1872, page 5.

A new Welsh Presbyterian or Calvanistic Methodist Church was opened for Divine worship on Saturday, in Latrobe-street. The congregation first met in a common school in Collins street in 1853, but in a year or two became sufficiently numerous to remove to a larger building in Latrobe-street. This, in time, failed to afford sufficient accommodation, and the present structure has been erected in its place. It was designed by Messrs. Crouch and Wilson, and was erected by Mr. Ireland, the total cost being about £1,800. Its style is what is known as the early decorated. It is built of brick, on stone foundations, and measures over all 65ft. 6in. by 42ft. It is intended to stucco the whole exterior of the church, but at present only the front elevation has been so treated. This facade stands upon a fine axed bluestone base, and is 50ft. high to the top of the finial on the gable. The principal entrance is in the centre, and above it is a large triple-light window, with geometrical tracery filled with stained glass, from the manufactory of Messrs. Ferguson, Urie and Lyon.

The Gothic Revival Church in Latrobe street was opened on 30th December 1871.

The text in the ribbon in the centre of the triple light window facing Latrobe street is written in Welsh which translates as follows:

Welsh: –  “ANNWYL CARWN EIN GILYDD OBLEGID CARIAD O DDUW Y MAE”
English: –  “BELOVED LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER FOR LOVE IS OF GOD”

The text comes from the King James Bible, 1 John 4.7 – “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God”

Photos taken 16th July 2011.

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Feb 28 2012

08-12-1871: Christ Church, Hawthorn, Melbourne, Victoria.

 

The Argus, Melbourne, Friday 8th December 1871, page 5.

 “A very handsome memorial window has recently been placed in the north transept of Christ Church, Hawthorn, by Lady Palmer, in commemoration of her husband, Sir James F. Palmer, the late president of the Legislative Council. It is the work of Messrs. Ferguson, Urie and Lyon, of Curzon-street, North Melbourne, stained glass manufacturers, and is an exceedingly creditable production. The design, which is typical of the three Christian virtues, Faith, Hope, and Charity, is identical with that of the west window of New College Chapel, Oxford, which was painted by Jervais, from cartoons furnished by Sir Joshua Reynolds. The colours are very rich, and harmonise well together. The whole treatment of he subject is good, the drapery of he figures, in particular, being admirably managed. Mr.Wyatt, architect, supervised the execution of the work.”

Photos taken 14th November 2010.

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Geelong Advertiser, Vic, Thursday 7th December 1871, page 3.

 “A very handsome memorial window has jnst been placed in Christ Church, Hotham, at the expense of Lady Palmer, in commemoration of the death of her husband, the late President of the Legislative Council. As a specimen of colonial art, the work is probably in its way the finest production in Victoria. The window consists of three compartments, containing allegorical representations of the three Christian virtues, Faith, Hope, and Charity, respectively. The last named of these personifications is represented on the centre compartment, which is 9 feet 8 inches in height and 2 feet broad; the two others being 7 feet high by 2 feet wide. The colours are extremely rich, and the execution compares very favourably with that of two other painted memorial windows of English manufacture in the same church. The work was executed by Messrs Ferguson, Urie, and Lyon, of this city, under the direction of Mr F. Wyatt, architect, the design, so far as the forms are concerned, being copied from a portion of the Hew College Chapel window, which latter was the work of Jervaise, from paintings by Sir Joshua Reynolds. Running along the lower portion of the new window is the following inscription in old English letters:—”To the memory of James Frederick Palmer, Knt., who died April 23rd, 1871.” I understand that the total cost of the work was a little over £100”.

The first parts of Christ Church Hawthorn were constructed in 1853-54 of bluestone in the Gothic design of Charles Vickers. The chancel and temporary organ chamber were added in 1873 and extensions to the nave and north transept in 1886. The church has many historic stained glass windows by craftmen such as Ferguson & Urie, Brooks Robinson & Co, William Montgomery, William Wailes and Hardman of Birmingham.

In late 1871 Lady Isabella Palmer had a memorial stained glass window erected in the South Transept of Christ Church, Hawthorn in honour of her husband Sir James Frederick Palmer (1803-1871).  There is always the question of how or why particular subjects are selected for memorial windows, but in the case of Sir James’ memorial window it was made a little easier for Lady Isabella. She would have been acutely aware of her husbands taste in art. At the Art Treasures Exhibition in Melbourne in April 1869, “…Sir James Palmer contributes two relics of his illustrious kinsman, Sir Joshua Reynolds…” All Lady Isabella had to do now was pick something by Sir Joshua Reynolds with a religious theme that Sir James’ would have loved.

The resulting stained glass window she comissioned was to be made by local stained glass craftsmen “Ferguson, Urie & Lyon” of Curzon St North Melbourne and depicts the three Christian virtues, Faith, Hope, and Charity. The window uses quite large pieces of glass with very few lead lines and although quite spectacular to see is considered technically inferior to their earlier work. The depictions of Faith, Hope and Charity are copied from a stained glass window, located in New College Chapel, Oxford that was created by Jervais and based on the designs by Sir Joshua Reynolds. Ferguson and Urie also copied some elements of the same for the Foster memorial window erected in All Saints Church in South Hobart in 1868.

There is another Ferguson & Urie window in this church not mentioned in any other article found to date. The Henry Nathaniel Ray memorial window is by Ferguson & Urie circa 1879 and depicts Christ carrying the Cross. Henry Ray was the son of Henry Gibbons Ray & Mary Singer and husband of Maria Josephine Ray.  Ray was a Broker, formerly of Middlesex, and died at his home “Maida Estate” at Weinberg Rd Hawthorn on on the 6th of Aug 1879 aged 59 after only a few hours of illness (as reported in the Argus, 7th of August 1879). (Vic BDM: 8008/1879). His family home “Maida Estate”, situated at Glenferrie and Riversdale Roads at Hawthorn, went up for public auction on the 26th of February 1880.

External links:

Sir James Frederick Palmer (1803-1871)

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Feb 28 2012

21-06-1871: Roman Catholic Mortuary Chapel at the Melbourne General Cemetery.

The Argus, Melbourne, Wednesday 21st June 1871, page 5.

 “The Melbourne Cemetery has received another adornment, now that the new mortuary chapel in the Roman Catholic portion of the ground has been completed. This elegant structure, of which the sanctuary only is wanting, is of bluestone, with windows and exterior ornaments of Tasmanian freestone, from Kangaroo Point. It consists of a pointed porch, enriched with carved finials, which leads into a lofty open-roofed chapel, lighted by four trefoil-pattern windows, and paved with encaustic tiles, and two crypts beneath. The style is Gothic, and the dimensions are – length 60ft.,width 22ft., while the slated roof reaches a height of 50ft from the ground. The Belfry is not yet finished. The crypts are solidly floored with concrete, and are provided with sufficient means of ventilation. They are intended as a final receptacle for the remains of deceased priests, which are to be placed there in leaden coffins. The bodies of about 10 deceased clergymen await their transit to this repository, which will take place contemporaneously with the solemn dedication of the building to the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph by the bishop. This will be celebrated in a few weeks, and the Rev. G. V. Barry will preach a special sermon on the occasion. This mortuary chapel is, we believe, the only one worthy the name in Australia; at least such was the opinion of Archbishop Polding, who visited it the other day, and whose knowledge on the subject is doubtless considerable. The entire edifice, which has cost over £1,000 is due to the Rev. W. M. Finn, who, with the permission of the bishop, initiated the movement which has resulted so successfully at the time that he was appointed to his present cure at Heidelberg. Since then the rev, gentleman has been unremitting in his exertions to obtain subscription, and when the money was forthcoming extended his careful supervision to every detail of the construction. The architect of the chapel is Mr. J. B. Denney, and the work was done in two contracts, the superstructure being erected by Messrs. J. Young and Co.”

The dedication ceremony of the chapel was to have taken place on Sunday 20th August 1871 but was postponed due to heavy rain. The service finally took place in the presence of a crowd of 10 to 15 thousand people on Sunday 10th September 1871.

Geoffrey Wallace Stained Glass Studio at Caulfield restored the windows after they were vandalised in 2008.

Four saints are depicted in individual lancets being:

  1. Saint Brigitta of Sweden, holding a candle,
  2. Saint Patrick of Ireland holding the staff with the snake at his feet,
  3. Saint Joseph holding a stalk of Lily flowers,
  4. Saint Maria with her hands folded in prayer.

Each window has the Latin Motto “ORA PRO NOBIS” (Pray for us) at the bottom.

All the photos of the windows have been kindly contributed by Geoffrey Wallace . The images show the remarkable transformation before and after the restoration by Geoff’s Studio.

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Feb 27 2012

22-03-1871: St Patrick’s Catholic Church, Lilydale, Victoria.

The dedication ceremony for St Patrick’s Catholic Church at Lilydale in the Dandenong Ranges supposedly took place on Sunday the 19th of September 1870 as indicated in the article below but St Patrick’s Day was Friday the 17th which is correctly indicated on the memorial stone dated 1997. Although it was mentioned in 1871 that Ferguson & Urie had decorated the high altar, there is no longer any evidence of any artwork or stained glass by Ferguson & Urie in St Patrick’s at all.

The Argus, Melbourne, Wednesday 22nd March 1871, page 5.

“The ceremony of solemnly blessing the now church of St. Patrick’s, Lilydale, took place last Sunday. The Right Rev. Dr. Goold was the officiating prelate. After a procession had marched around the exterior of the church, the bishop commenced the mass of the Patronage of St. Joseph. At the last gospel, the Very Rev. J. Dalton, superior of the Jesuits, preached a sermon suitable to the occasion. At the conclusion of the dedication ceremonial, the bishop addressed the congregation, and concluded by congratulating them and their pastor, Father Finn, of Heidelberg, in having brought their labour of love to so prosperous a termination. The church is built of a species of granite, from plans given gratuitously by Mr. A. Martelli. The style is German Gothic. Mr. David Mitchell, of Richmond, was the contractor; Messrs. Ferguson and Urie, of Melbourne, decorated’ the high altar; and Mr. Gaunt, of Bourke-street supplied the sanctuary fittings. It is only just to state that the above gentlemen have given tho fullest satisfaction. To honour the auspicious event of Sunday lost it has been arranged on an early day to give the children of Lilydale an al fresco entertainment on one of the numerous hills that are in the vicinity.”

Photos taken 13th September 2014.

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A full cycle of photos of all the windows at St Patrick’s can be seen on my Flickr photo stream here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stainedglassaustralia/sets/72157647535174611/

Feb 26 2012

1871: St Patrick’s Catholic Church, Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia.

St Patrick’s Catholic Church, Wangaratta, Victoria.

The triple light stained glass windows behind the altar were the work of  Ferguson, Urie & Lyon  of North Melbourne. There is also a single light in the north transept (very hard to photograph due to obscured light in lower half)  and there is also the Lamb of God (aka Agnus Dei) located above two art deco lights that are not by Ferguson & Urie. Whether there were any original Ferguson & Urie windows below the Lamb of God medallion is not known but it looks highly likely that this window has come from another position in the church prior to modern extensions.

The Argus, Melbourne, Saturday 11th March 1871, page 7.

 “The new Roman Catholic church at Wangaratta, dedicated to St. Patrick, was solemnly opened and consecrated by the Right Rev. Dr. Goold, on Sunday last. High mass was performed, the bishop being assisted by the Re. Dr. Fitzpatrick, vicar-general, and Fathers Hogan and Egan. The church was crowded with people, collected from almost every place within 30 miles of Wangaratta”.

Advocate, Melbourne, Vic, Saturday 18th March 1871, page 6.

“DEDICATION OF ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH, Wangaratta…”

“…The stained glass windows are admirable illustrations of the proficiency of the colonial manufacturers, Messrs. Fergusson,[sic] Urie, and Lyon – the central figure of the Saviour on the cross, with the Blessed Virgin kneeling at the foot, being represented with special correctness of drawing and colouring…”

 

Photos taken 19th December 2011.

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Updated: 13th Feb 2015.

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Feb 26 2012

27-02-1871: Shipping Intelligence notices.

The Argus and other local newspapers of the time included hundreds of shipping notices detailing cargo notices for the colony’s businesses.

The Argus, Melbourne, Monday 27th February 1871, page 4.

“SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. HOBSON’S BAY”

“Dilharce, from London – 28 cases, Ferguson, Urie, and Lyon;”

Feb 26 2012

22-09-1870: The 1870 Sydney Intercolonial Exhibition.

At the 1870 Sydney Intercolonial Exhibition, Ferguson & Urie were recommended for a bronze medal for their samples of stained glass, but the judges inquire as to some authenticity that the work was actually crafted in the Victorian Colony.

The Argus, Melbourne, Thursday 22 September 1870, page 6.

 “… Messrs. Ferguson, Urie, and Lyon have been recommended for a bronze medal for their very beautiful samples of stained glass. But there are two Sydney competitors in the same line, and the judges have intimated a wish that some sort of certificate had been forwarded guaranteeing that the alleged Victorian work was really done in Victoria. They have instituted a very close inquiry to ascertain whether the Sydney exhibits were really produced in New South Wales, but they have no means of prosecuting similar inquiries about the exhibits from other colonies…”

Evening News, Sydney, NSW, Tuesday 27th September 1870, page 4.

Exhibit “1471 Samples stained glass, Ferguson, Urie, and Lyon, Melbourne.”

 

External links:

Example of a Bronze medal at the 1875 exhibition presented to Lyon & Cottier.

Feb 26 2012

10-09-1870: All Saints Church Wickham Terrace, Brisbane, Queensland.

The Brisbane Courier, QLD, Monday 3rd October 1870, page 3.
(repeated in  The Brisbane Courier, QLD, Saturday 10th September 1870, page 5.)

 “A VERY handsome stained-glass east window has been presented to All Saints’ Church, Wickham-terrace, by Sir R. R. Mackenzie and other members of his family. The window is intended to commemorate the decease of the late Mr. Richard Jones, Mrs. Mary O’Connell, and Mr. John Stephen Ferriter. The work has been executed by Messrs. Ferguson, Urie, and Lyon, of Melbourne. The window consists of what is technically termed seven lights, representing the Crucifixion, the Ascension, the Virgin, and Mary Magdalene. The work is beautifully executed, both as regards the excellence of the design and the richness of the colouring, and reflects great credit on all concerned in its manufacture. The window greatly adds to the beauty of the building, and is a gift well worthy of the donors, whose munificence will no doubt be appreciated by the congregation”

Photos taken 1st March 2011.

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The Darling Downs Gazette and General Advertiser, QLD, Wednesday 14th Sep1870, page 3.

“A HANDSOME stained glass window has been presented to All Saints’ Church, Brisbane, by Sir R. R. Mackenzie, and other members of his family. The window is intended as a memorial of the late Mr Richard Jones, Mrs Mary O’Connell, and Mr John Stephen Ferriter. The work has been executed by Messrs Ferguson, Urie, and Lyons [sic], of Melbourne”.

All Saints’ Church Brisbane 1862-1937 by D. L. Kissick B.A., page 30.

“The first anniversary of the dedication of the new church was kept on September 18th,the Bishop and the Rev. T. Jones being the preachers and the offertories being devoted to the building fund. At about this time the, beautiful east windows were put in place, for they were described in the “Courier” of October 3rd, 1870. They ‘were the gift of Sir Robert R Mackenzie, the Rev. T. Jones and. other members of the family of Mr. Richard Jones (father-in-law of the Rev. T. Jones), in memory of him, his daughter, Mrs. Mary O’Connell and Mr. John Stephen Ferriter. In. that famous Queensland poem by W. Wilks, “The Raid of the Aborigines,” Mr. John Stephen Ferriter is described under the name of “Justice Fairit of Tenthill,” a station originally owned by Mr. Richard Jones (“Merchant” Jones)”.

“The work was executed by Messrs. Ferguson, Uril [sic] and Lyons [sic] of Melbourne, the design and the richness of the colouring being excellent. The windows represents the Crucifixion with Mary Magdalene at the foot of the Cross, the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. John, the Ascension and the Holy Spirit. On October 11th the congregation passed a vote of thanks to the Rev. T. Jones and his family for this munificent gift and each generation of worshippers has had cause to bless the generosity of the donors as it has drawn inspiration from this work of art. These windows are probably the oldest stained glass in Queensland”.

There is also a mention of this window in the book “Australia’s Historic Stained Glass” by Beverley Sherry, page 98, which states .”This Crucifixion, rejected by a low church in Melbourne, was installed in 1870 at All Saints” but no evidence has been found to date to indicate which church in Melbourne rejected it.

External Links:

Biography: Sir Robert Ramsay Mackenzie 1811-1873.

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