Tag Archives: Ferguson & Urie

Nov 11 2013

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

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

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

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

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

Photos taken: 17th October 2013.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

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

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

The scenes are:

1st:  Jesus is condemned to death

2nd: Jesus carries His cross

3rd: Jesus falls the first time

4th: Jesus meets his mother

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

6th Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

7th: Jesus falls the second time

8th: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem

9th: Jesus falls a third time

10th: Jesus clothes are taken away

11th: Jesus is nailed to the cross

12th: Jesus dies on the cross

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

14th: Jesus is laid in the tomb

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

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

The Scourging Post, 

The Seamless Garment,

The Bread of Life or Holy Sponge?

The Holy Chalice & Host,

The Crown of Thorns with the Three Nails,

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

The four evangelists depicted as their winged biblical representations;

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

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

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

The first rose window contains the following three scenes:

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

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

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

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

The second rose window contains the following three scenes:

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Acknowledgements:

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

Footnotes:

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

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

 

Nov 11 2013

1884: St Mary’s Anglican Church, Sunbury, Victoria.

In the west wall above the entrance to St Mary’s Anglican Church in Sunbury, is a two light stained glass window erected to the memory of politician and 9th Premier of Victoria, James Goodall Francis. The windows depict the Old Testament characters Moses and St James Major and has the memorial text at the base:

“TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN MEMORY OF JAMES GOODALL FRANCIS DIED 1884”

The Church of England Messenger and Ecclesiastical Gazette for the Diocese of Melbourne and Ballarat, Vic, Thursday 5th February 1885, page 3.

“THE pretty little church of St. Mary’s, Sunbury, has recently been enriched by a memorial window, and a brass eagle, to the memory of the late Hon. J. G. Francis. The window is the gift of the parishioners, and is the work of Messrs. Ferguson and Urie, and has been pronounced by competent judges to be a most creditable specimen of the stainer’s art. It is composed of two lights, each containing three-quarter figures of Moses and St. James Major. Mr. Francis’ Christian name suggested the latter, and that of Moses is obviously significant of the upright and fearless politician. The lectern is from the celebrated firm of Jones and Willis, and is of solid brass. The modelling of the eagle is extremely natural. The pedestal bears the inscription – “To the glory of God, and in memory of James Goodall Francis, who died 23rd January, 1884. Presented to St. Mary’s Church by his widow.” It is simple and handsome, and has been greatly admired by the many visitors to Sunbury during the Christmas season. A correspondent writes to us- “our departed friend is missed more and more. His ready counsel, his large heart, and open purse made him both useful and popular. He was always accessible to “all sorts and conditions of men.” He was most regular in his attendance at divine service. He gave the local clergyman a generous and unfailing support. In the parish and in the vestry he was to the fore in every good work.

            …take him for all in all,

            (We) shall not look upon his like again.”

Photos taken 6th February 2011.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

[View all images]

James Goodall Francis (1835-1884)

James Goodall Francis was born in London in 1819 and emigrated to Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania) at age 15 circa 1835. He became a partner in a Campbell Town store and later joined the mercantile firm of Boys & Pointer in Hobart which he later brought and continued in partnership with Duncan Macpherson.

In 1847 he suffered an extensive head injury at the hands of a burglar named Peter Kenny[1] who was convicted and hung[2] for the offence in the same year. The injury caused Francis to suffer intermittently for the rest of his life. Three years after the hanging of Kenny it was found that he was wrongly convicted and executed after another man had confessed to the crime on his death bed[3].

In 1853 Francis moved to Melbourne and in 1855 was elected a director of the Bank of New South Wales. In 1856 he was elected as vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce and president in 1857. He also maintained financial interests in the Australian Sugar Company and Tasmanian Insurance Company.

In 1859 he was elected to the Legislative Assembly and continued an extensive political and business career. On three occasions he was considered for a Knighthood but consistently declined the honour[4].

His private interests as a vintner allowed him to establish a vineyard at Sunbury in 1863 where he no doubt became close friends with Sir William Clarke of “Rupertswood”.

In 1872 he was elected the 9th Premier of Victoria and held that position until 1874 when ill health, attributed to his assault in 1847, forced his retirement[5].

James Goodall Francis died at his home “Warringa” at Queenscliff on the 25th of January 1884 aged 65[6] and was buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery. He was survived by his wife Mary Grant (nee Ogilvie 1824-1887)[7] and fifteen children and he left a sizeable estate valued at over £178,000[8].

His significant pink granite memorial at the Melbourne General reads:

“Sacred to the Memory of James Goodall Francis born 9th January 1819, died 25th January 1884.
Also his wife, Mary Grant Francis born 6th June 1824, died 18th May 1887.
What doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8″

The memorial stained glass window was erected in the liturgical west wall above the entrance to St Mary’s Anglican Church at Sunbury. The same church also has another Ferguson & Urie stained glass erected as the principal east window behind the chancel to the memory of Sir William Clarke’s daughter Agnes Petrea Josephine Clarke who died as an infant in early 1879.

Colonial Times, Hobart, TAS, Friday 5th March 1847, page 3.

“Peter Kenny was capitally charged with a burglary in the house of Mr. James Goodall Francis, on the night of the 11th Feb., and with cutting and wounding Mr. Francis on the left side of the head…”

Launceston Examiner, TAS, Wednesday 24th March 1847, page 4.

HOBART TOWN.- Peter Kenny, convicted of the burglary and desperate attempt at murder in the house of Mr. James Goodall Francis, in this city, and William Bennett, convicted of Murdering a fellow prisoner at Port Arthur, have suffered the extreme penalty of the law…”

The Cornwall Chronicle, Launceston, TAS, Monday 26th June 1876, page 2.

“… We well recollect one poor fellow of the name of Peter Kenny, who was hung in 1847, on the evidence of the now Hon. J. G. Francis, of Melbourne, as the man who had committed a burglary in his house and assaulted him. Yet, some three years afterwards, a man very like the poor Peter died in the hospital, and before his death, confessed that he was the man who committed the burglary for which Peter Kenny was hung…”

The Argus, Melbourne, Vic, Saturday 26th January 1884, page 1.

“FRANCIS.- On the 25th inst., at Warringa, Queenscliff, James Goodall Francis, aged 65.”

The Argus, Melbourne, Vic, Saturday 26th January 1884, page 5.

“DEATH OF MR J. G. FRANCIS

It is our painful duty to announce the death of the Hon. J. G. Francis, M.L.A., which occurred yesterday at Queenscliff, at half past 6 o’clock p.m. The event was not unexpected. Mr. Francis had been gradually failing for weeks, if not months past. He had a very trying illness in March and April. His physical sufferings passed away with the surgical operations he had then to undergo, but his system, which had been strained more than once by illness, received a shock which deprived him of much of his former mental power, and nearly all his physical activity. His wife and family were henceforth always with him, and their presence could rarely be dispensed with. About six weeks ago, by the advice of Mr. Fitzgerald, one of his regular medical attendants, Mr. Francis removed from East Melbourne to Queenscliff. His case, before then, was known by Mr. Fitzgerald to be hopeless, but it was not considered necessary to acquaint the family with the fact. On Wednesday, Mr Fitzgerald was summoned to Queenscliff. He found Mr. Francis paralysed all down the left side, and insensible, Mr. Fitzgerald, before returning to town on Thursday, told Mrs. Francis that all would be over in a few hours, but his patient lingered until the third day. The news of Mr. Francis’s death reached Melbourne between 7 and 8 o’clock yesterday evening. Its immediate cause was the paralytic seizure and disease of the vessels of the brain, as well as nervous prostration from previous overwork. Mr Francis suffered for years from abscesses and other internal complaints. These ailments were cured each time they appeared, but their tendency was to leave the nervous system weaker than before. Arrangements have been made for conveying the body of the deceased gentleman to Melbourne by special train this evening. It is the wish of the family that the funeral, the time for which has not been fixed, should be strictly private…”

The Argus, Melbourne, Vic, Monday 28th January 1884, page 5.

“The remains of the late Mr. James Goodall Francis were brought from Queenscliff to Melbourne by special train on Saturday evening, and afterwards conveyed to Albert-street, East Melbourne, where the deceased for many years resided. Yesterday afternoon the funeral took place, and, in accordance with the wishes of the family, it was made as private as possible. Had a public ceremony been consented to, the remains of the late statesman would have been followed to the grave by thousands of his fellow citizens. It was, no doubt, more agreeable to the family and the mourning friends of the deceased that there should be an absence of display and popular feeling. Although no public notice was given, a considerable number of gentlemen attended the funeral, and Albert-street, in the neighbourhood of the house, was crowded with spectators. A body of mounted and foot police, under the command of Inspector Pewtreas, took charge of the approaches to the house and regulated the street traffic. They were sent by the authorities more as a mark of respect to the memory of Mr. Francis – a former Premier of Victoria – than for the purpose of preserving order, which was maintained almost without their help. The procession left Albert-street at about half-past 3 o’clock, and its line of march was along Victoria-street and Madeline-street to the cemetery gates. It was about a quarter of a mile in Length, and consisted mainly of private carriages. The burial service at the grave was conducted by the Rev. H. H. P. Handfield, of St. Peter’s Church, East Melbourne, assisted by the Rev. T. H. Goodwin, the cemetery chaplain. His Honour Mr. Justice Higinbotham; Sir William J. Clarke, M.L.C.; the Hon. James Stewart Johnston; the Hon Walter Madden, M.L.A.; the Hon David Moore, Mr. Herbert J. Henty, Mr. William H. Miller, of the Bank of Victoria, and Dr. Shields, were the gentlemen requested to act as pall-bearers. Amongst others present were the Hon. Duncan Gillies, Minister of Railways; the Hon. Alfred Deakin, Minister of Public Works; the Hon. Charles Young’ Sir Charles MacMahon, a former Speaker of the Legislative Assembly; the Hon. H. J. Wrixon; Mr. Zox, M.L.A; Mr. F. T. Derham, M.L.A.; Mr. Charles Smith, mayor of Melbourne and M.L.A. for Richmond (the first constituency represented by Mr. Francis in the Legislative Assembly); Mr. E. G. Fitzgibbon, town clerk; Dr. Youl, Mr. Alfred Wyatt, P.M.; Councillor Wilks, Mr. James England, and Mr. J. G. Burtt. The Premier, Mr. Service, who left for Sorrento on Friday, could not attend, but sent his carriage, which was occupied by Mr. Thomas, secretary to the Premier. Mr. Berry, the Chief Secretary, was also absent from town, having gone to Geelong, and Mr. Kerferd, the Attorney-General, was not sufficiently well to be present. The Bank of New South Wales, of which Mr. Francis was a director, and the Victorian Sugar Company, with which he was long connected, were both represented in the group of gentlemen who collected round the grave while the service for the dead was read. The body, enclosed in an oak coffin, covered with wreaths of flowers, was deposited in the family vault.

When the funeral procession, following the remains of the late Mr. J. G. Francis, entered the general Cemetery yesterday, the paths were overrun by a miscellaneous crowd of persons – chiefly boys and girls – whose curiosity to see what was about to be done caused pain and annoyance to gentlemen who, in mournful silence, were endeavouring to pay due respect to the memory of the dead. The line of march was broken at almost every step by the thoughtless intruders, who thrust themselves into front places, or pressed in from the edge of the path. On the hearse being stopped it was surrounded, and the staff of attendants provided by Mr. Daley, who conducted the funeral arrangements, were hampered by the uninvited crowd, whilst the pall-bearers would with difficulty get to their places. There was further crowding round the grave. What rendered the intrusion of strangers the more conspicuous was the fact most of the girls were dressed in glaring colours, in vexing contrast with the black costumes of the mourners. If the board of trustees who have the management of the cemetery, or some other body, could provide attendants, when necessary, to make it easy for the public to observe the ordinary rules of decorum, they would earn the gratitude of all who have occasion to follow friends or relatives to their last resting-place. The special body of police present yesterday had quite enough to do to control the traffic at the gates. Within the grounds there appeared to be no means of keeping line along the main walk.”

Related posts:

1880: St Mary’s Anglican Church, Sunbury, Victoria.  (The east triple light window to the memory of Agnes Petrea Josephine Clarke)

Footnotes:

Oct 8 2013

1872: St John’s Anglican Church, Raymond Terrace, New South Wales.

In late November 1872 a magnificent three-light stained-glass window was unveiled in St John’s Anglican Church at Raymond Terrace in New South Wales.

“…It is due to the firm of Messrs Furgusson [sic], Urie, and Lyon, of Melbourne, to say that the window is regarded as a beautiful specimen of Australian art, which will favourably compare with works of a similar character executed in England…” [1].

The window was crafted by the North Melbourne stained-glass firm ‘Ferguson, Urie, and Lyon’ for £80 and was erected in the chancel in memory of the district pioneer and geologist William Keene.

Photos were taken October 2013 and have been kindly contributed by Michaela Sorensen. The historic photo of the chancel and window was taken by the Rector of St John’s, the Rev Norman Alfred Pullin (1913-1983), during his incumbency of St John’s circa 1949-52 [2].

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

St John’s Anglican Church is located at Raymond Terrace, 167km North of Sydney and 26km North of Newcastle in New South Wales.

The church was built on land formerly owned by the Cafferay[3] family and was constructed of locally quarried stone to the designs of architect Edmund Blacket for £1500. It was consecrated by the Bishop of Newcastle, William Tyrell, on Thursday the 25th September 1862[4] and the first incumbent was the Rev John Roe Blomfield.

After the death of William Keene in 1872 it was resolved that a memorial stained-glass window should be erected to his memory in St John’s. One of the lead organisers of the creation of the window was Henry Bayes Cotton (1820-1906)[5], a well-known and respected manager of the National Bank of New South Wales at nearby Newcastle.

The craftsmanship of the window was entrusted to the Ferguson, Urie and Lyon[6] Stained-glass Company of North Melbourne in Victoria. The biblical theme represented in the window being, in the centre light, the Nativity, Crucifixion and the Resurrection. The flanking side lights had the inscription beneath each figure being, ‘Teach the Ignorant,’ and ‘Help the Helpless.’

The window was erected in the chancel of St John’s and was unveiled in late November 1872. The ‘Maitland Mercury’ of the 3rd December 1872 provided a detailed description of the historic window;

“…Commencing at the foot of the light, there is the scene of our Saviour’s birth. In the centre of the light is represented the Crucifixion, and this is again surmounted by the Resurrection. These subjects are all taken from the old masters, and are beautifully executed. The intermediate spaces are occupied with chaste and varied medallions, and the sacred monograms, I.H.S. In the right side light there is an admirably designed and well finished group, representing a venerable teacher engaged in instructing those around him; the countenances of this group are peculiarly pleasing. In the left side light is likewise a corresponding group, consisting of a benevolent person, and a female figure of benign aspect, engaged in receiving orphan children…”
“…The inscription at the base of the memorial is, “To the Glory of God, and in memory of William Keene, 1872”[7]

Just over a century later the chancel of St John’s had to be demolished and the window, now more than a century old, was considered to be in a fragile condition and was subsequently removed and stored in the rectory of St John’s. The repairs to the sanctuary and extensions to the chapel and vestry were completed in 1975 [8] and, later, at the instigation of William Keene’s great granddaughter, Annette Keene Holloway, funds were raised from family members and parishioners of St John’s to repair and re-erect the windows. Because there was no longer a position in the chancel for the windows to be re-erected in their original configuration, they were refashioned into five single lights and re-installed along the south wall of the nave.

“A stained glass window depicting the nativity, Life and Crucifiction [sic] was erected in St. John’s Church in memory of Great Grandfather William Keene. Later I heard it had been removed and the opening cemented up. I wrote to the Rev. Sores and he replied that the window had been in bad repair and in danger of being broken. Raymond Terrace was a poor parish without the money to restore the damage so the windows were stored in the Rectory. I wrote to my cousins who sent money. Other parishioners did too and the windows were re-installed on the side wall of the church where they can still be admired as a link with early colonial days.”[9]

Mr Don Denham, Parish Secretary of St Johns, Raymond Terrace, provides further insight as to the time line of the historical windows:

“In the late 1960’s the original sanctuary/ chancel of the church was demolished and in the 1970’s a new sanctuary/ chancel and side chapel were constructed of modern design. In the new construction there was no east window to house the windows and so they were placed in the five small lancet windows of the southern side of the nave”.

“… the complete east window fitted perfectly into the nave windows and the completed affect is quite pleasing…”

“…The windows have been recently restored and we are planning the rededication service for 20 October this year”.[10]

The most recent conservation work on the windows was carried out in 2011 by Ron Jensen, of Heritage Stained Glass at New Lambton in New South Wales. Only two of the five windows required attention, being the one at the south west corner titled “Teach the ignorant” and the centre window of the five titled “Death” which depicts the Crucifixion.

The five individual windows, from left to right along the south wall are;

“Help the Helpless”, “Birth” (Nativity), “Death” (Crucifixion), “Resurrection” and “Teach the Ignorant.”

Each of the reconstructed windows retains the original 1872 Ferguson & Urie figurative stained glass work depicting the five biblical scenes. Each scene has two of the original decorative quatrefoils below it. These quatrefoils are of varying colours with gothic floral designs of yellow and white flowers in the centre, surrounded by a stylized depiction of the passion flower with the stamen in each of the four lobes.

The background quarries of glass surrounding the figurative scenes and quatrefoils are no-longer original and are now of varying sized rectangular and diamond shapes in soft pastel colours. The monogram described as containing the letters “I.H.S” originally appeared between the nativity and Crucifixion scenes in the centre light of the window but this no longer exists. The memorial inscription at the base of the window now has the year ‘1872’ in the far left light which in its original configuration appeared immediately after William Keene’s name (“To the Glory of God, and in memory of William Keene, 1872”).

There are many cases of our historic stained-glass artefacts that no longer exist after more than a century and a half. Some of the historic churches have met their demise by fire, demolition, or have been sold to private enterprise over the last 150 years and in many cases their original artefacts and stained-glass windows have been lost. St John’s church at Raymond Terrace represents a rare example of the dedication of the parishioners and Keene family descendants to save the historic windows so they still have a reminder of their pioneer heritage.

In September 2012 St John’s celebrated its 150 year anniversary and the re-dedication of the Keene memorial stained-glass windows will occur at St John’s on the 20th October 2013.

William Keene (1798 – 1872)

William Keene was born at Bath, in Somersetshire, England, c.1798. His English ancestry associates him with ‘The Bath Journal’ of London, founded in 1742. The tabloid was later known as ‘Keene’s Bath Journal’ circa 1822 which remained in the Keene family until c.1916 before being absorbed by the ‘Bath Herald’.

William Keene initially trained in the medical profession but his interests in geology were his passion and he changed his career to become a geologist and mining and civil engineer. Circa 1822 he left for France where he gained a prestigious appointment with the French government;

“…in connection with some salt mines in the Pyrenees. His services, highly esteemed by that government, brought him an order and a pecuniary grant…“[11]

Keene later became a ‘Fellow of the Geological Society’ in London[12] which entitled him to the prestigious post nominal of ‘F.G.S’. On the 13th August 1822 William was married to Sarah Charles Evans (1804-1867) at the British Embassy Chapel in Paris[13] by the Chaplain Edward Forster. The Keene’s had a long association with France where many of their children were born. During their time in France William gained a passion for the French style of wine making which would become an interest for the rest of his life. At the beginning of the French Revolution in 1848 they returned to England[14].

Circa 1852 William migrated to Australia with his family and on the 12th December 1854 he was appointed as Government Examiner of Coal Fields in New South Wales[15] and in 1856 promoted to Government Geologist[16]. His geological interests allowed him to amass a significant collection of mineral specimens and fossils which he displayed in 1858[17] and in August 1859 the collection was on public display at the military barracks in Newcastle[18].

In 1861 William Keene’s extraordinary collection of geological specimens was singled out for particular attention at the Sydney Industrial and Art Exhibition;

“To the collection of Mr. W. Keene, Government examiner of coal fields and mines, it is desirable to invite particular attention. It is on the north side of the upper gallery, and consists of some valuable specimens from our gold, copper, lead, iron, and coal fields, and some remarkable fossils, the whole having been collected by himself, and chiefly in the counties of Hunter and Argyle…”[19]

Over a twenty year period William Keene wrote several papers on the subject of fossils and authored a significant number of Government reports on Colonial mineral wealth and mining.

William Keene was a staunch supporter of the Church of England and in his position as the first acting Registrar of St John’s he read the petition for the consecration of the church, which he had the honour to perform shortly after 11am on Thursday the 25th September 1862[20].

William Keene was a member of the Newcastle Church Diocese, Local School Board, and Founder and Treasurer of the Clergy Widows and Orphan’s Fund[21]. He was elected President of the Newcastle School of Arts in 1869[22] and he laid the foundation stone of that school on the 8th April 1870[23].

Aside from his geological interests he was renowned in the Hunter River area as a viticulturist and vintner, who passionately advocated the French style of vine-growing in the district. He was also an active member of the Hunter River Vineyard Association, of which he was president in 1865-66[24], and also a member of the Agricultural Association[25]. His experience in this field often saw him called upon to act as a wine-judge at the regional exhibitions[26].

William Keene died at his home, ‘Kingsmead House’, in Raymond Terrace on the 2nd February 1872[27] and was buried in the Raymond Terrace Cemetery. His wife Sarah predeceased him on the 2nd of July 1867[28].

Henry Bayes Cotton (1820-1906)

Henry Bayes Cotton is recognised as one of the principal promoters in having the Keen memorial window erected in St John’s in 1872.

“…It cannot fail to give great pleasure to H. B. Cotton, Esq., of Newcastle, who has taken a large amount of trouble and interest in accomplishing the work; and the friends of the deceased must be greatly gratified and comforted when they gaze upon this tribute of respect and affection to their departed relative…”[29]

Henry Bayes Cotton arrived in the Colony circa 1839 and was appointed as the first manager of the Bank of New South Wales at Geelong circa 1854 and in 1863-64, appointed as first manager of the Newcastle branch[30] in New South Wales where he remained until his retirement in early 1888.[31] Although retired he maintained an interest in financial affairs and in 1893 he was appointed a director of the New South Wales ‘de Piété Deposit and Investment Company.’[32]

Like William Keene, he was a staunch supporter of the Church of England and was also for many years a lay reader and active member of the Synod[33].

The association or friendship between Keene and Cotton is not specifically known but it is reasonable to assume that they knew each other well as Cotton was also involved in the establishment of the Newcastle School of Arts[34] with William Keene, who had laid the foundation stone of that school in 1862 and both were parishioners of St John’s at Raymond Terrace with Cotton actively involved in the choir of St. John’s.

Henry Bayes Cotton left Newcastle and retired to the Sydney suburb of Hunters Hill where he died aged 86 at his residence ‘Fig Tree’ on the 15th January 1906[35]. His wife Rachel predeceased him, 18th April 1903, aged 78[36].

The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River Advertiser, NSW, Tuesday 3rd December 1872, page 3.

“MEMORIAL STAINED GLASS WINDOW IN ST. JOHN’S CHURCH, RAYMOND TERRACE, TO THE LATE WILLIAM KEENE, ESQ.- This window was placed in St. John’s Church, Raymond Terrace, Raymond Terrace, last week, and as it is the admiration of all who have viewed it, a short description may be interesting to your readers, whilst it is due to those kind friends who contributed towards the window. It may be as well to state in the first place, that the Church of St. John is a Gothic edifice, pleasantly situated on a spot which affords a view of the Hunter River and of the rich alluvial farms spreading for miles on the opposite side; the churchyard is neatly kept, having been tastefully laid out and planted with choice evergreen trees about six years ago. The east window of the church consists of three lancet lights; the central light is eleven feet high, being admirably adapted for the style and subjects which have been chosen. Commencing at the foot of the light, there is the scene of our Saviour’s birth. In the centre of the light is represented the Crucifixion, and this is again surmounted by the Resurrection. These subjects are all taken from the old masters, and are beautifully executed. The intermediate spaces are occupied with chaste and varied medallions, and the sacred monograms, I.H.S. In the right side light there is an admirably designed and well finished group, representing a venerable teacher engaged in instructing those around him; the countenances of this group are peculiarly pleasing. In the left side light is likewise a corresponding group, consisting of a benevolent person, and a female figure of benign aspect, engaged in receiving orphan children. It is scarcely necessary to say that these subjects are intended to perpetuate the memory of the offices which the deceased gentleman so long and faithfully filled in the Church of the Diocese, as a member of the Local School Board, and Founder and Treasurer of the Clergy Widows’ and Orphans’ Fund. The inscription under these subjects respectively is, ‘Teach the Ignorant,’ ‘Help the Helpless.’ The window adds much to the beauty of the chancel and the church generally. It cannot fail to give great pleasure to H. B. Cotton, Esq., of Newcastle, who has taken a large amount of trouble and interest in accomplishing the work; and the friends of the deceased must be greatly gratified and comforted when they gaze upon this tribute of respect and affection to their departed relative. It is due to the firm of Messrs Furgusson [sic], Urie, and Lyon, of Melbourne, to say that the window is regarded as a beautiful specimen of Australian art, which will favourably compare with works of a similar character executed in England. The cost of the window, with transmission and erection, has been £80. The inscription at the base of the memorial is, “To the Glory of God, and in memory of William Keene, 1872,” –Newcastle Pilot, Nov. 30.”

A comprehensive eleven page document of all the significant historical newspaper transcriptions can be viewed here Raymond_Terrace_St John’s_Transcriptions This document is well worth reading as it gives a more in depth perspective to the history and has much more detail than I have attempted to sumarise in the above article.

Acknowledgements:

Thanks to Don Denham, Jock Keene and Carolyn Wulff, for their much appreciated correspondence and contributions to this article and to Michaela Sorensen for the current photos of the stained glass windows.

Foot notes:

[2] Historic photograph contributed with thanks to Rev Pullin’s daughter, Carolyn Wulff (email 28th Sept 2013)

[6] Stained Glass artist John Lamb Lyon (1835-1916) was and employee of the firm from 1862 and a partner from 1866 to 1873.

[8] newcastleanglican.org, Mission Statement, St John’s, Raymond Terrace, parish profile, page 3. (accessed 18 Sept 2013).

[9] Holloway, Annette Keene, “The Keene family of Raymond Terrace”, Raymond Terrace and District Historical Bulletin, Vol. 5, No. 3, June, 1982, p. 119-122.

[10] Mr Don Denham, Parish Secretary, St John’s Raymond Terrace NSW, email 16th Sept 2013.

[13] Marriages Solemnized in the house of his Excellency, the British Ambassador (Lord Sir Charles Stuart) at the Court of France in the year 1822.

[14] Australian Dictionary of Biography, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/keene-william-3931/text6183, accessed 17 September 2013.

[17] David F. Branagan, Geology and Coal Mining in the Hunter Valley, 1791-1861 (Newcastle 1972), p. 72.

[24] Australian Dictionary of Biography, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/keene-william-3931/text6183,, accessed 17 September 2013.

Sep 30 2013

1869: Christ the King Anglican Cathedral, Ballarat, Victoria.

The Chancel of the Ballarat Anglican Cathedral contains an historic three light stained glass window created by the Ferguson & Urie stained glass company of North Melbourne. The window depicts the Nativity, Crucifixion and Resurrection and was erected in the later half of October 1869.

Photos taken between: 19th Sept 2010 and 28th Sept 2013.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

[View larger images]

Construction of the first Anglican Church in Ballarat, known as Christ Church, commenced in 1854 in Lydiard Street, a year before Ballarat was proclaimed a Municipality and in the same year as the infamous Eureka Rebellion. The first stage of the church was completed by contractors Backhouse[1] and Reynolds in 1857 at a cost of more than £2000.[2]

In a mere ten years the congregation had outgrown the church and the plans were to enlarge it by the addition of transepts. On the 20th August 1867 the building committee of Christ Church accepted the tender of Mr Jonathon Coulson for the construction of the north and south transepts for £1655 to the plans prepared by architect Edward James.[3] The construction of these extensions began a month later.[4]

As part of the extensions and the beautification of the church was the idea of placing a locally made stained glass window in the chancel and on the 19th October 1867 it was reported;

“We are informed that the stained window for the chancel at Christ Church is to be the gift of Mr. E. A. Wynne[5]. Messrs Urie and Ferguson, of Melbourne, will most likely supply the glass. The subject for the window has not yet, however, been determined on.”[6]

Edward Agar Wynne (1823-1898).

Edward Agar Wynne, was a mining pioneer in the Ballarat region. He was Chairman of Directors of the Scottish and Cornish Gold Mining Company[7], a founder and director of the Ballarat Gas Company (established in 1858), and one of the first shareholders in the Black Hill mine, of which he still held 1200 shares in at the time of his death[8]. He took a leading role in the laying out of Ballarat’s botanic gardens as well as being a member of the Acclimatisation Society[9].

He married Sarah Maria Palmer in London in c.1849 and migrated to Australia with his family c.1851-54.

In the mid 1870’s he had decided to leave Ballarat and move to the Melbourne suburb of Balaclava and his substantial home on the shores of Lake Wendouree was subsequently purchased by the ‘Loreto Sisters’ for use as part of their newly formed Convent in 1875[10].

His wife Sarah died on the 15th February 1882 at their home ‘View Hill,’ Balaclava[11], and in 1884, at the age of 60, he married 26 year old Rebecca Israel Samuel[12].

Edward died at his home ‘Montacute,’ Grey Street St Kilda, on the 9th December 1898 aged 75[13]. He was buried at the St Kilda Cemetery with his first wife Sarah and two of their children[14]. One of his sons from his first marriage, Agar Wynne (1850-1934), became a prominent Victorian politician.

Edward would not end up being the benefactor of the window and the enthusiasm for its creation lost momentum. It would be a further two years before the window would actually be created and more than a year after the 1867-68 extensions of Christ Church were completed.

By April 1868 the extensions to Christ Church were nearing completion and the local tabloid, ‘The Ballarat Star’ reported;

“The alterations at Christ Church are now nearly finished. Both transepts have been erected, and the northern one has been occupied already. The south one requires some completing touches, and the chancel is also unfinished, the window not yet being glazed. We believe the organ is to be erected in the southern transept. It seems a pity the chancel could not have been deepened and widened, so as to have made it serve as for a cathedral choir, and thus have provided room there for the singers, instead of taking space for the choir out of the too small area of the church, even with its transepts added.” [15]

The 6th of May 1868 heralded the re-opening of Christ Church and a series of celebrations were organised for the dedication of the new transepts and chancel. The services were conducted by Archdeacon Stretch[16] at the morning services and the Rev Handfield [17] at the afternoon services. The decorations in the church at this point indicated that the chancel window was still in an un-glazed state.

“The opening of Christ Church is to be celebrated this day, as the first of a series of days appropriated to the solemnities in question. Our advertising columns contain particulars as to the services, from which it will be seen that the venerable Archdeacon Stretch will officiate at the dedication of the transepts and chancel this morning, and that the Rev. H. H. P. Handfield will officiate in the afternoon. Full choral services will be sung on both occasions, and we may state apropos to this matter, that, the organ has been re-erected, and is now located in the southern transept. The church has been decorated with evergreens, wreaths depending about the transept arches and the chancel, and boughs screening the unglazed chancel window.”[18]

It wasn’t until November 1869 that the creation of a stained glass window for the chancel came to fruition, but where it had been reported earlier in 1867 that the donor of the window was to be Edward Agar Wynne, it was now reported that the benefactor was William Henry Barnard, who had made the gift of the window at a cost in the vicinity of £200.

On the 30th of October 1869 ‘The Ballarat Star’, gave an in-depth description of the window. Where it had been intimated earlier in 1867 that the Ferguson & Urie stained glass company were likely to supply the window, it was eventually created by them and depicts the Nativity, Crucifixion and Resurrection;

“A very beautiful stained glass window has this week been erected in the east or chancel end of Christ Church. Mr. W. H. Barnard has made a gift of the window to the church, and the munificent donation is a rich and very appropriate adornment of the sacred edifice. The design includes the three leading events in our Lord’s life, the middle compartment figuring the crucifixion, the two sides the nativity and resurrection respectively, each grouping, and especially that of the nativity, displaying fair accuracy in drawing, and a glorious wealth of colour. At the bottom is a half length figure of Christ giving thanks, and at the top is a dove, the symbol of the Holy Spirit. The subsidiary details, such as borderings, geometrical figures, and florials are in excellent keeping. Messrs Urie and Ferguson, of Melbourne, supplied and erected the window at a cost of some £200, and we have heard an opinion freely expressed, that though there may be larger there are no better windows than this one anywhere in the colony.”[19]

A week later it was further reported;

“A very beautiful stained glass window has been erected in the east or chancel end of Christ Church, Ballarat. Mr W. H. Barnard has made a gift of the window to the church, and the munificent donation is a rich and very appropriate adornment of the sacred edifice. Messrs Urie and Ferguson, of Melbourne, supplied and erected the window at a cost of some £200.”[20]

William Henry Barnard (1830-1900)

The donor of the stained glass window, William Henry Barnard, was born in Surrey, England 1830, the son of John Barnard and Harriet Burrows.

On the 4th February 1859 he married Caroline Lawrence at St John’s Church in Launceston, at which time he was employed by the colonial treasury as the Receiver and Paymaster at Portland in Western Victoria[21].

In February 1865 he was appointed receiver and paymaster, land officer, and gold receiver at Ballarat[22]. His wife Caroline died only a few weeks later aged 28 on the 25th February 1865[23].

On the 23rd April 1867, at Christ Church at Ballarat, he married Bessie Lynn, sixth daughter of local solicitor Adam Loftus Lynn[24]. Bessie died on the 3rd of September 1881 aged 36 at Ballarat giving birth to a daughter, the new born did not survive either[25].

He married a third time to Ellen Barnard, his first cousin and fifth daughter of his uncle George William Barnard of Landfall, Tasmania. They married at  St Peter’s Church in Sturt Street Ballarat on the 29th August 1883.

On the 28th May 1886, at St Paul’s Church Melbourne, he married a fourth time, to Flora who was again a first cousin and younger sister of his third wife Ellen [26].

Barnard resigned from the Government Treasury positions in 1878 to become Secretary-treasurer of the Ballarat Cemetery Trust and he retained that position until his death in 1900. He was also registrar of the Ballarat School of Mines[27].

He died on the 12th January 1900 at his Errard-street home at Ballarat West aged 70 and was buried in the Ballarat old cemetery[28].

An original engraving depicting the chancel of Christ Church, circa 1874, shows the three light chancel window, and in the engraving are painted the words around the chancel arch:

“HEAR THOU IN HEAVEN THY DWELLING PLACE AND WHEN THOU HEAREST FORGIVE.” (1 Kings 8:30)

Text surrounding the arch around the top of the Ferguson & Urie stained glass window reads:

“WE WORSHIP THY NAME, EVER WORLD WITHOUT END”

(From the Book of Common Prayer).

None of this original text around the arches exists anymore.

By 1886 the idea of erecting an Anglican Cathedral in Ballarat had gained momentum with the Rev Samuel Thornton[29] (the first Bishop of Ballarat) as lead instigator. On the 18th March 1886 it was resolved to erect a Cathedral to the rear of the site of the current church;

“At a meeting of the Church of England Assembly in Ballarat on Thursday, it was resolved to build a cathedral on the church site in Lydiard-street. A resolution was also carried that the building should be of stone, and the cost was limited to £35,000, exclusive of the tower and spire.”[30]

“The Right Rev. Dr. Thornton has for some time been actively promoting the erection of a cathedral in the chief town of his diocese. At the suggestion of the bishop, the vestry of Christ Church consented to unite cordially with the diocese in the erection of a cathedral upon the site of their present parish church in Lydiard-street…”[31]

The laying of the foundation stone of the new cathedral was performed on St Andrews day[32] by the Governor of Victoria, Sir Henry Brougham Loch[33]. Sir Henry and Lady Lock arrived by special train at Ballarat on Thursday 29th of November[34] and the following day, St Andrew’s Day, he laid the foundation stone of the new cathedral in the presence of the Bishops of Sydney, Melbourne, Bathurst and the Riverina[35] and a large assembly of the Ballarat Anglicans. Contributions exceeding £540 were placed on the foundation stone on the day[36].

The plan for the cathedral was that its construction would begin on the lower east side of the current church and the current church would then eventually form one of the transepts of the cathedral when completed.

By April 1890 construction of the cathedral had stalled. Unforeseen circumstances occurred with the foundations at the eastern end because of the steep slope and the lack of funds to rectify it had halted further work. In Bishop Thornton’s address to the Annual Church Assembly at the Ballarat City Hall on the 6th May 1890 he outlined his concerns and the expenditure to-date[37]

Sadly, nothing further transpired. The desire for an Anglican Cathedral in Ballarat did not gain the support it required and in 1931, forty years later, the Melbourne ‘Argus’ reported;

“…The ambition of Bishop Thornton was to see the Ballarat cathedral completed. The foundation-stone was laid by Sir Henry – afterwards Lord – Loch, when he was Governor of Victoria. It has not yet been finished, but cathedrals grow with the centuries rather than with the years. Some day it will be completed and an enthusiastic vicar may address his mind to the task of writing its history. In that history should be reserved and honoured place for the name of Dr. Thornton. He died in Lancashire, still in the service of his Church…”[38]

The cathedral would never be completed. Bishop Thornton died in England in 1917 and all that exists to recognise his efforts is a memorial brass tablet erected in the liturgical south west corner of the church which reads;

“TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN MEMORY OF THE RIGHT REVd SAMUEL THORNTON, D.D. FIRST BISHOP OF BALLARAT 1875-1900 WHO WAS A WISE MASTER BUILDER LAID THE FOUNDATIONS OF THIS DIOCESE AND FOR 25 YEARS LOVINGLY AND UNSPARINGLY DEVOTED TO ITS WELFARE ALL THE MANY TALENTS WHICH GOD HAD GIFTED HIM. DIED IN ENGLAND 25th. NOV 1917. THIS TABLET IS ERECTED BY THE DIOCESE.”

It is now more than 125 years since the then Governor Sir Henry Lock laid the foundation stone for the cathedral and evidence still remains of it to this day at the rear of the original bluestone church in Lydiard Street.

The lower basement of the cathedral which had been constructed before works were halted was known as the ‘Chapter House’ and was used as the Diocesan office for many years and later sold to private enterprise circa 1980’s. It was later used as a night club and is now a private residence.

The original church building facing Lydiard Street became the Anglican Cathedral of Ballarat and carries the title of the Church of ‘Christ the King’.

The historic Ferguson & Urie stained glass window still exists in the chancel of the church in the exact same position it was erected in 1869.

As at 2016 the cathedral and associated buildings have been advertised for sale by the Anglican authorities.

Footnotes:

[5] Edward Agar Wynne (1823-1898).

[8] Edgar Agar Wynne, Vic Probate record 75/159, dated 17th May 1900.

[12] Vic BDM: 284/1884.

[14] St Kilda Cemetery, CofE, Compartment A-327.

Short link to this article: http://wp.me/p28nLD-2ax

© Copyright

Sep 8 2013

1945: James Auld, Lead-lighter & Glazier (1873-1945)

James Auld (1873-1945) is recognised as an employee of the Ferguson & Urie stained glass company between 1888 and 1898. He was also a  grandson of the principal partner of the company James Ferguson (1818-1894).

Photos from family history collections dating from 1898 from Australia & New Zealand.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

James Auld was the second eldest of nine children and was born on the 27th of August 1873 at his parent’s chandlery and grocery business premises in Flinders Street Melbourne. His parents, Thomas Auld (1838-1913) and Janet Kay Ferguson (1844-1925) were natives of Scotland who married in the West Melbourne Presbyterian Church in 1871.

His mother was the second eldest daughter of James Ferguson, a principal partner of the pioneering stained glass company Ferguson & Urie of North Melbourne.

It had long been suspected that James Auld had been an apprentice to his grandfather’s stained glass firm but no evidence had previously been found to make any association with him and the Ferguson & Urie Company despite it being known in later years that he was a Glazier and Lead-light craftsman by trade.

The first clue comes in 1891 when The Ballarat Star of 15 May 1891 reported the prizes awarded at the Ballarat Juvenile Industrial Exhibition. In Class 17 it listed “J. Auld, Melbourne” as Silver Medal winner for “stained glass windows”. At the time this report was published James Auld was just short of his eighteenth birthday. 

In August 1896 another clue reveals him as an employee of his grandfathers stained glass company. A Ferguson & Urie employee named, James ‘Jim’ Urie (1870-1896)[1], the son of James Urie[2], died. An account of Jim Urie’s funeral in the local tabloids referred to the names of his coffin bearers as:

“…the deceased’s fellow employe’s – Messrs. J. Scott, C. Hardess. F. L. Lording (sic), J. Murdoch, J. Auld, and E. R. King…” [3]

One of those employees listed was James Auld. Many other confirmed employees of the firm were also listed as pall bearers, such as; John Scott[4], Charles William Hardess[5], Frank Clifford Lording[6], E. R. King[7], James Ferguson Jnr[8], and J. M. Gilligan[9].

It can be surmised that James Auld was apprenticed to his grandfathers firm when he was about the age of fourteen or fifteen years of age (circa 1888) where he started learnt his trade with firm.

In 1890 Ferguson & Urie partner James Urie died[10] followed by James Ferguson in 1894[11] and the business ceased trading in 1899[12].

James spent some time in Western Australia circa 1898, but for how long is unknown. The last dated photograph of him in Victoria was in Melbourne in June 1899 and sometime after this he left for New Zealand where he gained employment with “Robert Martin, Ltd”[13] sometime between 1900 and 1903. This firm were decorators in Manners Street Wellington[14] and whilst they were primarily renowned for their wall papers and other decorations, they had their own dedicated stained glass department under the direction of stained glass artist Chester Edward Carter (1862-1908)[15]. At the 1898-99 Auckland Exhibition the company was awarded a first prize for a stained glass window[16]. In 1900 the Wellington Industrial Association published a detailed report of their visit to Robert Martin Ltd in Wellington. The article provided an in depth description of the company’s business premises and stained glass department and of the specialist employees it stated;

“…Special men have been procured by Mr. Martin for each branch of the work here described – men having both English and Australian experience…” [17]

James Auld married Charlotte Mary Clarke (1876-1937) in Wellington on the 9th April 1903[18] and between 1904 and 1915 they had seven children;

Ian Kay (1904-1992), Marion Una (1906-1977), Stella Mary (1907-2010), Eric James (1908-1998), Jessie Olive (1910-2009), Irene Florence (1913-1914) and Frances Norma (1915-1987).

In 1907 James returned to Melbourne with Mary and their first three children, Ian, Marion and Stella aboard the “Maheno” in November 1907[19]. Family lore has it that they intended on staying in Australia but within a short time were reminded of the Australian summer heat and they subsequently returned to New Zealand circa mid 1908.

In 1913 James formed a business partnership with a Mr. Patrick Gleeson as “Auld & Gleeson”[20] in Gisborne and by the 1930’s they had premises in Taranaki Street Wellington advertising as Oil and Colour Merchants, Leadlight Makers, Glass Bevellers, Painting supplies, Wallpapers, Window Glazing, and Bevelled Mirrors.

In 1915 Auld & Gleeson were awarded a Government tender at Gisborne to supply “…paints, oils, colors, etc…” “…for the period ending June 30, 1916…”[21] This undoubtedly increased their trade turnover and along with their reputation for quality workmanship and materials enabled them to expand and employ more craftsmen in the trade. In 1920 they advertised for an apprentice, requesting a “Smart Lad” to learn the lead-light and glazing trade at their premises in Gladstone Road at Gisborne[22]. Later they were able to expand the business to include premises at Napier.

In many of the New Zealand electoral rolls, James’s occupation was listed as a “Glass Merchant,”  “Lead Glazier,” and other variations of the same.

In December 1938 James visited his six surviving sisters at Moonee Ponds in Melbourne and it’s thought that at this time he gifted them a handmade lead-light fire-place screen, most likely of his own workmanship. The screen still exists and has been handed down to Australian descendants of his sister Isabella Stella Burleigh (nee Auld 1884-1980).

James’s wife Mary died on the 23rd of August 1937 at the age of 62[23] and was buried in the Karori cemetery. James died eight years later on the 12th of February 1945[24] at the age of 71 and was buried with Mary.

The other partner in “Auld & Gleeson”, Patrick Gleeson, sold his business interests in the company and retired to Auckland where he died in 1965 aged 78 [25]. The new business owners, “Smith & Smith,” retained the “Auld & Gleeson” Company name and built a new warehouse in Jackson Street Petone in the mid-1960s where James Auld’s second eldest son Eric was an employee of the firm until his retirement in the 1970s.[26]

James’ second eldest daughter, Stella Mary Fowler (nee Auld 1907-2010), lived to the extraordinary age of 103 years and in her lifetime she had revealed very little of her father’s history in the glazing trade. After she passed away in 2010 five extraordinary pieces of family history were uncovered.

The designs for Ferguson & Urie stained glass windows:

Among Stella’s family history items, were four hand-drawn and water colour painted designs for secular stained glass windows [images]. One rectangular window depicts a woman with long blond hair surrounded by the letters which make up the word “INDUSTRY”. On either side of her are two bluebirds in diamond-shaped quarries and the rest of the window depicts floral designs with the inclusion of three crimson bullseyes above and below the central image.

The second design is of a rectangular window which depicts another image of the long-haired woman picking and eating an apple from a tree. The surrounding floral designs include fourteen glass bullseyes of varying colours.

The third design is of an arch-shaped window of simple leadlight design with no figurative element and the fourth design depicts three long thin rectangular windows incorporating arch shapes with glass bullseyes of varying sizes and colours.

Along the edge of two of the designs, stamped in purple lettering, are the words, “For Ferguson & Urie”[27]. It is not known whether this series of windows were ever made but written in pencil on the reverse of one of the designs is what appears to be the dimensions for the windows and the name “…for Johnston” and at the bottom is what appears to be an estimate for the creation of the windows of  “15/- per foot.”

Based on the patterns and designs for the windows it is estimated that the drawings were most likely created in the mid to late 1890s. No other detail is known.

The E. L. Yencken Glass Cart Photo:

Another of Stella’s historical items was an original photo of the employees of the “E. L. Yencken” lead-light and stained glass Company of Melbourne. The photo depicts a horse-drawn cart adorned with lead-light glass panels that had been decorated for the eight-hour week procession and has the company employees next to it.

At the top of the cart can be seen the Royal Crown with the numbers “888.” Below this, within the lead-light windows can be seen the letters “E” and “R” on the far left and right of the cart. The date of the photo can only be estimated as between 1901 and 1910 as this is the period of King Edward’s (E.R) reign from the 22nd January 1901 until his death on the 6th of May 1910. The Eight Hour March, which began on April 21st 1856, continued each year until 1951 and since then Australian workers continue to enjoy the Labour Day public holiday celebrated by a public holiday on the 2nd Monday in March each year.

It’s not known how Stella came into possession of these historical artifacts but it can reasonably be assumed that they originally belonged to her father James Auld.

Significant transcriptions:

Evening Post, New Zealand, Vol CXXXIX, Issue 37, 13th February 1945, page 1.

“AULD.- On February 12, 1945, at his residence, 82 Jubilee Rd., Khandallah, James, dearly-beloved husband of the late Mary Charlotte Auld, and father of Ian, Una, Stella, Eric, Jessie, and Frances; in his 72nd year.”

Evening Post, New Zealand, Vol CXXXIX, Issue 37, 13th February 1945, page 1.

“AULD.- The friends of the late James Auld are invited to attend his Funeral, which will leave our Chapel Tomorrow (Wednesday), February 14, 1945, at the conclusion of a service, commencing at 11 a.m., for Karori Cemetery. Robt. H. Wilson and Sons, Ltd., 164 Adelaide Rd.”

New Zealand – Evening Post Issue 40, 16 February 1945 Page 3.

“MR. JAMES AULD

The many friends of Mr. James Auld will regret to hear of his death at Wellington on Monday morning after a brief illness. Born in Melbourne Mr. Auld came to Wellington 47 years ago to the firm of Robert Martin, Ltd. In 1913 he joined Mr. P. Gleeson and started business in Gisborne, subsequently expanding to Wellington, Napier, and Petone. He retired from active business six years ago. Being of a kindly and reserved nature he endeared himself to all with whom he came in contact. He was a member of the Khandallah Bowling Club and also of the Masonic lodge. His wife predeceased him seven years ago. He is survived by two sons, Mr. I. K. Auld and Mr. E. J. Auld, and four daughters, Mrs. C. H. Fowler, Wellington, Mrs. A. T. Robinson, Mrs. D. Lee, and Mrs. S. R. Vincent, Gisborne. Six sisters reside in Melbourne.”

References:

Robert Martin Ltd, Wellington New Zealand.

Footnotes:

[2] James Urie (1828-1890) was a principal partner in the Ferguson & Urie stained glass firm.

[4] John Scott (1850-1919), appears in the 1887 Ferguson & Urie dinner portraits.

[5] Charles William Hardess (1859-1849), appears in the 1887 Ferguson & Urie dinner portraits

[6] Frank Clifford Lording (1860-1944) appears in the 1887 Ferguson & Urie dinner portraits.

[7] A photo of “E. R. King” appears in the 1887 company dinner portraits.

[8] James Ferguson Jnr (1860-1945), appears in the 1887 company dinner portrait.

[9] A photo of “J. M. Gilligan” appears in the 1887 company dinner portrait.

[12] The Ferguson & Urie Company closed in July 1899 after a 46 year history.

[13] Shop interior, including wallpapers, Robert Martin Ltd, Wellington. Shore Bennett, Beverley Doris, 1928- :Photographs. Ref: 1/2-173024-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22578337

[18] NZ BDM: 1903/2577, Presbyterian Church Kent Terrace Wellington.

[19] PROV, index to Unassisted Inward Passengers, Nov 1907, Fiche 328, page 003.

[23] NZ BDM: 1937/27935, age 63.

[24] NZ BDM: 1945/28964.

[25] Patrick Gleeson born Cowwarr, Victoria, Australia VIC BDM: 1886/17478, died Auckland New Zealand age 78, NZBDM: 1965/27070 age 78.

[26] Janice Ball (nee Auld) – email 28th August 2013.

[27] Copies of items from James’s grandson, Errol Vincent, New Zealand 2010.

Acknowledgements:

My gratitude to the Auld family descendants from New Zealand who have liberally contributed some fantastic family history and magnificent photos which appear on this and many other articles on the web site.

Short link to this page: http://wp.me/p28nLD-29m

© Copyright

Sep 6 2013

1880: The Kernot window from ‘Firenze’, Sydney Rd, Parkville.

In 1880 Professor William Charles Kernot had his two story home “Firenze” built in Royal Parade (Sydney Road) at Parkville[1] and commissioned the Ferguson & Urie Stained Glass Company of North Melbourne to create a window for the west wall above the landing of the staircase.

The arch shaped window contains Gothic floral designs with Acanthus leaves and Passion flowers. The centre roundel of the window contains the intertwined initials “WCK” (William Charles Kernot).

Kernot originally named his two storey house Firenze after the Italian name for the city of Florence in Italy and between c.1916 and c.1950 the house was known as ‘Quamby’ and owned by classical ballet teachers, Jennie and Eileen Brennan.

In 1950 Quamby was purchased by the Government for use by the CSIRO[2] but was demolished circa 1990’s[3]. Fortunately the stained glass window was removed before the demolition and gifted to the University by the CSIRO.

Conservation and restoration work on the window was carried out in 2007 by the Universitys’ Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation by Senior Objects Conservator Ms Holly Jones-Amin and her colleagues Jordi Casasayas and Raaf Ishak[4].

In 2006 the University established the Kernot Fellowship and the central design from the stained glass window with Kernot’s initials are featured on silk scarves especially made for donors to the Fellowship[5].

The Kernot window was unveiled on Kernot Fellowship Day, 19th April 2007 by Mr James Minifie, a descendant of Professor Kernot[6].

As at 2013 the window is now installed in the conference room of old Engineering Building with artificial back-lighting.

Photos taken: 6th September 2013.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Professor William Charles Kernot (1845-1909)

William Charles Kernot was born at Rochford, Essex in 1845 and arrived with his parents Charles Kernot[7] and Mary Wright[8] and younger sister Mary Jane[9] aboard the ‘Duke of Wellington’ in February 1851[10]. His father, Charles Kernot (1820-1882), was a Chemist and Stationer in Moorabool street Geelong[11] and in 1864 was elected Mayor[12].

William was educated at Geelong Grammar and later matriculated at Melbourne University in 1861 with three Arts degrees and circa 1863 a certificate in Civil Engineering.

After a number of Government posts he began lecturing in Engineering at Melbourne University circa 1869 and in 1883 was appointed the first professor of engineering at the Melbourne University, a position which he held until his death in 1909. Over the course of his career he had donated thousands of pounds to the University for the establishment of scholarships and purchase of equipment and since 1926 the prestigious “Kernot” memorial medal is awarded at the University for distinguished Engineering achievement[13].

Detailed accounts of his career achievements, philanthropy, obituary and biographies were published in the Argus in 1909[14] and the Australian Dictionary of Biography in 1974[15]

Two of his younger brothers, Wilfred Noyce Kernot (1868-1945) and Maurice Edwin Kernot (1852-1934) also became distinguished engineers and professors in Engineering at the University.

William Charles Kernot was unmarried and lived at “Firenze” in Sydney Road Parkville with his younger siblings until his death on the 14th March 1909. He was buried at the Kew Boroondarra cemetery on the 16th  March [16].

His sister Mary and brother Wilfred were interred with him at the Kew Boroondarra Cemetery in 1932 and 1945.

The Kernot gravestone at the Kew cemetery reads;

“IN REMEMBRANCE  WILLIAM CHARLES KERNOT FIRST PROFESSOR OF ENGINEERING, MELBOURNE UNIVERSITY. BORN ROCHFORD, ENGLAND, 1845. DIED MELBOURNE, 1909.
ENTER THOU INTO THE JOY OF THY LORD”.

“MARY JANE KERNOT 1847-1932

WILFRED NOYCE KERNOT 1868-1945”.

Significant tabloid Transcriptions:

The Argus, Melbourne, Vic, Tuesday 16th March 1909, page 1.

“KERNOT.- On the 14th March, at his residence, “Firenze,” Royal-park, William Charles Kernot, M.A., M.I.C.E., professor of engineering, Melbourne University, aged 63 years.”

“KERNOT.- The Friends of the late WILLIAM CHARLES KERNOT, M.A., are respectfully invited to follow his remains to the place of interment, Boroondara Cemetery, Kew. The funeral will leave his residence, “Firenze,” Royal-park, THIS DAY (Tuesday, March 16, 1909), at 11 o’clock, arriving at cemetery about a quarter past 12. JOSIAH HOLDSWORTH, Funeral Director, 380 Lygon-street, Carlton; and 659 Nicholson-street, North Carlton. Phone 1192.”

The Argus, Melbourne, Vic, Tuesday 16th March 1909, page 5.

“THE LATE PROFESSOR KERNOT.

Eloquent tributes to the worth of the late Professor Kernot and the late Mr. W. W. Cornwall were paid by the Chancellor of the university at the meeting of the University Council yesterday. Sir John Madden said that in their late registrar the University had a man of a rare type…”

“…As to the late Professor Kernot, who had also passed from their service, who was there who did not know his immense worth, his great learning, his great skill, his patriotism, his total disregard of all selfish interests, and the work that he had done for education and for his fellow countrymen? Of a kindly and generous disposition he worked for the University persistently and enthusiastically and well. Whenever he had money to spare he spent it in the interests of the University, and for the encouragement of those who were to follow him. He left nothing undone to make the institution one of glory and advantage to the country in which he lived and which he was educated. Sir Henry Wrixon (Vice-Chancellor) added a few words to the appreciation of the deceased officers. The members of the council requested the Chancellor to convey the sympathy of the council to the families of the late Professor Kernot and the late Mr. Cornwall”. The funeral of Professor Kernot will proceed from “Firenze,” Royal-park, to the Boroondara Cemetery this morning. It has been arranged that members of the University shall meet in academic dress at the corner of Studley-park road and High-street, Kew, at 20 minutes to 12, in order to walk in procession to the cemetery. A train leaves Flinders-street for Kew at 13 minutes past 11. The Institute of Engineers, the Institute of Surveyors, and the Young Men’s Christian Association, the Geelong College, the Working Men’s College, and other institutions will also be represented at the funeral. No lectures will be given at the University before 1 o’clock, and the Working Men’s College will be closed from 9 o’clock until 1.”

The Argus, Melbourne, Vic, Monday 15th March 1909, page 7.

“DEATH OF PROFESSOR KERNOT

 A DISTINGUISHED CAREER.

 Widespread regret will be felt at the death of Professor Kernot, which occurred at his residence, “Firenze,” Royal-parade, Parkville, yesterday morning. His illness was of brief duration. About a fortnight ago Professor Kernot complained of feeling unwell, but his illness was not regarded as serious. Two days later he worked at some University examination papers, but on the following day he was confined to his bed. His medical adviser (Dr. Hobill Cole) attended him regularly, and last week, on his suggestion, Dr. Stawell was called into consultation. The patient was advised not to start work with the University term, but to take six months’ rest. On Saturday afternoon Professor Kernot had a slight paralytic stroke. This seizure, supervening upon internal troubles, was the cause of death at 20 minutes to 1 o’clock on Sunday morning. Mr. W. N. Kernot, who was with his brother at the last, mentions, as a coincidence, that the tramway cables which run past the door of Professor Kernot’s residence, stopped just as the end came.

With the death of Professor William Charles Kernot, who for the past 26 years has been professor of engineering at the Melbourne University, a remarkable and distinguished career has closed. He was born at Rochford, Essex, in 1845, and when six years of age he was brought to Australia. His father, the late Charles Kernot, practised as a pharmaceutical chemist at Geelong, and was afterwards in Parliament. Professor Kernot’s early education was received at the National Grammar School at Geelong. He matriculated at the Melbourne University in 1861, obtained the degree of master of arts in 1864, and received his certificate in civil engineering two years later. After being engaged in connection with the Geelong and Coliban waterworks, he entered the Victorian Mining department in 1865. Two years later he became associated with the Water Supply department, in which he remained until 1875. While in that position, however, he succeeded Mr. James Griffith as lecturer on surveying at the Melbourne University. In 1869 he began lecturing on engineering at the University, and in January, 1883, was appointed professor of engineering, a position he held until his death. In 1874 he was chief of the photo-heliograph party which made investigations from the Melbourne University in connection with the transit of Venus. In 1876 he was associated with Mr. Louis Brennan in the work of developing the Brennan fish torpedo, which was afterwards purchased by the British Government for over £100,000. In addition he was chairman of the two principal juries on machinery at the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1881, and was a member of the Royal Commission on Bridges in New South Wales in 1886. Subsequently he reported on the Derwent Valley railway bridges in Tasmania, and on a proposed underground telephone-wire service for Melbourne.

            Amongst the papers most prized by the late Professor Kernot was a letter which he received from His Majesty the King (then Prince of Wales) in 1881. The manuscript, now faded and worn, at the folds, bears the signature of His Majesty.

            As a jubilee gift Professor Kernot presented to the University, in 1887, the sum of 2,000 to endow scholarships in physics and chemistry. With Mr. Francis Ormond he assisted in the development of the Working Men’s College, and made various gifts to the institution. He was president of the Institute of Engineers for six years, including the term 1906-1907. For some time he occupied the position of chairman of directors of the new Australia Electric Company, which supplied electric light in Melbourne from 1882 until 1890. An interesting incident in his career was his experience on the occasion of the railway strike. At that time he voluntarily undertook the task of instructing new drivers in the use of locomotives. His services were recognised by the Railway department, whose commissioners presented him with a gold medal set with diamonds. Last year, when the circumstances of the Sunshine railway disaster were being investigated, he rendered valuable assistance by superintending the brake tests. In addition to being a member of the Royal Geographical Society and the Royal Society, he was a prominent member and office bearer of the Albert-street Baptist Church, and officiated at the ceremonies of laying the foundation-stones of the Elsternwick and Camberwell churches.

            On one of his trips abroad Professor Kernot happened to reach South Africa at the time of the Boer war, and while travelling through the country was for a while held as prisoner of war. His best known publication was ‘Some Common Errors in Bridge Building.” Professor Kernot, who was 63 years of age, was unmarried. His four brothers are Mr. Maurice E. Kernot, engineer in chief of the railway construction branch of the Board of land and Works; Mr. F. A. Kernot, dentist; Mr. P. W. Kernot (Messrs. Campbell and Kernot), architects; and Mr. W. N. Kernot, who is in charge of the engineering department of the Working Men’s College. One sister resided with Professor Kernot, another is married to Mr. C. E. Oliver, engineer-in-chief of the Metropolitan Board of Works, while a third sister is the wife of Mr. E. Cooke.

            The funeral will take place at 11 o’clock on Tuesday morning. It will be attended by University students, who will march from Kew to the Boorondara [sic] Cemetery.”

The Argus, Melbourne, Vic, Friday 6th July 1945, page 15.

“WILLIAM CHARLES KERNOT, late of “Firenze,” Sydney Road, Parkville, Professor of Engineering, Deceased, Intestate.- After fourteen days Charles Home Kernot, of No. 2 Sidwell avenue, St. Kilda, civil engineer, one of the legal representatives of Maurice Edwin Kernot, formerly of the Victorian Railways, chief engineer for construction, late of “Ardoch,” Dandenong road, East St. Kilda, civil engineer, deceased, a brother of the said William Charles Kernot, deceased, will APPLY to the Supreme Court for LETTERS of ADMINISTRATION of the estate of the said William Charles Kernot, left unadministered by Mary Jane Kernot, of “Firenze,” Sydney road, Parkville aforesaid, spinster, deceased, and Wilfrid Noyce Kernot, late of 10 Princes avenue, Caulfield, professor of engineering, deceased, the legal representatives of the said William Charles Kernot, deceased, may be granted to the said Charles Home Kernot, as such legal representatives of the said Maurice Edwin Kernot, deceased. Dated this sixth day of July, 1945. HOME, WILKINSON, & LOWRY. 100 Queen street, Melbourne, proctors for the said Charles Home Kernot.”

External links:

Melbourne School of Engineering:
http://www.eng.unimelb.edu.au.
http://www.eng.unimelb.edu.au/about/history/

Footnotes:

[2] Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (originally formed in 1926 under its present title).

[3] The History of the CSIRO Laboratory at 343 Royal Parade; Rivett, Ward & Belkin; CSIRO Publishing 1996.

[5] Annual Report 2006, The Melbourne University Engineering Foundation, Page 3-4

[6] University of Melbourne Heritage Society Newsletter, June 2007, page 1.

[9] Mary Jane Kernot (1847-1932). Spinster.

[13] Wikipedia: The Kernot Memorial Medal (accessed 1 Sept 2013)

[16] The Argus, Melbourne, Vic, Tuesday 16th March 1909, page 1.

Acknowledgements:

My thanks to Michelle Mackay and her time and to the University of Melbourne for inviting me to see the window.

Short link to this article: http://wp.me/p28nLD-28N

 

© Copyright

Aug 26 2013

1877: St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Colac, Victoria.

St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church (now Uniting) at Colac in western Victoria contains an entire cycle of historical stained glass windows created by the renowned colonial craftsmen Ferguson & Urie of North Melbourne.

The Colac church archives have the intricate detail surrounding the concept of the stained glass windows, but the one which would mesmerise the congregation for well over a century would be the west end rose shaped window which was erected in 1877. It is a magnificent piece of stained glass dedicated to the memory of the pioneer of the Colac district, William Robertson, who died in 1874.

Photos taken 10th August 2013.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

[View all larger images]

On the 13th October 1876, the Secretary of the Colac Presbyterian Church, P. C. Wilson [1] invited architects to submit designs for their new church to be erected at Colac [2]. A month later a dozen submissions had been received:

“Some twelve designs have been sent in for the New Presbyterian Church which is shortly to be erected at Colac. Some of the designs are of a very neat order.” [3]

The designs of Melbourne architect Peter Matthews were subsequently chosen and the foundation stone was laid on the 10th April 1877 on the corner of Manifold and Hesse streets in Colac. Mr. E. Bulling had been selected as the building contractor and the church was constructed of bluestone quarried from George Robertson’s estate at nearby Coragulac [4]. St Andrew’s was officially opened for services on the 16th of December 1877.

State aid to religion had officially ended at the start of 1876 leaving churches to fully fund themselves for new constructions but on the 19th of April 1877 a significant private donation came for the Colac church. Mr George Pringle Robertson of Coragulac wrote to the Presbyterian Church Committee with a generous offer of £150 towards the building fund on behalf of himself and his brothers James and William.[5]

The architects designs for the church included elaborate stone tracery to be fitted with a series of round windows at the liturgical west end facing Manifold street.

At 3 p.m on Friday the 5th of February 1877 the Church committee held a meeting, at which Peter Matthews and James Urie were present. The minutes record that;

“Mr Matthews Architect and Mr Urie of Ferguson & Urie were present by invitation.”

“Mr Urie submitted designs for stained glass windows”;

“Mr James Robertson announced that he and his brothers had decided to defray the cost of putting in the large central window in a highly ornamental design of stained glass estimated at 100 guineas.”

“Resolved; that the thanks of the committee be given to Messrs Robertson Brothers for their very handsome gift to the church”.

“Resolved; that ornamental leaded margins off stained glass be erected in all the windows in accordance with designs submitted.” [8]

On the 28th of June 1877 the Ferguson & Urie stained glass company provided the architect with a quotation for a stained glass “Rose” window at £100 in addition to the contract for work [6]. It was later resolved to also place windows with stained glass margins in all other windows of the church. The costs were tabled in the January 1878 minutes as £127./6/0 [7] with a further £30 owed to Ferguson & Urie by the architect Peter Matthews.

All the windows in the church were subsequently erected with Ferguson & Urie’s simple stained glass margins of the alternating primary colours of red, blue and yellow.

The primary window, the large series of round stained glass windows in the liturgical west end, is an eight lobed oculus, or more commonly described as a wheel or rose window, and measures approximately twelve feet in diameter. A brass plaque below the window reads:

“This window was erected by William, George, & James Robertson in memory of their late father WILLIAM ROBERTSON, who died 18th Jan 1874, aged 76 years”.

The eight round outer lobes of the window contain four floral designs between another four which contain representations of the four Evangelists depicted as their biblical symbols (as described in Revelations 4:7-8).

In relation to a clock face, at 12 o’clock the top window represents the winged St Matthew holding a ribbon with the text “St Matthew”, at 3 o’clock, St. John (as the Eagle), at 6 o’clock, St Mark (as the Winged Lion) and at 9 o’clock, St. Luke (as the Winged Ox). The larger central round window contains the shield of the Trinity.

So who was William Robertson?

William Robertson (1798-1874) was a member of the Port Phillip Association which led to the first European settlement of Victoria. He was a renowned sheep and cattle breeder and became the largest landholder ever known in the Western district of Victoria since Colonial times. He was born in Alvie, Inverness-shire, Scotland on the 7th October 1798 and in late December 1822 arrived in Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania) with his brother John aboard the Regalia[9]. Initially selecting land near Campbelltown he partnered with his brother John and younger siblings James and Daniel (who arrived later) to form Robertson Brothers Mercantile Importers in Elizabeth Street Hobart in 1829[10], which was run by John & William, and in 1831[11] in Brisbane Street Launceston, run by James and Daniel. Their mercantile interests earned them a considerable fortune whilst John and William maintained their interests in sheep and cattle and a land holding of 7,500 acres at Elizabeth River (Campbelltown) which they offered for sale in 1835 [12].

On the 10th September 1834[13] William married Margaret White (1811-1866) of Berwick, Scotland, at Campbelltown in Van Diemen’s Land, and they had four sons and three daughters.

Having become disillusioned by the land grants system in Van Diemen’s Land he began to take an interest in the reports of explorers Hume & Hovel who had previously made expeditions to the Port Phillip district in 1824, then known as New Holland (and later Victoria). William was invited to become a member of the Port Phillip Association which led to the first European settlement of Victoria. He had also partially funded John Batman’s first two expeditions[14] to the Port Phillip district and later, in 1836, he explored the Western District of Victoria in the company of Joseph Tice Gellibrand and the infamous William Buckley.

In 1837 he returned to Port Phillip for the first of the Government land sales and made his first purchase of 5,000 acres at Colac. By late 1865 he had sold most of his business interests in Tasmania[15] and in early 1866 permanently moved his family to Colac where Margaret died only weeks later on the 19th of January 1866 [16]

He built his substantial residence, known as “The Hill” at Colac where in December 1867 he hosted the Duke of Edinburgh [17].

By 1874 William Robertson had amassed over 34,000 acres of land around Colac to become one of the largest landholders in Western district of Victoria [18].

William Robertson died at his Colac property on the 18th January 1874 [19], predeceased by his wife Margaret and eldest daughter Jessie[20]; his total land holdings at Colac and district were listed at probate as 219,656 acres[21] and were divided equally between his four sons, John (1837-1875), William (1839-1892), George Pringle (1842-1895), and James (1848-1890).

The sons of William Robertson, donors of the window:

William Robertson (1839-1892):

The second eldest, William, was born in Hobart on the 29th March 1839[22]. He studied law at Oxford and was admitted to the Victorian Bar in 1864. He married Martha Mary Murphy in England on the 24th April 1863 [23], and was active in the Victorian political scene between 1871 and 1886 and during that time was also Colac Shire Councillor from 1877 and president in 1881-82. He died on the 23rd June 1882 and his funeral, held in Colac on the 28th June 1882, was “one of the largest ever seen in the district”.[24]

George Pringle Robertson (1842-1895):

The third eldest, George, was born in Hobart on the 22nd August 1842 [25]. He was educated at Rugby, and later at Trinity College, Oxford. He married Annie Murray in Scots Church, Melbourne, on the 18th May 1871 [26]. He was well known in cricketing circles and captained the Victorian Cricket Eleven against the All England team in 1874. He built ‘Coragulac House’ on a portion of the family estate he inherited from his father. He joined the Colac Shire Council in 1878 and served for ten years and was twice elected president. He died 23rd June 1895 [27]

James Robertson (1848-1890):

The youngest was born in Hobart on the 7th July 1848 [28]. James was educated first in Hobart and later at Rugby in England.  He was predominantly the manager of the Robertson estates in Western Victoria and in later years universally known as the best judge of the Shorthorn cattle breed. He married Margaret Stuart Stodart (1849- 1903) at St George’s Presbyterian Church at Geelong on the 16th March 1870 [29] . James died of Typhoid aged 42, during a brief visit to England, on the 25th July 1890 [30].

John Robertson (1837- 1875):

The eldest son, John,  is not listed as a donor on the memorial plaque for the stained glass window in St Andrew’s. He had died eighteen months after his father at his Cororooke estate aged 38 on the 18th July 1875 after a long illness[31]. His wife Sarah left for London in January 1876[32] and later married Louis Anderson Corbet at Stoke Bishop, near Bristol, on the 12th June 1877[33]. The Cororooke part of the Robinson Estate was willed to John after his father’s death in 1874 and was sold at public auction as part of John’s estate in late 1885[34].

Significant historical tabloid transcriptions:

The Argus, Melbourne, Vic, Tuesday 20th January 1874, page 5.

DEATH OF MR. WILLIAM ROBERTSON OF COLAC.

We have with regret to record the death of Mr William Robertson, of Colac, who expired at his residence at Colac on Sunday morning last, at the ripe age of 75 years. In him the colony loses one of the founders of its fortunes, for not only was he among the earliest of its pioneers, but he took an important part in its early struggles for existence, and never ceased his exertions in it until by his acumen, energy, and perseverance, his lands became a vast possession, and himself a millionaire. He was born in 1799, at Alvey, Inverness-shire, Scotland, where his father was a respectable sheep-farmer, and there the son was brought up. After receiving a sound practical education from the dominie of the parish, who afterwards became placed minister at Balmoral, the lad began to assist on his father’s farm, and in that condition of life he arrived at man’s estate. About this time he was attracted by the offers of land on easy terms, and the assistance of convict labour, made by the Colonial Office to induce emigrants with capital to locate themselves in Van Diemen’s Land, and the result was, that he and his brother John accepted those offers, and, in 1822 arrived in the sister colony. His brothers, Daniel and James, subsequently followed his example. Our business is, however, with the first-named brothers, whose first step was to select 2,560 acres of land in the neighbourhood of Campbelltown, where they remained in partnership until 1831, when they decided to sell their property, which they had made valuable. They then entered into business in Hobart Town, by which they profited exceedingly, varying their occupation by farming a small estate they purchased near Melton Mowbray. In 1835 William became fascinated by the stories that were then told of the richness of Port Phillip, and with a view to enterprise in that direction, bore on his own account half the expense of Batman’s first expedition, the end of which was that the latter landed at Indented Heads and journeyed to Station Peak, from whence he took his first real survey of the glories of what was to him a promised land. On his return Mr. Robertson and others contributed the cost of Batman’s memorable second voyage, the object of which was to get a large slice of the newly-discovered territory. There is no need to repeat the well known story of the first settlement of Victoria. Suffice it that Colonel Arthur, in Tasmania, and Sir Richard Bourke, in New South Wales, declared Batman’s treaty with the natives invalid; that batman’s partners eventually abandoned their claim, under which Mr. W. Robertson and his associate asserted a right to the whole Geelong district an half the Indented Heads, and that they subsequently got a certain amount of compensation. It is worth mentioning that Batman’s idea was in the first instance to land at Western Port, and that he was wisely overruled by the subject of our memoir. After an unsuccessful attempt to obtain land by virtue of certain rights supposed to be possessed by Buckley, the convict who had lived 33 years among the blacks, Mr. Robertson for the first time crossed the Straits and visited the country of his adoption. On this occasion during his travels he saw the Warrion country, and the richly-grassed plains to the west of Colac. Here he settled, and brought 7,000 acres at auction. About this time he also became the owner of 7,000 acres near Bolinda, on the Deep Creek, now part of the famous Sunbury estate. In 1843 he purchased the run of Captain Foster Fyans, together with his stock, even then celebrated for its high quality. He also bought several other adjoining runs, and forthwith devoted his main attention to his Colac property. Subsequently he purchased 34,000 acres of splendid land on his runs, and by buying the best bulls and cows that could be got in the colonies, and importing purely bred Herefords and Durhams from home, he secured to himself the possession of stock unsurpassed in value in Victoria. It is to his lasting credit that, eager as he was to get land, he never unfairly availed himself of any of the facilities afforded by various land acts, but always bought at open auction. While carrying on this enormous business Mr. Robertson chiefly resided in Tasmania, but some 10 years ago, after a prolonged visit home, he decided to establish himself wholly here. This he did in good style by building a house on his estate, where, in 1867, he had the honour of entertaining H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh. Although he took no part in politics in Victoria, he had much to do with political life in Tasmania, and was among the leaders of the anti-transportation movement. He has left a family of four sons and two daughters – the latter both married. The eldest son, John, was educated in England, and underwent training in the Agricultural College of Cirencester. The second son, William, is a barrister, a B.A. of Oxford, and represents Polwarth and Grenville in the Legislative Assembly. While at college he enjoyed the honour of being the first Australian who pulled in an Oxford University eight. The third son, George, also graduated at Oxford, and distinguished himself in the cricket field as one of the Oxford eleven. The fourth son, James, was at Rugby. The deceased gentleman was always a man of great activity, and so great was his sympathy with manly sports that not a month since he sent away his son George from what proved to be his deathbed to play for the honour of the colony with the Eighteen of Victoria against the All-England Eleven”.

The Colac Herald, Vic, Friday 23rd January 1874, page (unknown)

“Yesterday afternoon (Jan, 22nd), Mr. Robertson’s remains were interred in the family vault in the Colac cemetery. At 12 o’clock the whole of the business places in Colac were closed, and the majority of the male residents might have been seen wending their way to pay their last tribute of respect to Mr Robertson. At about 2 p.m., the coffin was placed in the hearse, and followed by three mourning coaches. In the first carriage were Messrs John, William, George P., and James Roberson (sons of the deceased); in the second, Messrs C. C. Dowling, Charles Officer, Tertius Robertson, and Joseph Sutherland; in the third, Rev J. D. Dickie, Dr T. Rae, Messrs Mathieson and Blake; in the following ones, the Hon C. Sladen, the Hon J. F. Strachan, Dr D. E. Stodart, Messrs A. Murray, Leishman, R. Calvert, J. Gibson, Chas. Beal, Captain J. Haimes, A. Dennis, B. Hepburn, C. Buchannan, A. Wilson, Tilly, and Strickland, the latter four representing the Shire Council. The pall-bearers were the Hon J. F. Strachan, Dr Stodart, Messrs A. Murray, J. Sutherland, R. Calvert, and J. Mathieson. Six of the employees of the deceased walked by the side of the bier the whole distance, arrayed in deep black. When the procession filed into the main road, it was found to be about a mile in length. About 75 buggies and other vehicles followed the hearse, and nearly 200 horsemen in double file, brought up the rear. A large number of people had gathered in the cemetery to witness the ceremony. The Rev J. D. Dickie conducted the service at the family vault. Fully 500 people must have been present, and Mr. Robertson’s popularity sufficiently explains this fact”.

The Colac Herald, Vic, Tuesday 17th October 1876, page 3.

“NOTICE TO ARCHITECTS.

DESIGNS are invited and will be received by the Committee of the Colac Presbyterian Church until FRIDAY, the 10th November next, for a NEW CHURCH at Colac. Copies of conditions upon which such designs are invited and will be received, may be obtained on application, from the undersigned.

P. C. WILSON, Secretary. Colac, October 13, 1876”.

The Colac Herald, Vic, Tuesday 14th November 1876, page 2.

“Some twelve designs have been sent in for the New Presbyterian Church which is shortly to be erected at Colac. Some of the designs are of a very neat order.”

Illustrated Australian News, Melbourne, Vic, Wednesday 31st October 1877, page 171

“NEW PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, COLAC.”

 “The foundation stone of a new church for the rapidly increasing body of the Presbyterians in the township of Colac was laid on the 11th [sic] of April, the site chosen for the purpose being situated at the junction of Hesse and Manifold streets. The church has been designed by Mr. Peter Matthews, architect, of Melbourne, and is an oblong edifice consisting of nave and two side aisles. It is 60 feet long by 35 feet wide, and will seat, when finished, 316 persons. The style of architecture is known as geometrical. There is a tower at the corner of Hesse and Manifold-streets, 80 feet in height from base of foundation to top of finial, the belfry is to be decorated in carved and open work, and the appearance of the tower will greatly add to the beauty of the building. The vestry is situated at the extreme end, measures 20 feet by twelve, and has a porch at each side; behind this are the book room and offices. The building is to be constructed of bluestone, from Mr. George Robertson’s estate, with Waurn Pond freestone dressings, and the floors and porches paved with encaustic tiles. The sides are pierced with windows, divided by stone pillars with carved capitals, and the southern front adjoining the tower decorated with a great rose window. The whole of the interior fittings will be of Huon pine, and the ventilation upon Tobin’s system. The entire cost is estimated at 3280, and this calculation will not, it is believed, be exceeded. Mr. E. Bulling is the contractor for erecting the church, and, when finished, divine service will be conducted in it by the Rev. J. D. Dickie, pastor of the Colac Presbyterian Church.”

The Argus, Melbourne, Vic, Thursday 30th August 1934, page 3.

“SALES AT “THE HILL”

293 HEAD REALISED £30,807 /4/

By R.V.B of the “Australasian: and A. S. Kenyon.

“A successful landowner and businessman of Van Diemen’s Land, William Robertson contributed half the cost of Batman’s first expedition to Port Phillip. He was one of the principals of the association which financed batman’s second expedition. Robertson arrived in 1836 with Gellibrand in the Norval. With Buckley as guide they set out on foot to examine the country west of Corio Bay. Buckley, who had lived more than 30 years with the blacks, claimed ownership of the Barrabool Hills, and these hills he “presented” to Mr. Robertson as a tribute to Robertson’s exceptional physical strength and endurance. It is not, however, as promoter of Batman’s expeditions or as “owner” of the Barrabool country, but as the proprietor of The Hill, Colac, and founder of the renowned Shorthorn and Hereford cattle herds that Mr. Robertson’s name is conspicuous in the records of Port Phillip. In 1843 he acquired the run of Captain Foster Fyans, with all the cattle on it. He retained Fyans’s FF brand. He effected wonderful improvements in the standard of his herds, and the stud cattle of The Hill came to be acknowledged as unsurpassed in the world. In 1875 Robertson Bros., sons of the pioneer, purchased the entire herd of Mount Derrimut Shorthorn stud cattle, which comprised 27 head, including imported Oxford Cherry Duke, from Robert Morton for £27,000. Annual sales of stud cattle were held at The Hill. The Robertson’s pledged themselves to offer no stud animal for sale except by auction without reserve, and every female carried a guarantee as a breeder. The most notable sale of FF cattle at The Hill was on January 7, 1876, when a 26 months old Shorthorn heifer, Roan Duchess, was knocked down to the bid of Samuel Gardiner at 3,20 guineas, the highest price to that time for a heifer of her age. At this sale 293 head were cataloged in 118 lots. The sale occupied four and a half hours, and prices aggregated £30,807/4/, or more than £100 a head. The Shorthorns averaged £155/2/ and Herefords £45/7/9. In 1887 the last sale of cattle was made at The Hill. The whole herd was offered “without reserve” as usual, and the Robertson’s relinquished cattle-breeding in Victoria. William Robertson was born in 1799. He died at Colac, aged 75 years. He left four sons and two daughters. He sent his sons to be educated in England. John was trained at the Agricultural College of Cirencester. William, who became a barrister and member of the Legislative Assembly, was the first Australian to row in an Oxford University eight. George, who graduated also at Oxford, was a member of the University cricket eleven, and he played for Victoria against an All-England Eleven. James Robertson was at Rugby.”

Interesting coincidental points of note:

Joseph Tice Gellibrand (1786–1837) has a memorial stained glass window dedicated to him at All saints Anglican Church at south Hobart. The window was created by the stained glass artist Charles Clutterbuck, England, and was erected in All Saints in 1864.  This window underwent heritage conservation work by Gavin Merrington of ‘Original Stained Glass” in Hobart in 2012. The same church contains stained glass work by the North Melbourne stained glass firm Ferguson & Urie which Gavin is also restoring in 2012-2013.

The brother, James Robertson  (1800-1874), mentioned in the above article built “Struan House” in Launceston in 1870-71which is now part of the Launceston Supreme Court. It also has remnants of original Ferguson & Urie stained glass. See 21-03-1871: Struan House, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.

Points of note:

The Robertson family grave at Colac holds some interesting information and can bee seen here.

Acknowledgements:

My grateful thanks to the following for their assistance:

Arthur & Joyce Grant, Archivists, St Andrew’s Colac, for the fantastic original church correspondence containing references to the Ferguson & Urie stained glass company from 1877-78.

Jan Thwaites, Secretary of St Andrew’s, Colac

Historical Society, Gellibrand Street, Colac.

Footnotes:

[1] Patrick Clason Wilson (1831-1915), also Colac Shire Secretary and Insurance agent. Died 29th May 1915 aged 84.

[5] Letter from G. P. Robertson to Church Committee dated 19 Apr 1877.

[6] Ferguson & Urie quote to architect Peter Matthews dated 28th June 1877.

[7] Church committee minutes, 11th Jan 1878.

[8] Church committee minutes 5th Feb 1877.

[13] TAS BDM: 2678/1834

[18] Royal Historical Society Journal, Vol 56, No.4, December 1985.

[20] Jesse died in Hobart 3rd December 1849 aged 14 years & six months. Her remains were removed from St Andrew’s Cemetery at Hobart and re-interred in the family vault at the Colac cemetery on the 10th April 1868 (as mentioned on the memorial).

[21] Public Records Office Victoria file 11/547, grant dated 19 Feb 1874.

[22] TAS BDM: 99/1839

[25] TAS BDM:1101/1842

[28] TAS BDM: 171/1848

Aug 11 2013

1871: Christ Church, Anglican, Beechworth, Victoria.

The foundation stone of the Anglican ‘Christ Church’ at Beechworth, was laid by Justice Thomas Spencer Cope (1821-1891) on Saturday 13th November 1858[1] and was built to the designs of prominent Melbourne Architect Leonard Terry (1825-1884). The foundation stone is now hidden beneath the tower which was erected in 1864[2].

Many 19th Century Australian Stained Glass artists and companies are now represented by later stained glass windows erected in Christ Church but only two of the original windows remain which were created by the Ferguson & Urie stained glass company of Curzon Street North Melbourne.

Photos dated 18th December 2011.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

At the liturgical north-west corner of the nave, near the tower entrance, are the remaining two original examples of Ferguson & Urie stained glass. These are just plain single light windows with the simple red and blue stained glass border designs with plain in-fill diamond quarries. These simple designs can be found in many Victorian Churches from c.1861 – c.1888. It’s likely that all the original windows in the church were created by the Ferguson & Urie Company at the time of its erection, but the course of time sees these original windows inevitably being replaced by memorial windows.

At the base of one of the two original windows is an obscure clue as to its donor. The lower edge of one window has the text; “Presented 1871 BTW”. A small pink and yellow flower appears on the bottom left of the text and the heraldic symbol of a demi-wolf on the bottom right. The Latin text below the wolf reads “Res Non Verba”, meaning “things, not words” or “facts instead of words,” but probably more commonly known in modern times as “actions speak louder than words.”

This a very clever, simple, and very conservative adaption of one of Ferguson & Urie’s plain ‘stock’ windows. In most cases these simple windows with coloured borders were the first windows to be erected in a new church but this particular modified window is the only one found to date that has the bottom edge modified, very simply, to include the text of the donor and his coat of arms.

Although the clues at the base of the window are obscure, a logical process of elimination has narrowed down the donor of this stained glass window as extremely likely to be ‘Bowes Todd Wilson’ (c.1812-1882), Superintendent of Police for the Beechworth district Apr 1869 – Dec 1870.

Who was Bowes Todd Wilson?

In 1857 Bowes Todd Wilson (1812-1882) was Inspector of Police and District Paymaster at Kyneton[3]. In May 1859 he was appointed Territorial Magistrate for Swan Hill by His Excellency, H. S. Chapman[4] which he resigned in February1861[5]. In April 1869 he was appointed Superintendent of Police for the Beechworth District and retired in December 1870[6] with a Government pension of £186 p.a[7]. He remained in Beechworth for a short period after his retirement and later removed to Melbourne where he died at the ‘Parade Hotel’, East Melbourne on the 12th August 1882[8], aged 70 years[9].

The heraldic symbol and associated Latin text in the stained glass window is identified as being the armorial crest of the “Wilson” family name;  “..This Lion is actually a “Demi Wolf”, and the motto is associated with the families names Wilson, as is the Demi Wolf…”[10]

About Christ Church:

On the 6th of November 1856, Major-General Macarthur had approved the appointment of the trustees of land set apart for the Church of England purposes at Beechworth. Those he appointed as Trustees were; Melnoth Hall, William Gore Brett, Edward Graves Mayne, Charles King and Samuel George Hogg. [11]

Two years later, William Gore Brett, was bestowed with the responsibility for the official invitations to the laying of the foundation stone of Christ Church and his invitation to the Beechworth Shire Council was read at the council meeting the previous day, 12th November 1858[12].

At the appointed time of two o’clock on Saturday the 13th November 1858, Judge Cope laid the foundation stone and immediately after the ceremony a Bazaar to raise money for the building fund was held in the former El Dorado Hotel “…which has been tastefully decorated with evergreens, and colors of all traditions, (including the Chinese)…“

Significant tabloid transcriptions:

Ovens & Murray Advertiser, Beechworth, Wednesday 10th November 1858, page 3.

“THE NEW CHURCH OF ENGLAND.- The foundation stone of the new edifice, the erection of which has just commenced, will be formally laid this day by his Honor Judge Cope. The ceremony will take place at 2 o’clock p.m. and will doubtless attract a large number of visitors to witness it.”

Ovens & Murray Advertiser, Beechworth, Thursday 11th November 1858, page 3.

“THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE NEW CHURCH OF ENGLAND.- A mistake occurred in our notice yesterday as to the day on which the interesting ceremony would take place, but the fault in this case was not ours. The foundation stone will be laid on Saturday (D.V.) with the formalities usual on the occasion of this nature, by His Honor Judge Cope. Two o’clock in the afternoon is the hour named and the event will we have no doubt attract a large concourse of persons.”

Ovens & Murray Advertiser, Beechworth, Saturday 13th November 1858, page 3

“THE FOUNDATION STONE of the Church of England in course of erection, will be laid at 2 o’clock this afternoon by his Honor Judge Cope.”

The Argus, Melbourne, Vic, Monday 14th Aug 1882, page 1.

“WILSON.- On the 12th inst., at the Parade Hotel, East Melbourne, Bowes Todd Wilson, formerly Superintendent of police.”

Footnotes:

[1] Ovens & Murray Advertiser, Beechworth, Saturday 13th November 1858, page 3

[7] prov.vic.gov.au, Will & Probate documents, Bowes Todd Wilson, 1882.

[9] Bowes Todd Wilson, Vic BDM: 9368/1882, age 70.

[10] Stephen Michael Szabo, Hon. Secretary, The Australian Heraldry Society– email, June 2012.

Jul 29 2013

1870: St John’s Anglican Church, Diamond Creek, Victoria.

St John’s Anglican Church at Diamond Creek was built to the designs of Charles Maplestone (1809-1878). His wife, Isabella Margaret Maplestone (nee Beale) (1822-1888) laid the foundation stone of St John’s on the 11th of November 1867[1].

A balance sheet from St John’s parish archives, dated 3rd May 1870 contains reference to stained glass windows with costs. One for £18-10s, and second for a side window for £5-5s to Ferguson, Urie, and Lyon[2].

Photos taken: 26th May 2013.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Charles Maplestone (1809-1878):

Charles Maplestone was a well-known Victorian Public Works architect and avid Vintner in the Heidelberg area. He was born in 1809 at Beccles, Suffolk, England, and married Sarah Elizabeth Mash (1816-1856)[3] in Suffolk, England in 1837. In early 1853, 16 members of three generations of the Maplestone family departed England aboard the “Strathfieldsaye” and arrived in Victoria in April of 1853[4]. After his wife Sarah died in 1856 he then married Isabella Margaret Nodin (nee Beale) at St Helena, Victoria, on the 15th July 1857[5]. He died at “Ivanhoe Lodge”, Ivanhoe on the 25th May 1878 in his 70th year[6].

Isabella Margaret Maplestone (nee Beale) (1822-1888):

Isabella was a daughter of retired Pay Master, Major Anthony Beale, of the East India Corps and was born on the island of St Helena in 1822. She arrived in Van Diemens Land with her parents and siblings aboard the ‘Cecilia’ on the 29th July 1839[7] and then later to Melbourne in November 1839[8]. She first married Francis Nodin (1805-1856)[9] in Melbourne on the 12th December 1840[10] and after his death in 1856 she married Charles Maplestone on the 15th July 1857 at her father’s property at St Helena, Victoria. She died at Kew, Victoria, on the 15th May 1888 aged 65 [11].

There is also an association to other Ferguson & Urie stained glass windows that were erected in the Beale family chapel at St Katherine’s, St Helena. A single light stained glass window in the south wall of the nave was erected to the memory of Charles Maplestone’s son, Luther Maplestone (his son by his first marriage) who died in 1869. The east window of St Katherine’s, also originally by Ferguson & Urie, was erected to the memory of the pioneers Katherine and Anthony Beale. All the original stained glass windows in St Katherine’s were destroyed in a fire in 1957 and were re-created as replicas by the Melbourne stained glass firm Brooks, Robinson & Co.

On the 8th of August 1897 a memorial window, by stained glass artist William Montgomery was dedicated in St John’s Anglican Church Heidelberg, to the memory of Charles and Isabella Margaret Maplestone[12].

The Argus, Melbourne, Vic, Wednesday 13th November 1867, page 5.

“On Monday the foundation-stone of an Anglican church was laid in the new township of Diamond Creek, by Mrs. Charles Maplestone, the wife of the honorary architect. The Rev. J. Hullis (parochial minister), the Rev. B. S. Walker, and Mr. Watkins, M.L.A., took part in the ceremony…”

The Argus, Melbourne, Vic, Monday 5th October 1868, page 3.

“TENDERS for QUARRYING, Excavating, and Building a portion of the Foundation (labour only) of St. John’s Church, Diamond Creek. Plans and specifications to be seen at the Carlton Club Hotel, Gertrude-street.”

The Argus, Melbourne, Vic, Friday 4th November 1870, page 5.

“On Tuesday last the ceremony of opening St. John’s Church, on the Diamond Creek, in the parish of Millumbik, was performed by the bishop of Melbourne, assisted by the Very Rev. the Dean and the Rev. A. Brown. Service was held in the building, which was crowded to excess. At the conclusion of the address delivered by the Bishop, a collection was made, which realised upwards of 20. In the evening a tea meeting was held, in aid of the building fund, to which some 300 sat down, and an adjournment then took place to the church where, the Dean presiding, addresses were delivered by the Rev. Mr. Walton, a minister of the Primitive Methodist Church; Mr. A. Ross, of the Presbyterian; Mr. Rodda of Queenstown; and Messrs. Billing, Johnson, Maplestone, Bell, Beale, and others. Mr. Christian, to whose exertions is mainly to be attributed the erection of the building, brought up a report, which is a handsome specimen of the Early English style of Gothic architecture, is capable of holding some 200 persons, and will be an ornament and a credit to the district.”

The Argus, Melbourne, Vic, Monday 27th May 1878, page 1.

“MAPLESTONE.- On the 25th inst., at Ivanhoe-lodge, Ivanhoe, Charles Maplestone, in his 70th year.”

The Argus, Melbourne, Vic, Thursday 17th May 1888, page 1.

“MAPLESTONE.- On the 15th inst., at her residence, Kew, Isabella Margaret, widow of the late Charles Maplestone, of Ivanhoe Lodge, Ivanhoe, aged 65 years.”

Advertiser, Hurstbridge, Vic, Friday 3rd December 1937, page 1.

“…The foundation stone was laid on November 11, 1867, in the twenty-first year of the Episcopate of Charles Perry, D.D., Bishop of Melbourne, by Mrs. Charles Maplestone, the wife of the honorary architect. It is curious that the foundation stone cannot be identified as there is no sign or mark to tell which is the stone that was laid by Mrs. Maplestone. Although there are a few residents of the district who were present at the laying of the stone, they are not agreed as to the exact location, or where the ceremony took place. Some say at the east end, others at the north end of the building. Some believe that the historic stone has been hidden by the porch, when the church was renovated in 1927. It is known, however, that the stone is a massive one and is hollowed out for the reception of a hermetically sealed bottle containing an interesting account of church life at that time and the daily papers including “The Advertiser,” and every coin of the realm…”

Rev Jock Ryan & Henry Huggins; email from Mrs Bev Ward, 15th June 2013.

“…the Revd. Jock Ryan has let me know that he and Henry Huggins (a parishioner involved with previous extensions at St. John’s) have searched the parish archives and have found a balance sheet dated 3rd May 1870 which contains reference to a stained glass windows. One window for 18 pounds 10 shillings and second one for a side window for 5 pounds, 5 shillings to Ferguson, Urie, and Lyon. This would confirm the names of the makers of the original windows.”

Footnotes:

[2] Rev Jock Ryan & Henry Huggins; email from Mrs Bev Ward, 15th June 2013.

[4] Index to Unassisted Inward Passenger Lists to Victoria 1852-1923, Fiche 036, Pages 001 & 015.

[5] Vic BDM: 2754/1857.

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.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The foundation stone of St. David’s Mission chapel was laid on the 24th 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 24th 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 12th 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 15th 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:

[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.

Short link to this page: https://wp.me/p28nLD-24k

© Copyright