Windows

 

Christ Church Beechworth has some exceptional Victorian-era stained glass windows and later memorial windows. The Victorian plain glass lancet windows were made by Ferguson and Urie at the firm's Curzon Street works in North Melbourne and one of the chancel windows is by William Montgomery.

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Chancel

 

Christ in glory

Maker: William Montgomery, Melbourne

Inscription: Presented by the parishoners (sic)

Dedicated: Sunday, August 6, 1899

Celebrant: Reverend George Pennicott, Rector of Christ Church

Cost: £40

Ovens and Murray Advertiser report PDF

 

St Peter and St Paul pair

 

Frederick Brown (1829 - 1903) was an auctioneer, Beechworth councillor, barrister and parliamentarian and in 1866 and 1871 Beechworth's mayor. He also became the first chancellor of the Anglican Diocese of Wangaratta after its creation in 1901.

Maker: unknown - possibly William Montgomery

Inscriptions: S. Petrus. S. Paulus. To the glory of God and in loving memory of the Hon. Fred Brown MLC. Erected by some of his friends.

Dedicated: Sunday, August 14, 1904

Celebrant: Right Reverend Thomas Armstrong, Bishop of Wangaratta

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Nave

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Wilson

Bowes Todd Wilson (1812-1882) was Beechworth district police superintendent April 1869 - December 1870. Before this he was Heathcote district police superintendent and crown land commissioner (1863), territorial magistrate in Swan Hill (1859 - 1861) and police inspector and paymaster in Kyneton (1857). Ferguson and Urie historian Ray Brown believes this window was given to the church by Wilson after he retired from his Beechworth police post. The initials and Wilson family demi-wolf crest with its motto, Res non verba, meaning 'Things (or actions), not words', are clues to the donor's identity.

Maker: Ferguson and Urie

Inscription: Presented 1871 B.T.W

Dedicated: 1871

Link

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St Cecilia

Maker: Mathieson and Gibson, Melbourne

Inscription: A. M. D. G. (Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam) In memory of Frances Manton DMSV organist of this church for 50 years. Died 17th March 1944. Erected by friends.

Dedicated: 1946

Cost: £120

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Morrah

Edward Wakefield Morrah (1830-1894) was born in Sussex, United Kingdom, in 1830. In Australia he became a prominent banker and later New Zealand inspector for the Bank of Australasia. In 1858 married Fanny Weston in Longford, Tasmania. Her father, the Honourable William Weston, magistrate and grazier, was a prominent opponent of Britain's penal transportation policy and served as acting Premier of Tasmania (1857) and later as Premier (1860-61). Morrah died in New Zealand in 1894.

Maker: F. and R. Mitchelson, Beechworth

Inscription: In loving memory of Edward Wakefield Marrah (sic) died February 15th 1894 aged 64.

Dedicated: September 8, 1895

Celebrant: Reverend Canon Thomas Serjeant

Note: The partnership of Frederick James Mitchelson (1863-1927) and Robert Henry Mitchelson (1869-1917) is not known to have fired and painted glass in its Beechworth works. It's thought that the supply of the Morrah window, commissioned by his widow, was outsourced to one of the leading Melbourne stained glass makers. The spelling of the subject's surname in the inscription is incorrect.

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Archangel Michael

World War II memorial.

Maker: Mathieson and Gibson, Melbourne

Inscription: And they overcame by the blood of the Lamb. A. M. D. G. (Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam) In honour of sailors soldiers airmen and nurses who gave their lives for their King and Country in World War II and also those who served.

Dedicated: Sunday, May 4, 1947

Celebrant: Right Reverend Thomas Armour, Bishop of Wangaratta 1943-1963

Cost: £120

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St John

In memory of Reverend Arthur Blair Alexander Brown, Rector of Christ Church Beechworth. He was a former chorister at St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne, and bellringer.

Maker: Ferguson and Papas, Melbourne

Inscription: A. M. D. G. (Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam) In memory of a faithful priest. Arthur Brown. Rector of this parish 1940-1952.

Dedicated: circa 1952-1953 date unknown

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Sources

Ray Brown and Stained Glass Australia

Monument Australia

Virtual War Memorial Australia*

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