21. CONNELL MEMORIAL

The brass plaque remembers William Frederick Connell and his wife Adelaide Elizabeth who lived at Mt Breckan from 1912 to 1938. Apparently an earlier electric organ was given in memory of the Connells.    INDEX

22. MOTHERS’ UNION BANNER AND WINDOW

The Mothers’ Union is a feature of Anglican churches. This branch was started in 1934. It is interesting to note the change in spelling to ‘Harbor’ from the earlier St Monica banner. This spelling, found in several geographical names in South Australia, including Outer Harbor, is the result of spelling errors made by an early Surveyor General of South Australia. Conversely Victor Harbour railway station is spelt with the u. The Annunciation window is in memory of generous benefactor Mary O’Leary 1859 – 1945.

23. NORTH TRANSEPT

We move across to the North transept. The transepts are wide and simply furnished. We observe here the spectacular window triplet, and the framed pictures to the right. The baptismal font stands closer to the foreground.

24. ASCENSION WINDOW

Since 1893 the Cudmores were generous benefactors to the Church. Paul Cudmore was for over 30 years People’s Warden, and his wife Ella Cudmore was responsible for the bequest for the upkeep of the garden. Their son married Rev. C.R. Whereat’s daughter. The three light Ascension window in the Northern transept was erected in 1938 on the death of Mrs. Martha Cudmore, widow of Daniel Cudmore of ‘Adare’.

25. MARGARET TARRANT PRINTS

To the right of the Ascension window are four framed prints of paintings by Margaret W. Tarrant. She paints in an attractive style, but I am interested in her local popularity: her paintings are to be found in a number of the South Coast churches. Was there a family connection? Or perhaps she visited?

26. FONT

The unusually supported font has a decorative wooden cover which carries a small plate. The inscription is hard to read but appears to say: In Memoriam Robert Frederick Jagger, Assistant Priest in the Parish 1920 – 1923. The first child was christened in the new font in 1923, although there had been previous baptisms in the Church. We now move across to the South transept.

27. SOUTH TRANSEPT, ORGAN

In 1962 a modern electric organ was given to the Church in memory of Mr. and Mrs. W.F. Connell of ‘Mount Breckan’. This was replaced by the same donor with a pipe organ of 353 pipes, dedicated on Whitsunday 1978. Also in the South transept we see a hymn board at left, a picture and windows ahead, and a framed ’colour’ at right.

28. KING’S COLOURS

A framed ‘King’s Colours’ hangs on the West wall of the South transept. The text below reads: The King’s Colours • Presented by His Most Gracious Majesty the King Emperor to the 16th Australian Light Horse Regt. in recognition of services rendered to the Empire in South Africa. 1904.

29. SOUTH TRANSEPT WINDOW

In 1966 the Douglas family designed and gave the modern three light window in the Southern transept, in memory of Dr. Francis John and Mrs. Margaret Clerk Douglas. This striking window shows the Resurrected Christ dispensing Mercy and Healing, Love and Kindness with the Doctor and his wife looking up from below.

30. HYMN BOARD AND LAST SUPPER

Miss Jessey Whyte was one of the early organists. This hymn board was appropriately given in her memory after her death on 15/12/1920.

31. EAST NAVE

We next approach the nave altar with the sanctuary behind. On either side are two crucifixes, the processional cross and Paschal candle, and the wooden pulpit.

32. CROSSES AND CRUCIFIXES

The processional cross is used on Sundays to lead in the procession of clergy. The Paschal candle is a symbol of Jesus, the Light of the world, and has particular significance around Easter time. The crucifix and cross both emphasize the significance of Christ’s death – the first his redeeming death, and the second his resurrection life.

33. PULPIT

Dr. Francis J. Douglas was a prominent figure in town and Church affairs from 1902, for close on 60 years. He was a moving figure in the building of the local hospital, and in obtaining an ambulance, and telephone service at Victor Harbor. In 1933 the pulpit was given in memory of the Doctor’s mother, Mary Beviss Douglas. This lady, with her floating veils and gray hair, was described as a miniature Queen Victoria in appearance. .    

34. NAVE ALTAR

In the early 60s a meeting of Vatican II decided that the Eucharist should be administered from a nave altar, close to the congregation, by a facing priest. Consequently, many churches and cathedrals now have a high altar close to the East wall, and a nave altar close to the congregation.

35. ALTAR CANDLESTICKS AND MISSAL STAND

There are three objects on the nave altar: two candlesticks and a missal stand. The missal stand is used for supporting a book or sheaf of papers making it easier to read. The presence of many candles in churches raises interesting questions, but perhaps they continue a simple past purpose in giving light!

36. CATHEDRA?

If this were a cathedral, this chair would be the cathedra! The priest’s or celebrant’s chair, is decorated with the coat of arms of the Diocese of the Murraylands. The red cross and stars come from the coat of arms of the Adelaide Diocese, and the wavy blue and white lines below represent the waves and sandbars of the Murray River.

37. SANCTUARY PANELLING AND LIST

A local craftsman, Harold Woods, in 1937 and 1938, was responsible for the blackwood panelling in the sanctuary, a fitting memorial to Rev. T.M. Boyer. These two panels list the names of priests who have served in this parish. They include names of a number of men who appear elsewhere in this brief historical account.

38. HIGH ALTAR

The high altar with its backing screen or ‘reredos’ stands against the Eastern wall of the sanctuary. Although it forms a natural focus within the Church, these days it is only used on special occasions.

39. BRASS LECTERN

In 1911, this beautiful brass lectern was given by Mrs. Agnes Gosse and other relations, in memory of Agnes Grant Hay of ‘Mount Breckan’ and her daughter Helen Gosse Hay. Both were tragically lost at sea aboard the steamer Waratah in 1909. Before her death Mrs Hay had spoken of giving a lectern to the Church. At first the idea of a brass lectern was rejected as it was thought there would be no one to clean it. Dr. F. Douglas’s young daughters dreaded the task of weekly polishing.

40. HOWELL MEMORIAL AND MOTHERS’ UNION BANNER

Edward Tucker Howell was Rector 1865 – 1890. In 1896 he was appointed to the Cathedral of Hobart, and he died in Newton, Tasmania in 1912, when a marble tablet to his memory was erected by his old parishioners, in the sanctuary of the Church. The Mothers’ Union banner, depicting the Sistine Madonna in silk and embroidery with painted highlights, was worked by an English artist, Miss M. Bristowe Hughes, who had visited the church that year.