Stained Glass Window at Colac St. John's Anglican Church

Pollack Street, Colac, COLAC OTWAY SHIRE

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Vic. War Heritage Inventory

Colac St Johns Meredith memorial 1919 copy

Statement of Significance

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  • Stained Glass Window at Colac St. John's Anglican Church - Vic. War Heritage Inventory
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  • Memorial Window References & Acknowledgements

    Stained Glass Window at Colac St. John's Anglican Church - Memorial Window References & Acknowledgements

    AWM Roll of Honour; AWM Image No. P00133.001; NAA: B2455 Meredith, Benjamin; 'Diamond Jubilee St. John's Colac 1870-1930', [1930]; Montgomery Letterbooks 1/893 NGA Research Collection, Canberra. Folio 146, Montgomery ledger William Montgomery Collection State Library of Victoria.

    Memorial Window Subject

    Stained Glass Window at Colac St. John's Anglican Church - Memorial Window Subject

    St. George Kneeling before St. Mary[?] and St. John[?]

    Memorial Window Text

    Stained Glass Window at Colac St. John's Anglican Church - Memorial Window Text

    n/a

    Memorial Window Inscription

    Stained Glass Window at Colac St. John's Anglican Church - Memorial Window Inscription

    To the glory of God & in loving memory of our dear parents John Jenner Meredith born 29th Nov. 1829 died 30th March 1914 Margaret Meredith born 14th Jan.1843 died 16th August 1915 And our dear brother Lt. Benjamin P.G. Meredith born 9th July 1882 Killed in Action at Beersheba 31st Oct. 1917 Erected Annie F.I. & Charles W. Meredith

    Memorial Window Description & History

    Stained Glass Window at Colac St. John's Anglican Church - Memorial Window Description & History

    As a memorial to those who fought and died in the Great War, the parishioners of St. John's, Colac renovated the chancel of their church and set up two Honour Rolls, one commemorating the 136 men and 4 nurses who enlisted from the parish, and another in honour of the 32 who 'paid the supreme sacrifice'.

    The stained glass memorial window was commissioned by the surviving children of John and Margaret Meredith, Annie Frances T and her younger brother, the Rev. Charles W Meredith. The Rev. Canon Davison wrote to stained glass artist William Montgomery in May 1919 suggesting the subject of St. George for a memorial window in the church. Montgomery sent the sketch on 24 May and estimated the price to be £65. St. George,was usually a lone figure in any commemorative window and here represented soldier Bejamin Meredith. An account for £74 was issued on 1 September 1920, a cost that reflects the more complex nature of the final design, with three figures and a lengthy inscription. The badge of the Australian Commonwealth Forces was placed prominently above the lengthy inscription.

    On 31 August 1914, 32 year-old grazier Benjamin Peter George Meredith, enlisted in the 4 Australian Light Horse and went to Gallipoli via Egypt but was invalided out to England with enteric fever in September. He returned to Egypt in July 1916 where he undertook several postings before his promotion to 2nd Lieutenant in his old regiment, and then to Lieutenant in June 1917. After further officer training he returned to 4 Light Horse on the 19 August 1917 and was killed in action at Beersheba on 31 October 1917. Lieutenant Meredith was buried by Chaplain Dunbar on 1 November 1917 and his name recorded at Beersheba War Cemetery, Israel.

    Heritage Study and Grading

    Heritage Study and Grading

    Vic War Heritage Inventory - Stained Glass Memorial Windows Study

    Author: Bronwyn Hughes
    Year: 2013
    Grading: Local

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