THIS EVENT IS POSTPONED DUE TO THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK.

A new date will be posted some time in the future.

Everyone interested in history is welcome to attend the launch of St Kilda families: Memorials in Christ Church on Sunday 22 March at 3.00pm in Christ Church, 11 Acland Street St Kilda and to view the stained glass windows, plaques and the Roll of Honour. Dr Andrew Lemon AO, former President of the Royal Historical Society of Victoria will launch the book.

In the 1850s St Kilda was the wealthiest of Melbourne suburbs and a fine stone church, a rare example of the work of Charles Swyer, was erected in Acland Street in 1854. Built of Sorento sandstone, it was the first stone church south of the Yarra and was consecrated in January 1863, complete with now heritage registered organ originally by William Hill of London.
In 1870, the many wealthy parishioners desired to beautify the church and five lustrous windows by leading stained glass makers, Ferguson and Urie depicting the life of Christ were installed. In 1874 parishioner and St Kilda city surveyor Sydney Smith drew up plans for extensions and the first two memorial windows were installed.

A new book, St Kilda families: Memorials in Christ Church by Melbourne historian Jenny O’Donnell reveals the story behind each of the many memorial stained glass windows, by makers such as Ferguson and Urie, Brooks Robinson and William Montgomery, which celebrate the lives of prominent and less prominent citizens of early Melbourne. The book provides detailed biographies of each person, among them Francis Grey Smith snr and his wife Susannah each remembered in three light windows with quatrefoils above in the transepts. Jesse Fanning, an early citizen of St Kilda, is another who features in the windows as well as Mathilda Murphy who ran one of the first school for girls.

There are also many brass and marble tablets, one in particular in memory of prominent churchman, Laurence Adamson, “the lion of Wesley”, and another to Alexander McConachie who did much to improve the standard of church music in Australia.
After the Great War a poignant memorial, designed by George Dancey with architect Norman Peebles, was erected in the Chapel of St Michael. The Gothic Revival memorial features a large central panel of a painting, by Dancey, of St Michael, with the names of 162 service personnel on panels on either side. The book includes biographies of these people (and their close relatives who, for one reason or another, were omitted from the Roll of Honour). Using archival material, the book also illustrates the experience of the Great War at home and abroad, in both pictures and personal letters.

St Kilda families: Memorials in Christ Church contains a brief history of the church building, including biographies of those involved in its construction and renovation, and photos of every memorial. Over 220 biographies and 120 pictures are included.