The leadlight window above the altar in St Brigid’s Catholic Church depicts three saints – St Agnes, St Brigid and St Philomena. This image was captured by photographer LYLE RADFORD in a time before the windows were removed. The window has been in place since 1910. The artwork around the window is thought to have been done by noted Australian artist, William Bustard in 1935.
A workman on a cherry picker platform removing the windows from the front of St Brigid’s Catholic Church in Rosewood to preserve them from harm and to conserve them before re-installing them after the building is moved. Photo: LYLE RADFORD
IT WAS described by an early parishioner as a timber cathedral.
Perhaps it was because of how the new St Brigid’s Catholic Church dominated the landscape – a seemingly immense building in a rural area more accustomed to the single-gabled roofline, and simple rectangular shape of other churches scattered throughout the districts.
Perhaps it was because of its ornate interior.
Perhaps it was because of the quality and magnificence of the stained glass window above the altar.
And this week’s local history focuses on the windows.
It’s an easy choice as it is to those windows that the contemporaries of the early parishioners have also focused to ensure their preservation ahead of moving the building to a more stable site on the church grounds.
In a report to parishioners on Sunday, Benjamin Leschke, operations manager for the Ipswich Catholic Community advised that during the last month or so, the windows in the church had been removed.
“[This is] in preparation for their restoration.
“Some of the window frames will also be repaired when the new glass is installed due to damage that was found when they were being removed.
“The great news is there is no damage that cannot be repaired.”
The leadlight windows were also removed last week.
“They are being cleaned and stored safely … over the next three months the windows are being worked on in preparation for their return.”
But are those windows, especially the leadlight ones, worth the time and expense of restoration?
A review of their history would suggest there can be no other answer to the question than ‘yes’, a very definite ‘yes’.
The window in the heights above the altar measures 3.65m high by 2.44m wide (12ftx8ft).’
The centre panels form a triptych of saints – St Agnes, St Brigid and St Philomena.
The superb craftsmanship of the windows is that of Robert Skerrett Exton a painter, decorator and glazier best remembered for his stained glass windows in churches such as St Stephen’s Catholic Cathedral and St Patrick’s Catholic Church in Brisbane.
The builder and designer of St Brigid’s, Robert Murphy, reported in the lead up to the opening and consecration of the church in February 1910, that the window alone had cost £60.
The other two stained glass windows – we tend to refer to them today as leadlight windows – at the end of the side galleries are thought to have been designed by noted Australian artist, William Bustard in 1935.
His services were engaged through RS Exton and Co. Robert Exton had passed away in 1921 and Bustard was engaged by the firm, on commission, as a stained glass designer. It is a role he held with the company until 1958.
The commissioning and installation of the new windows was to mark a double celebration – 1935 was the 25th anniversary of the opening of the new St Brigids and the 50th anniversary of the opening of the former St Brigid’s church.
Other windows in St Brigid’s are also remarkable, if not as ornate.
It is again that we turn to Robert Murphy for a description.
The windows in front of the church are 3.65m by 2.44m [12ft by 8ft], and the sets along each side are 3.5m by 1.5m [11ft 6in by 5ft] and are fitted with stained glass.
