The original St Thomas church in Stanley's Corners was
destroyed by fire in 1964. The new church in Stittsville was built in 1969 and
expanded greatly in 1990 to add the current worship space. Seven of the
nine windows in the current church came from the original church in Stanley's
Corners.
Windows in the sanctuary above the
altar
St. Thomas Jesus
St. Patrick
St. Thomas
In Loving Memory of
Milton H. I. Kenny died Sept 12th 1914 aged 27 yrs.
Erected by his brother John A. Kenny
The history of these stained glass windows can be read in the the book 'Goulbourn Stained Glass' by the
Goulbourn Historical Society and S. Bernard Shaw.
Jesus
Lo! I stand at the door & knock.Revelation 3:20
In Loving Memory of Jonathan Stanley & Son Victor
Donated by Mrs. J. Stanley & Son George
St Patrick
(note the bishop's mitre and the shamrocks
in his right hand)
In Loving Memory of
Anthony Seabrook and his wife Catherine
Erected by their sons James and Milton
In Memory of Thomas Healey
and his son and daughter Samuel and Emma
Erected by Francis Healey and Margaret Lackey
In Memory of James McCaffery and his
wife Mary and their sons William H. and Samuel
Erected by Joseph McCaffery A.D.1914
In Memory of Mary Massey wife of
James Cathcart died Aug. 15th 1881 aged 42 years
Erected by her children
In Eternal Love and Gratitude for the life of
Rita Muriel Harvey (nee Ward)
Born November 22, 1937, died November 3,2004
Erected by her husband Bob and daughters Sarah and Joanna
In Memory of James Cathcart
Born Nov. 20th 1830 Died July 10th 1907
Erected by his wife Annie J. Cathcart
Balcony Window
Go Tell My Brethren
To the Glory of God and in loving Memory of
Victoria Strachan 1872 - 1924 Wife of the Revd. A. Lackey
This stained glass window was originally commissioned by the Rev. Jacob
Albert Lackey, who is buried in the St. Thomas cemetery, at our old churchyard
at Stanley's Corners. He gave the window in memory of his wife and it was installed for many years in the parish of
Brownsburg, near Lachute, Quebec.
When that parish dwindled and the church was deconsecrated, the
window was removed and presented to Jacob Lackey's grandson, the Right Reverend
Edwin Lackey, then Bishop of Ottawa.
Bishop Lackey had no immediate purpose for it and stored the window
for awhile in his garage. He then offered it to the parish in June, 1989, when he
officiated at our sod-turning ceremony. The window was refurbished, installed,
then re-dedicated to Bishop Lackey, during the dedication of this church
building on Easter Sunday, 1991.
It is in the balcony of the church and is visible
from outside and the balcony.
The following
article was written by Pat Dalphy with thanks to Pete Torunski
I wonder how many of us have ever looked at the stained glass window in the
balcony, above the main doors, opposite the Altar? We usually have our backs to
it and seldom look up as we go out of the Church. The window, often called "The
Bishop's Window" is actually the "Go Tell my Brethren" window and has a very
interesting history. It shows the empty tomb with Jesus standing beside it
commissioning Mary Magdalen to "go and tell" the disciples that he is risen. It
is dedicated to "The Glory of God and in loving memory of Victoria Strachan,
1872-1924, wife of the Revd. J. A. Lackey". It was originally installed in the
Church in the Parish of Brownsburg, near Lachute, Quebec, where Rev. J. A.
Lackey was the incumbent.
The congregation there fell into decline and eventually the Church was
deconsecrated and the window given to Rev. Lackey's grandson, the Right Reverend
Edward Lackey, then Bishop of Ottawa. He had no real use for the window and it
was stored in his garage for some time. Now it's June 1989 and St. Thomas Church
in Stittsville is in the process of enlarging the small Church (now housing the
offices and Council Room) and invited Bishop Lackey to the sod turning for its
new building. Bishop Lackey heard that we had several stained glass windows,
rescued from the old St. Thomas Church at Stanley Corners after the fire.
He wondered if we could use another one. So off to his garage where the window
was inspected and measured, and "yes" we could certainly use it and would really
appreciate it. The window was duly recovered from its garage resting place, it
was refurbished, installed and rededicated when the Bishop was present at the
dedication of St. Thomas Anglican Church, Stittsville, on Easter Sunday, 1991.
This Sunday I looked up to the Balcony from in front of the Altar and saw the
window in all its glory with the sun shining through. There is a plaque attached
to the wall next to the window where one can find the history to the window. It
is well worth a look.
