Seddonius Africanus.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVIII, Issue XXII, 31 May 1902, Page 1086

Seddonius Africanus.

T!i<- cable* represent Mr. Seddon a* travelling from Durban to Pretoria in an ordinal v railway train, but how muc i more appropriate would ln» journey have been if conducted in the manner our artist has here depicted.

At the morning service in the above place of worship on Sunday, 11th May, Archdeacon Calder consecrated a neat stained-glass window to the memory of the late Rev. E. N. Bree, the first incumbent of the parish. Owing to the length of time that has elapsed since his death in 1883 and the short notice of the intended ceremony, only a very few of the old parishioners were present. The subject of the window was suggested by the late Mr A. Boardman, being after the panel in the Selwyn Pulpit in Christchurch Cathedral, representing the Bishop of New Zealand (Selwyn) in the porch of St.

Stephen's Chapel, Parnell, in the year 1857, in the act of pronouncing the Benediction after declaring the constitution of the branch of the United. Church of England and Ireland in the colony. He is surrounded by Bishops, Archdeacons Abraham and Harper, and others, the laity being represented by Mr (afterwards Sir William) Swainson, Sir Win. Martin, Colonel Haultain, and others. The portraits of the clergy are well preserved, and they may be easily recognised by any old colonists who knew

them. It is probably the only stain-ed-glass window in the colony having for its subject an historical event of modern times, instead of the usual subjects, saints and prophets taken from the Bible. The window is the work of Messrs (’layton and Bell, the well-known church window designers and makers, of London. The principal object of the window would be overlooked but for the name of the Rev. E. N. Bree being inserted in the glass at the bottom. 'There is also a brass plate under-

neath giving further particulars of the deceased clergyman. Mr Bree was a good preacher, and of the evangelical and liberal type of the Dean Stanley school, and for that reason was much respected by other denominations. as well as by his own. On one occasion, at least, some leading Wesleyan and other dissenting minis ters gave addresses in tin' church nt one of the annual meetings. when the building was packed and several well-known Roman Catholics were amongst the cmigregation.