From the ?, Wednesday 16th September 1896, page ? (press cutting in a notebook of the window’s donor, Cornwall Record Office ref. P68/2/182).
In aid of the fund for the restoration of St. Germans Church a three days’ bazaar was opened yesterday in the beautiful grounds of Port Eliot. The weather was anything but favourable. Rain fell heavily and continuously most of the day, but did not affect the attendance to any very considerable extent. It would be hard to name any function of this kind which has offered more attractions to the visitor. In addition to the bazaar proper a host of side shows are added, and when it is remembered that entrance to the bazaar carries with it admittance to Lord St. German’s grounds we doubt not the attendance to-day will be a very large one. Port Eliot looked its best yesterday during the occasional glints of autumn sunlight, and not the least appreciated was the privilege accorded visitors of strolling unchecked through the grounds. The bowling green was the spot upon which the stalls were erected, a number of tents being pitched on its edge by Mr. R.B. Tope, of Plymouth. Within them were the usual features of a bazaar. Fancy work was of course the staple commodity, but in addition several novelties made their appearance. The Countess of St. Germans presided over the former departments in a large marquee on the south side. Under the same cover, Lady Robartes offered for sale a collection of Indian goods, Mrs. E.L. Somers-Cocks wares from the South of France, and the members of the Church Society drove a brisk trade in the bric-a-brac, common to all bazaars. The Hon. Mrs. C.G.C. Eliot was in charge of a tent containing an endless variety of articles “all under 1s.,” while the Misses Eliot dealt in fine arts and advertisements. The other departments were in equally capable hands. Mrs. W. Westmacott had the china and pottery; Mrs. H. Polgreen, Miss Roberts, and Mr. J.L. Pearce, the gentleman’s divan; Mrs. J.W. Gill, Mrs. J. Littleton, Mrs. A. Read, Miss Boucher, and Miss Pole, the flowers and fruit (a very fine collection, as one might expect); Mrs. H. Maynard, Mrs. J. Roberts, Mrs. W.M. Roberts, Miss Mortimer and Miss Polgreen, the dairy stall; Mrs. R.E. Paige, Mrs. T. Geake, Mrs. W. Creber, and Miss Tucker, the refreshment stall; and Messrs. Bray, Bersey, Couch, Carpenter, Gunningham, and Hancock, live stock. Mr. E. Dudley occupied a tent into which the visitor was enticed to be photographed “while you wait” at a shilling a head. In justice to the operator it should be said the photos were in most cases very good indeed. Miss E.V. Kelly, of Plymouth, “read the fates” and told fortunes in another tent. All over the grounds were laid electric lights, and after nightfall the darkness was put to flight by sixty incandescent lamps, which flashed and twinkled amongst the trees with fairy-like effect; in fact, as one of Captain Marryatt’s creations observes, “Quite a miniature Wauxhall.” The entrance to the grounds and the central point—at the bowling green—were illuminated by two arc lamps, each of 500-candle power. This work was entrusted to Messrs. Veale, of St. Austell. Lord Eliot was the attendant at a sweetmeat booth, but deserted it during the afternoon for the skittle alley, where he successfully played and defeated all comers, to the “great honour and profit of the church of St. Germans.”
Some idea of the liberality and kindness of Lord St. Germans may be gathered from the fact that his magnificent picture gallery was thrown open to lovers of the artistic, the masterpieces therein contained, including many and splendid examples of Sir Joshua Reynolds, Hoppner, Vandyck, Romney, Quintin Matsys, Sir Godfrey Kneller, Salvator Rosa, Rembrandt, Sir Peter Lely, Rubens, Opie, Sir T. Lawrence, and Hogarth.
In the orangery frequent entertainments were given, the artistes whose services were promised, including the Hon. Mrs. and the Misses Eliot, Mrs. Boucher, Mrs. Jennings, Miss Boucher, Miss Cross, Messrs. W. Anstice, Edward Eliot, H. Medlycott, R. Glendinning, A.C. Kelway, Fox, F. Humphries, and Colour-Sergeant Hopkins. Yesterday’s programme included a theatrical entertainment also, which drew several excellent audiences, as it well deserved to. The sketch, “The Serenaders,” was given, Mr. F. Ready playing Jack Jefferies, and Mr. Edward Eliot, Bill Baltimore. This performance will be repeated several times to-day. The Royal Naval Band, under Mr. E. Binding, played a charmingly selected musical programme, and in the evening the St. Germans band, under Mr. J. Goard, was engaged. In the orangery, from eight until ten p.m., a ball proved very successful. Other attractions included rifle ranges, Aunt Sally, and a gipsy tent (under Miss Bartlett’s supervision). All these entertainments will be repeated to-day, with additions. Mention mst not be omitted of the excellent character of the refreshments and extremely reasonable charges made therefor, not an unimportant matter to visitors from a distance. The excellence of the general arrangements is also a matter for special comment, and the executive committee, and particularly the secretaries are to be heartily congratulated. Granted fine weather to-day and to-morrow, this fine bazaar cannot fail to achieve the object which its projectors have in view. The Executive Committee included the Earl of St. Germans, Colonel the Hon. C.G.C. Eliot, Rev. W. Westmacott, Dr. J. Gill, Messrs. W.F. Creber, G.H. Brenton, and A. Read; with Dr. J. Bedford Kerswill (hon. treasurer), and Messrs. H. Polgreen and W.G. Broad (hon. secretaries).
The opening ceremony was performed in the large marquee by the Countess of Morley, who was accompanied by the Earl of Morley. Those also present included the Earl and Countess of St. Germans, The Rev. the Earl of Bessborough and the Countess of Bessborough, Lady May Ponsonby, Major-General Glanville (Plymouth), Mr. Jonathan Rashleigh (Menabilly), Revs. H.M. Wheeler (Hessenford), W. Westmacott, vicar of St. Germans; Miss Eliot, Miss E. Eliot, Miss Vallack-Tom, the Misses Luttrell (Dunster Castle), Mrs. Boucher, Dr. Bedford Kerswill, Messrs. E.L. Somers-Cocks, E. Tucker, W.F.H. Creber, and many others. In asking Lady Morley to declare the bazaar open, the Vicar, Rev. W. Westmacott, assured those present that they had not been invited there and their assistance requested without a very good cause. In the first place, they did not consider that the restoration of their grand old church was entirely a parochial matter, or even a diocesan one; but with its antiquity and all its historical interest, they felt that it was a national work, and one which ought not to be taken lightly in hand, but carried out in the best possible style. Up to the present time over £6,000 had been spent, and the primary object of the bazaar was to pay off a debt of £280 which was standing against the committee. In the second place, they required about £150 to pay for a floor for the church, and another £200 to pay for necessary repairs to the stonework and tracery of their grand east window, ably carried out under the direction of Mr. E. Sedding and Mr. Lang, of Liskeard, and now ready and waiting to receive the beautiful stained glass which has been designed by Sir Edward Burne-Jones, and is being executed by W. Morris and Co. The glass of the window was the gift of Mr. Alfred Burton, who had so frequently been a most kind friend to their Church. They were asking for assistance to raise the modest sum of £630, and earnestly hoped that the attractions of the bazaar would enable the visitors present to part with their money without any bitter pangs. (Laughter and applause.) Her ladyship expressed the pleasure it gave her to be of assistance in the work of the Church, and, in declaring the bazaar formally open, said: I am afraid the weather to-day is not very propitious, but I hope you will take enough money to enable you to restore the beautiful church of St. Germans. (Applause.)—Lady Morley was afterwards presented with a beautiful bouquet by the Misses Rhoda and Penelope Westmacott.
The bazaar will be open to-day at two o’clock, and the band of the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment will be present, under Mr. Fred Haines.