From the ?, Thursday 16th October 1902, page ? (press cutting in a notebook of the window’s donor, Cornwall Record Office ref. P68/2/182).
A beautiful new stained-glass window was unveiled and dedicated in St. Germans Church yesterday at the harvest festival. The window, which has been placed in the south wall of the side chapel, has been given by Mr. Alfred Burton, of London, a friend of the Earl of St. Germans. It has six lights, filled with figures typical of an Angel of Mercy, Justice, Faith, Hope, Charity, and an Angel of Peace. The design is that of the late Sir Edward Burne-Jones, who also designed the much larger window in the east end, given by the same generous donor. The new window is harmonious in tone and colour with the other, and at the base is the Latin inscription:—“Dei Gloriam ac Potestatem Gratissimo Animo sic Celebrare Audet Alfred Burton. Ⅿ.Ⅽ.Ⅿ.Ⅱ.” The large congregation at the service included the Earl and Countess of St. Germans, Lady Beatrice Pole-Carew, and Hon. Cyril and Mrs. Ponsonby. The service was taken by the vicar (Rev. W. Westmacott), and one of the lessons was read by Rev. H.N. Wheeler, vicar of Hessenford. The musical portion was excellently rendered by the choir, Mr. R. Glendining, the organist, conducting, and Mr. W. Moreton, St. James’s, Devonport, being at the organ. The Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis were sung to Varley Roberts in C, and the anthem, “I will sing of Thy power, O God,” was rendered to Sullivan’s setting. At the conclusion of the anthem the Archdeacon of Bodmin (Ven. H. Du Boulay), attended by the other clergy, proceeded to the side chapel, where, the new window being unveiled, he said the special dedication collect for such an occasion and other prayers. The hymn was then sung, “O God, our help in ages past,” after which the Archdeacon preached from Genesis ⅹⅹⅱ., 8, “While the earth remaineth, seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” He remarked that those present had come there for a twofold purpose—that of assisting in the dedication of the beautiful window which had just been unveiled and which had been presented to the church by one who had proved over and over again in former years his love for the church and parish; and also to render thanks to God as a congregation for another proof of His love and mercy shown in the ingathering of the harvest again this year. And surely they might be thankful that in almost every parish throughout the length and breadth of England it was now the practice to thank God with one heart and voice to show that they really felt how dependent they were upon Him for the bread which was the staff of bodily life. Enforcing the lessons of recognising God’s ever-enduring promise as regards the seasons and of gratitude for His mercies, the Archdeacon remarked that, whilst it was only the comparative few who could make such a gift as that of the new window, all could offer to God acceptable worship, which meant not only prayer, confession of sin, reading His Word, and thanksgiving, but the offering of themselves to Him. During the singing of the second hymn, “To Thee, O Lord, our hearts we raise,” the offertory was taken for the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Society. At the close of the service most of the congregation inspected the new window. A harvest tea in the Townhall followed, and at the evening service Garratt’s harvest cantata was admirably rendered.