Windows and War Memorials
The articles below bring together images, documents and information on the stained glass windows and war memorials in and arround the church. We welcome contributions which add to this knowledge or indeed correct any errors or omissions.
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Inscriptions
(Left Pane)
"I have fought a good fight, I have kept the faith"
(Right Pane)
"Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life"
(Across Both Panes)
"To the glory of god and in grateful memory of the men of Oathlaw who fought and died for righteousness"
"They were ready either to live or die valiantly"
(Individual Names)
Alexander Batchelor, William R. Crighton, Alexander Ferrier, George McL. McGregor, William M. Mackie, James W. Milne, James Niven, Andrew C. Paterson, Frank Paterson, David B. Patterson, Alexander Ramsay, David Robertson, James Seaton, Thomas Seaton, David White;
Inscriptions
(Across Both Arches)
"And Melchzedek King of Salem brought forth bread and wine and he was the priest of the most high god"
(Across Both Panes)
"To the glory of God and in grateful memory of the men of Oathlaw who fought and died in the war 1939-1945"
"Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil"
(Individiual Names)
David Greenhill Gardyne, James Kennedy, Charles H. Patterson, Walker Scott, Charles S. Suttie
Note: Designer Mark "Douglas Hamilton" is above name of Charles S. Suttie
The image shown here is from the Oathlaw Church Session Minutes and was provided by a church member who had previously researched the origins of the windows.
National Records of Scotland (NRS) retain an archive of session minutes, more information can be found on their website, linked HERE.
Selecting the image (click) will give an enlarged view of the page which can then be further enlarged. A transcript of the page is provided below to aid reading. (Punctuation and spelling retained per the page)
Transcript
In the Session House, on 14th September 1919
The Kirk Session met and was constituted with prayer.
Sederunt, The Reverend Alexander Ritchie, Moderator, Messr's Kirkwood, Monro, Seaton, and Ramsay, Elders.
The Minutes of Meetings on 6th and 13th July were severally read and approved.
The Kirk Session met and was constituted with prayer.
Sederunt, The Reverend Alexander Ritchie, Moderator, Messr's Kirkwood, Monro, Seaton, and Ramsay, Elders.
The Minutes of Meetings on 6th and 13th July were severally read and approved.
(Margin:War Memorial)
The meeting being called to determine the selection of a suitable Memorial for the Soldiers of the Parish fallen in the War, it was stated that the sum presently available for that purpose, together with the preparation of a new Roll of Honour for all who had served was £119.
Two Kinds of Memorials were considered, - an Obelisk in the Churchyard, and a Stained glass Window in the Church. While the sum in hand is sufficient to erect a substantial Obelisk, it was intimated that Mr James Ballantine, Stained glass Artist, Edinburgh was prepared to put in an appropriate Window at a cost of £115 exclusive of the expense of outside protection and certain repairs around the Windows after fixing. On deliberation it was decided to prefer the Stained glass Window, to be in the west front of the Church, at the Cost stated, subject to the consent of the Heritors for its introduction.It was further agreed to continue receiving Subscriptions for the enhancement of the object and completion of the work, and for the new Roll of Honour of all connected with the Parish who served in the War.
Thereafter, the Meeting was closed with prayer.
(signed) Alex. Ritchie , Mod'r.
The image shown here is from the Oathlaw Church Session Minutes and was provided by a church member who had previously researched the origins of the windows.
National Records of Scotland (NRS) retain an archive of session minutes, more information can be found on their website, linked HERE.
Selecting the image (click) will give an enlarged view of the page which can then be further enlarged. A transcript of the page is provided below to aid reading. (Punctuation and spelling retained per the page)
Transcript
(Margin:War Memorial Window and Roll of Honour inplaced)
The Session record that the Stained glass Window in memory of the Men of Oathlaw who fell in the Great War was duly in fixed, and that the Illuminated Roll of Honour of all connected with the Church and Parish who served in the War was affixed in the Vestibule at the same time;
(Margin: Dedication)
that the Dedication was with appropriate Ceremony before a large Congregation, the Unveiling being done by Rear Admiral Drummond of Eskhill.(Margin:Account Charge and Discharge)
The full Amount realised for providing the Window and Roll is :-
| Contributions from Parishioners and Friends | £123:10: 0 | |
| Proceeds of Entertainments | 35: 0: 0 | |
| Surplus of Soldiers Parcels Fund | 2: 0: 0 | |
| Interest on Bank Deposits |
16:19: 0
|
|
| Offering at Dedication Service | 6: 7: 4 | |
| 183:16: 4 |
The Expenditure is :-
| Price of Stained glass Window | £145: 0: 0 | |
| Price of the Roll of Honour | 12: 0: 0 | |
| General Expenses | 9:16:4 | |
|
Deposit in Bank to meet annual Premium
of Fire Insurance on the Window and Roll for
Up Keep of the same, or for any purpose
|
17: 0: 0
|
|
| £183:16: 4 |
In addition to the foregoing, the Session acknowledge the Donation of a Friend to defray the cost of other Outlays, and that the Heritors paid the expense of restoring the Window Cill and Sides.
The images shown here are from the Oathlaw Church Session Minutes and were provided by a church member who had previously researched the origins of the windows.
National Records of Scotland (NRS) retain an archive of session minutes, more information can be found on their website, linked HERE.
Selecting the image (click) will give an enlarged view of the page which can then be further enlarged. A transcript of the page is provided below to aid reading. (Punctuation and spelling retained per the page)
Minute dated 11th October 1947
Transcript:
(Margin:Memorial Window)
The moderator submitted coloured sketch by Douglas Hamilton, Glasgow for a memorial stained glass window, and accompanying letter in explanation of the design;the sketch had been received last Friday morning and the moderator had shown it to Col. Gardyne who had expressed satisfaction both with the subjects of the panels and with the harmonizing with the colouring of the present window. After some discussion the design was approved and it was agreed that the work be carried out subject to the approval of Presbytery and General Trustees. As to methods of raising funds it was suggested that an appeal might be advertised in the local papers, and the moderator suggested that Col. Gardyne and Mesers A. Proctor and W.L. McFarlane be asked to act along with the Session as a committee.
Minute dated 25th December 1949
Transcript:
(Margin:Memorial Window)
The Session discussed the account for plaster work at the new Memorial Window. It was agreed to use the £15 subscibed by the Congregation at Mr. Oliphants waygoing to meet this account. It was intimated that Mr. Hamilton would give a donation of £13 in view of the high cost of fitting the windows.
Minute dated 15th March 1950
Transcript
(Margin:Memorial Window)
The Session record that the Stained glass Window in memory of the Men of Oathlaw who died in the 1939 - 45 War was unveiled & Dedicated on Sunday Nov. 6th last before a large congregation. The Window was Unveiled by Colonel Greenhill Gardyne of Finavon & the Act of Dedication by the Minister.
| The Balance of Window Account is: | |
| (Margin:Income) | |
| Donations received | £298:14: |
| Received from Yeamen Trust | 307:15: 6 |
| Bank Interest | 18:18: 9 |
| £625: 8: 3 | |
| (Margin:Expenditure) | |
| Mr Hamilton | |
| The Stained glass Window | £320: : |
| Nevay, Plasterer Fitting Window | 17: 1: |
| Nicoll, Joiner do | 8: 2:11 |
| Balance | £280: 4: 4 |
| £625: 8: 3 |
Scottish Stained Glass Trust
Some ten years ago (2009 / 2010) contact was made with The Scottish Stained Glass Trust (SSGT). A primary purpose of the Trust was the promotion of Religious Harmony. Further information on the activities of the Trust can be found HERE.
One of the objectives of the trust was to create a database of stained glass windows in Scotland. This work has been taken on by SCRAN, part of Historic Environment Scotland. The General Trustees of the Church of Scotland are supporting this project, initially for churches in Edinburgh. The database can be viewed HERE.
Designers & Manufacturers
James Ballantine
James Ballantine and Son of Edinburgh were commissioned to produce the 1914 - 1918 Oathlaw window. The firm was founded circa 1828 by James Ballantine, the James Ballantine noted in the Session minutes would be the founders grandson. Further details on the firm and examples of their work can be found HERE (Imaging the Bible in Wales).
Background information on the founder, James Ballantine can be found HERE. In addition to his skills with glass, Ballantine was a noted poet and writer, as an aside a verse from one of his poems is noted below:-
Ilka Blade o’ Grass Keps its ain Drap o’ Dew
Confide ye aye in Providence, for Providence is kind,
And hear ye a’ life’s changes wi’ a calm and tranquil mind.
Tho’ press’d and hemm’d on every side, hae fath an ye’ll win through,
For ilka blade o’ grass keps its ain drap o’ dew.
And hear ye a’ life’s changes wi’ a calm and tranquil mind.
Tho’ press’d and hemm’d on every side, hae fath an ye’ll win through,
For ilka blade o’ grass keps its ain drap o’ dew.
Douglas Hamilton
Douglas Hamilton (1895-1959), a Glasgow based designer was responsible for many Church Windows throughout Scotland, a number of which were produced as War Memorials.
A book on his life has recently been published by The Reverend Jeff Hopewell (Retired), the book titled "Ochestrations of Colour" has reference to the Oathlaw Window. Rev'd Hopewell visited Tannadice church as part of his research.(Details HERE)
An internet search on 'Douglas Hamilton stained glass' will result in many examples of his work in Scotland, with some churches providing narrative on the designs.
Insurance Valuation
In 1990, a valuation of the Oathlaw windows was requested for insurance purposes, this was estimated at £50,000, being the cost to replace them. An 'open market' value would be less. 30 years on, the casement lighting has been upgraded, the images above revealing the full detail of the designs.
The images below can be viewed full size by clicking/tapping the image, clicking/tapping again will further enlarge. The links below each image give a text list of the names.
Oathlaw 1914-18
The Imperial War Museum (IWM) website (linked HERE) has an entry for the Roll of Honour, however name are not listed. A text list can be found HERE
Tannadice 1914-18
The Imperial War Museum (IWM) website (linked HERE) has details of the names above
Tannadice War Memorial
The image above stands at the entrance to the Tannadice Cemetry and Tannadice Church. Church History records the dedication and consecration of a Church at this location in 1242, other records suggest christianity was present in the area from the 7th Century. The original church graveyard was extended to the south, maintenance is provided by Angus Council.
The memorial is recorded in the website of the Imperial War Museum (IWM) and a full list of names can be viewed HERE. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission record an entry for the Tannadice Churchyard Extension which can be found HERE .
Internet searches will provide further information and various office bearers of the Church have corresponded with oganisations seeking to record and provide background data. Examples are given here (Click to view site):-
Scottish Military Research Group - A link to the discussion forum of this group with direct link to their site HERE
Lost Ancestors Project - A link to a site which list the names on the memorial and provides service details and family links for some.
The memorial and churchyard are situated at the southern entry to Tannadice village, and are bounded by the South Esk river to the west.
The images below are from the location.
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