ALL SAINTS CHURCH, NEWTOWN

Modified on Sat, 27 Feb 2016 11:43 by Con — Categorized as: Buildings And Places, Topic

Norman Morrison Memorial Bell (All Saints Church)

ALL SAINTS CHURCH, NEWTOWN

All Saints Church, on the corner of Noble St and Talbot St, Newtown was erected by the Church of England in 1862, the foundation stone being laid by the Bishop of Melbourne on the 19 June. The building was designed by prominent Geelong architect Joseph L. Shaw and built by Foyle Laidlaw and Company in Early English Gothic style and features finely detailed timber roof work. The building was altered and extended in 1928 and 1962. It includes notable stained glass windows by Ferguson and Urie.

All Saints Church precedes the construction of the Geelong College on its Talbot St site by 9 years. The church and its manse feature in some early images of the School and the original wooden bell tower is a prominent background to many School images of the Tennis Courts and the College Hospital.

There are two particular associations of All Saints with the School. One of the bells was purchased, engraved and installed as a memorial to former Principal, Charles Norman Morrison and; Alfred Wheeler, a vicar at the Church wrote the music for several early Geelong College songs including the College Toast and Jubilation written for the 1911 Jubilee of the School. The Norman Morrison Bell was cast by Mears and Stainbank of London and weighs 250 kilograms.

Sources: Register of the National Estate ID 3624 21 March 1978, File No 2/01/066/0019