Looking through the rose-coloured glass

The All Saints Church is excited to announce a Federal Government Grant through the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities Your Community Heritage Grant Program of $80000 to assist with the restoration of mid-19th century heritage stained glass as works of art.

The funding, which was obtained through the lobbying of local federal Denison MP, Andrew Wilkie in Canberra, will be matched dollar for dollar by funds All Saints Church has raised over the past three years through its National Trust tax deductible scheme.

Ferguson and Urie were a very successful quality stained glass business which operated in Melbourne during the 19th century and many of the beautiful All Saints Church windows are by this firm. Some glass was also made in England

Funds have also been used to repair badly weathered sandstone on the west wall facing (Mount Wellington) and the beautiful Nativity Mural in the Lady Chapel which was a grant recipient from the Tasmanian Community Fund in 2010.

Already over $100 000 has been raised towards a target of $800 000 and the next three year fund raising effort begins shortly. Our next major task is the restoration of the tower and steeple – a feature of the church as the gateway to South Hobart.

• Andrew Wilkie: looking through the rose-coloured glass

The Independent Member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie, will visit (has visited) All Saints Church to mark the removal of the first heritage stained glass window for restoration made possible by a $80,000 federal grant that will help conserve the Henry Hunter designed building.

Mr Wilkie helped secure the Your Community Heritage grant that will be matched by funds raised by All Saints Church.

“These windows are real pieces of art and represent artisanship that is hard to match in the modern world,’’ Mr Wilkie said.

“Some were carefully shipped all the way from England while others were made by Ferguson and Urie, a leading stained glass firm that operated in Melbourne in the 19th century.

“I was pleased to play a role in securing the grant to ensure Hobart can continue to admire these stained glass windows for many decades to come.’’

Mr Wilkie also helped secure an $18,000 grant under the Federal Government’s Your Community Heritage Grant program that will help maintain the May Queen at Hobart’s Constitution Dock.