The Strawbridge Window

“This window is a very appropriate memorial, and it was very ingenious to show it as it was unveiled; said the Bishop of Sheffield On Tuesday night at the unveiling for the Strawbridge Memorial window. This was a tribute to the sponsors of the scheme, the designers of the window and to one of the church warden, Mr H Thirlwall, who had arranged the lighting scheme so that in the dimmed church the brilliant light outside the window enabled the congregation to see the window clearly immediately Archbishop Sandford pulled the cord. As the first published description of the window was given in this column four months ago and repeated last week, when a photograph appeared, I shall not again enter again into details.

The window is certainly a very fine example t of this branch of art.

“It is appropriate that David and Solomon, builders of the Temple, should form the subject of the window, because the late Vicar restored this ancient church with great courage and success and with good taste,” continued the Bishop, and went on to say that as David himself could not build the ‘temple so the idea was that one who had done so much for the parish had handed on work still to be done.

And this is what the present Vicar and his workers are doing. Recently the Old Hall in Church Street was purchased, and at this moment it is being converted into a building suitable for housing those organisations which have outgrown the present accommodation of the Church Hall and Schoolroom. Thanks to the efforts of the late vicar the church itself is in very good condition and attention is being paid now to additions to church property. In a short time, too, there will be a Mission Church in Conanby. All things considered there is a very optimistic outlook for the church in Conisborough, thanks in great measure to the foundations laid by the Rev, W. A. Strawbridge.

As public memory is short perhaps a few lines on the work done by Mr. Strawbridge would not be inappropriate. He was vicar for 29 years and during that time accomplishing enduring work. In November, 1909, a Church Hall was built for parochiaI use, and two years later an appeal was made for the sum of £3,000 for the restoration this of the church, the erection of a new vestry and the addition of a peal of bells. By 1914 the work was done and the cost was almost afraid when the Bishop of Sheffield re-dedicated the church. In 1926 electric lighting was installed and the organ_was reconditioned.