18960306 The Dedication of the Blacker Memorial p385-p393

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The Dedication of the Blacker Memorial Offerings in Seagoe Church, Friday, March 6 ^th 1896

An interesting service was held on Friday afternoon, March 6 ^th, 1896 on the occasion of the Dedication of the Blacker Memorial Offerings, which consist of a stained-glass East Window and a Memorial Brass.

At p. 359 on the occasion of the Re-opening of the Church in 1891, it was stated that, in addition to her other gifts and offerings, the Baroness von Stielitz contemplated filling in the East Window with stained glass in memory of her relatives. This has now been fulfilled by her presentation of this window in memory of her brother the late Major Stewart Blacker D.L. The subject is the ascension of our Lord. It is a fine work of art and has been executed by Messrs. Heaton, Butler & Bayne (14 Garrick Street, Covent Garden, London), under the instruction of Mr. Thomas Drew R.H.A. – architect of the Church – at a cost of £300. It fills the five lights of the window and has been thus described – “Our Blessed Lord, rising towards glory which streams from above, occupies the centre, below in the distance are the roof-tops of the city of Jerusalem. In the foreground are the eleven in various postures of devout wonder, gazing up into heaven. While in the tracery of the beautiful perpendicular stone work are angels and stars above ‘the cloud’, the apex being occupied by a crown, presumably that of glory. The colouring is delicate and subdued and the drawing most life-like (Irish Eccl. Gazette, March 13, 1896). The Inscription across the base of the window, burned in the glass is; - “To the Glory of God: In loving memory of Stewart Blacker, D.L. J.P. Carrickblacker, Died December 16 ^th 1881, By his sister, Hester Anna, Baroness Von Stieglitz, 1896”

The Memorial Brass is presented by the Parishioners of Seagoe in record of the Benefactions of the Blacker family for 240 years to the Church and Parish of Seagoe. Referring to the Vestry Minutes on p.141 above, it is recorded that at a meeting of the Vestry on the 30 ^th June 1876, it was unanimously agreed that the Select Vestry should have a Brass Plate erected in the Church to record the liberal act of Major Blacker, who originated a plan which secured in perpetuity a sum of £6,365. 10.4 as the of a Parochial Re-endowment Fund – he himself contributing there to the sum of £1000, and advancing a further sum of £1,600 to the Vestry as a loan. No further action in carrying out this Resolution is recorded. At a special meeting of the Select Vestry, held 1 ^st October 1895, after examining and approving the design of the East Window which the Baroness Von Stieglitz proposed presenting to the Church, it was unanimously agreed that this was the fitting occasion to carry out the proposition of the Vestry of 1876 at the expense of the Parishioners of Seagoe, by now erecting a Memorial Brass which should record the Benefactions of the Blacker family as well before since the special act of Major Blacker in originating the Parochial Re-endowment Fund. At the same time the Dean of Dromore, Chairman, submitted to the meeting a copy of the inscription, which he had drawn up for engraving on the Brass, and which had been carefully revised by Mr. Drew, in accordance with the ancient form and use of such inscriptions.

By the advice of Mr. Drew – who furnished the design – the execution was entrusted to Messrs. J.W. Singer & Sons, Art Metal Workers in Frome, Somersetshire. It has been placed on the North side of the Chancel. Its dimensions are 43” x 19 ½ “. On the Dexter side are engraved the Blacker Arms – Crest, Shield and Motto – and alongside the inscription as given on p. 381 above, the year “1896” being twice substituted for 1895, to mark the actual date.

The day of the Dedication was cold and stormy, frequent squalls of rain succeeding each other. The severity of the weather considerably abated in the afternoon, and though the wind was still high, the sun shone out at the time of the Service, 3 O’clock, and the church was filled with a congregation of about 500. Among those present were – the Bishop of Down, Connor and Dromore, Dr. Thomas James Welland, Baroness Von Stieglitz and Mrs Belcher, Carrickblacker, Rev. Cannon R.S.L. Blacker, Woodbrook, Enniscorthy; Mr Reeves and Mrs Reeves, Monkstown, Dublin; Mrs Johnston, Kilmore House, Richhill; Mrs Greer, Woodville, Lurgan; Miss Forde and Miss Rankin, Raughlan, Lurgan; Mr Brushe and Mrs Brushe, Drumnabreese, Lurgan; the Dean of Dromore, Mrs Wade and the Misses Dawson, Seagoe Rectory; the Archdeacon of Dromore and Mrs Harding, Gilford; Rev. Dr. Fitzgerald and Mrs Fitzgerald, The Glebe, Portadown; Rev. Dr. O’Loughlin and Mrs O’Loughlin, the Rectory, Lurgan; Rev. Dr. James, Tartanaghan Rectory, Loughgall; Rev. Cannon Wade and Mrs Wade, Maghergally rectory; Rev. Cannon Hayes, Dromore; Rev. H.W. Lett and Misses Let, Aghaderg Rectory; Rev. Thomas B. Harpur, Mrs Harpur and the Misses Harpur, Ardmore Rectory; Rev. E.D. Atkinson, The Rectory, Warringstown; Rev. William McEudos, Mrs McEudos and Mr. C Crober Ballymore Rectory, Tandragee; Rev. F.W. Austin and Mrs Austin, Drumour Rectory; Rev. W.L. Barker and Mrs Barker, Kilbroney Vicarage; Rev. W.J. Coburn, Drumgoland; Rev. R.B. Cooke, Dunaghy Rectory; Rev. M. Faley, Duneane Rectory; Rev. Joseph A. Stewart, Pond Park, Lisburn; Rev. R.R. Thacker, St. Saviour’s Parsonage, Portadown; Rev. F.I. Halahan, Mullaghglap Rectory; rev. P.A. Kelly, Scarva Rectory; Rev. Thomas R. Scanlan, Annaclone Rectory; Rev. Robert Quirk, D.D. ; J.B. Leslie, A.F.B. Tunstall, John C. Oates, J Parry (Magheralin); F. Medcalf and E.F. Allworthy, Rev. W.J. Macauley and Mrs Macauley, Thulhouse?, Edenderry; Mr. Richmond Pepper, Ballyworkman?, Portadown; Mr J. Buckley Atkinson, Miss Sloan and Mrs Violet Wilson, Portadown, Mr Maxwell Braddell and Mrs Braddell, Woodbrook, Gilford; Mrs Atkinson, Windsor Terrace, Edenderry; the Misses Kinkead, Portadown; Mr Charles Martin J.P. and Mr Johnston, Portadown; Mrs Johnston, Lurgan; Mr John Collen, J.P.; Mr Joseph Collen and Mrs Collen; Messrs W.G. Hadden M.D., George Dougan M.D. and Mrs Dougan; Mr. T.D. Atkinson, Mr James E. Riggs and Mrs Riggs; Mr H. Anderson; Mr J. R Macoun, Mrs Bigley, Mr A.G. Sloan, the Misses Oates, Knocknamuckley, Messrs Wentworth Paul, B.L., James Atkinson, William Brown, George Calvert, James Collins, C.J. Collins, Thomas H. Collins, Thomas Gilpin, John Gilpin Robert Gray, James Maginnes, Thomas Martin, A Macun, Joseph Murray, Thomas Montgomery, John Lavery, George Robinson, W Thomas Watson.

By permission of the Bishop (as in the case of the re-Opening, p. 344) the Dean of Dromore compiled a complete Service to be used on the occasion, including the Psalms, Hymns and Anthem, printed and presented in full. The Service began at 3 o’clock, when the Bishop and his Chaplin preceded by about thirty clergymen entered the church by the North Porch, during the singing of Hymn 347 (For all My Saints who from their labours rest). The Service was said by the Dean of Dromore Rev. Dr. Quirk and Rev. James B. Leslie. The Lessons were read by the Ven. The Archdeacon of Dromore and the Rev. Cannon Blacker. During the service the following Hymns were sung:-

H. 535 “Golden Harps are sounding”

H. 537 “See the Conqueror mounts in triumph”

H. 569 “Ten thousand times ten thousand”

The last was sung whilst the Bishop and Clergy were retiring from the church, the people remaining in their places. The Anthem was taken from Psalm xxviii. 18 – “Thou art gone up on high”. Immediately after the Creed, the Bishop, standing within the Rails, near the East Window, with uplifted hand, pronounced the form of dedication, saying – “We dedicate this window to the praise and glory of God, and in memory of Stewart Blacker, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, Amen”. This was followed by the Lord’s Prayer, and the Prayers of dedication (3).

The sermon was preached by the Bishop from St John xiv, 2 and 3; - “In my Father’s House there are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you; and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you onto Myself, that where I am there ye may be also.” In his introductory remarks he made the following touching allusion to the occasion; -

“We have assembled here today upon a very interesting occasion. We have come to take our part in the commemoration of those who are worthy of commemoration and to take our part in a memorial of them, which is worthy of them. This church, this Parish is a very ancient one. The history of our church goes back for centuries. We cannot tell when first the light of the Gospel of Christ dawned in this distant land, but in this particular place one of the saints whose lives adorn the early history of the Church of Ireland, placed his settlement – no doubt in that adjoining ground where the ruins of the old church now stand – Saint Gobhan (died A.D. 639) from whose name this parish derives its title. The very name of the land itself which forms the parish is taken from him. It was formerly called The House of Gobham - Teg da-goba Goba – and the name in time was transformed into the word Seagoe. So, we go back for centuries in thinking that the Church of God was established in this place and that the Gospel of His Grace resounded from hence as a centre. In our land there has been a constant change and vicissitude of war and strife and confiscation and destruction and so it is that the ancient spot was over and over again destroyed. Thus, it was that above two hundred years ago, an ancestor of that ancient and noble family in connection with whose name and actions we have met together today, re-erected for the inhabitants of this Parish the Church which had been ruined in the Rebellions of 1641. Again, when it was found necessary to build a new church, about eighty years ago, the help of members of this family was also given. More recently still, it was desired that this church should be improved, enlarged and beautified, and made more worthy in its external appearance of what the house of God should be and once more their assistance was generously given. Beautiful gifts were given by them and others to equip and adorn the House of God; and now today, as we have been dedicating that beautiful east Window, which is a memorial erected by the same loving hand, it is fitting that we should do this with prayer to Almighty God, with reading of His Word, and singing of His praise, because it is done in reference to Him, and for the glory of his holy name. It is deeds of this kind that draw us together and draw heart to heart, and if we remember those who have gone before us, those who have taken part in the history of our country – if we remember them, where should we remember them more worthily, and more suitably than in God’s house. They have offered the same prayers that we have prayed today, they have manifested the same faith and their lives have set us an example. Though their removal from us must always be a source of sorrow, where does the light of consolation more sweetly break in upon the gloom than in God’s holy house, where we have the Divine promises of grace, love and protection for the present, and a glorious kingdom which awaits us hereafter. Here we must in common worship, with the common needs of humanity, seeking the help of our Heavenly Father. Therefore, it appears to me to be in every way a most worthy and fitting act that we should have assembled here today in connection with this commemoration.

This service throughout was hearty, bright and most impressive. Mr Charles Wilson, organist of Downpatrick Cathedral, presided at the organ, and the Choir conducted by Mr. Thomas Henry Wilson, organist of the church, rendered the musical portion of the Service with precision and feeling.

At the conclusion of the Service, about ninety guests were received to tea at the Rectory.