The Memorial Window (1925), St Andrew's Church, A Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Canada.
It was during 1925 that the work of preparation and installation of the War Memorial Window was completed. The undertaking had been in progress for several years, the cost – approximately $7,000 – having been defrayed by contributions from members of the congregation. The window is regarded as a magnificent example of this form of art and is by James Ballantyne of Edinburgh, Scotland. It was unveiled on Sunday, December 13, 1925, by His Excellency the Right Honourable Lord Byng of Vimy, then Governor-General of Canada. The Rev. Thomas Eakin, D.D., preached the sermon while The Rev. A.M. Gordon, D.D., delivered the dedicatory address.
This description of the window appeared in the Ottawa Journal, December 14, 1925: The window is a striking and beautiful piece of craftsmanship, of noble proportion and fine colour. The theme is the “Angel of Peace”, radiant in light, free and unfettered, bringing the divine message of hope and ultimate triumph to humanity. Dominating all is the “Christ in Majesty”, and the supreme symbols, Alpha and Omega, in recognition that Emmanuel – “God is with us” – is a reality.
The Angel is boldly portrayed as a young man, with arms extended in deliverance, illustrating the words “And There Shall Be No More Death.”
Below this are grouped figures of types representing Adventure (Explorer); Knowledge (Scholar); Sacrifice in pursuit of high and unselfish ends (Knight) – the keynote of the Memorial; Statesmanship (King); Industry (Craftsman); Patience (Womanhood); Confidence and Courage (Youth).
The colouring has as its chief note the ruby-red wings of the Angel, the window being completed in purple, blue and yellow. At the foot is the following dedicatory inscription:
“They overcame... and they loved not their lives unto death.”
