"Stained glass was a craft rarely practised by women in Melbourne during the early twentieth century. Christian Waller was the first woman in Australia, and one of few in the world at that time, to take up the craft as a profession. That she did so with such marked success is a lasting tribute to her skill and originality. From 1929 to the early 1950's, Christian Waller produced an enormous body of work - over sixty-five individual stained glass panels - which in terms of quantity, artistry and quality, places her as one of the leading Australian stained glass makers of the twentieth century."
- Caroline Miley "Towards The Light" - "The Art of Christian Waller", Bendigo Art Gallery, 1992.

St Paul's has two windows by Christian Waller which have National Trust
classifications:

"The Life of St Paul" c1952

A piece of stone from the corona of the East-End section of Canterbury Cathedral that was completed early in the 13th century.

The reredos and series of five painted panels executed by William Montgomery
(1850-1927): Supper at Emmaus and Ss. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The reredos was installed after the completion of the new St Paul's brick church in 1915 but it was the addition of five painted panels by January 1916 that were to add significantly to its acceptance by the congregation and its importance as an adjunct to worship. The reredos and panels have National Trust classification.

"Christ the King of All Nations"

(Rose Window) c1932

Memorial to Sergeant Godfrey Bennett killed in action at Gallipoli

Sergeant Godfrey Bennett was killed on 25th April 1915 at Gallipoli at the age of twenty.  He enlisted on 17th August 2 days before his older brother, Henry George Bennett CB CMG DSO, who went on to become Brigadier General Bennett, who was in command at Singapore when it fell in 1942.

Godfrey Bennett joined the 6th Battalion in which his brother was second in command.  Together they sailed on the HMAT Hororata for Egypt and both saw service at Gallipoli, Godfrey tragically being killed in action on the first day of the campaign.  Another brother, William Stanley DSO, MC of the 10th Battalion also saw service. 

Godfrey Bennett was the youngest son of George J Bennett who was the martinet head  teacher of Balwyn State School with a passion for cadet corps training.  The family lived at a house called Ashburton, 8 Cross Street, Canterbury.  The sons were educated at Balwyn State School and later at Hawthorn Grammar.  George Bennett’s name appears on the committee which planned and built the new church building in 1913-1914.
Sources:
Allan, J. A History of Camberwell. Unpublished manuscript held in the Ashburton Library
Australian War Memorial Biographicals

Godfrey Arthur Bennett Biography

The Smith/Ballantyne Stained Glass Windows

The Smith and Ballantyne families were foundation members of the church.
In 1967 the estate of Flora Forsythe Smith bequeathed two legacies for the erection of memorial windows:
1. In memory of her late husband Henry Windle Cleverdon Smith and his family; and,

2. In memory of her late father and mother Hugh John and Jane Louise Ballantyne and their family.

The design submitted by J R Ferguson & N Papas of Stained Glass and Leadlights, East Malvern was approved by the vestry. In a letter handwritten by J R Ferguson, the Nave windows are described as “more contemporary in style than I had intended”, and “the meaning is as follows – The long lines descending from the top of the left frame panel represent the veil of the tabernacle which is drawn aside to reveal the figure of Christ.  From him grow the fishers of men whose nets reach down past the open tomb and into the roots of the modern city, whilst over the latter hovers the Shepherd’s crook and the sacrifice of Calvary. In the trefoil you will find the Passover lamb, Oeku Mene (Gk. ecumenical) or ship and peace dove”.


These windows with hoppers and wire guards cost $900. Bishop Sambell dedicated the windows at the 11am service on 25 May, 1969.