Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Accession # |
A1988.58.14 |
Title |
Anglican Church of St. John the Evangelist in Elora, Ontario, stained glass window designs by Gordon Couling, ca. 1969-1977. |
Date |
Circa 1963-1977 |
Description |
Anglican Church of St. John the Evangelist in Elora, stained glass window designs by Gordon Couling, ca. 1969-1977. Gordon Couling (1913-1984) was a Guelph-based artist, art historian, and professor at the Ontario Agricultural College / University of Guelph. He served as Chair of the University's Fine Art Department, and had a keen interest in local history, arts, and architecture. He did many designs for stained glass windows for churches in Guelph and Wellington County, Kitchener-Waterloo, and beyond. The Chuch of St. John the Evangelist, which opened in 1875, is a red brick building at the corner of Henderson Street and Smith Street in Elora, Ontario. It replaced a frame church building that was on the outskirts of Elora, south of the river. Rev. John Smithurst is one of the congregation's former ministers. Decades after his death, rumours surfaced in the 1920s, that he'd been the cousin and former lover of renowned nurse, Florence Nightengale, though no evidence for either connection has come to light. The two did, however, hail from the same region in England. [see also A1998.58.4] - Item 1: Drawing, a design for a stained glass window featuring Rev. John Smithurst, ca. 1969. Brown watercolour paint and white gouache over pencil and ink drawing on white paper. It is a long, narrow Gothic-style arched window featuring Rev. John Smithurst, dressed as a minister, standing and holding an open Bible in one hand, and making a sign of benediction with the other. Grid pattern of diamonds in background. Circular medalion above Smithhurst's head. Inscribed inside a diamond-shaped pane beside Smithurst's head, "John / Smithurst / 1807-1867 / Rector / St. John's Church / Elora / 1852-1857". Inscribed in caligraphic text at base of image, "In Memory of / Russel J. Devlin 1917-1976 / Frederick G. and Doris A. Boswell / 1893-1977 1893-1975". 220 x 43.5 cm. [ MRA 6 ] - Item 2: Drawing, a design for a stained glass window featuring nurse Florence Nightingale, 1969. Brown, blue, orange, pink, purple, and blue watercolour paint and white gouache over pencil drawing on white paper. It is a long, narrow, Gothic-style arched stained glass window which depicts Florence Nightingale wearing a bonnet, cape, and long dress, and holding an oil lamp and a chalice. Inscribed in cartouche beneath her, "Leslie Jeeper 1909-1959 / Alice Robertson Jeeper -1968". Inscribed in pencil at lower right beneath image, "Design Aug 69 / Painted Nov 69". Inscribed on reverse in the hand of Gordon Couling, "Smithers / Nightingale / St Johns Elora". 220 x 43.5 cm. [ MRA 6 ] - item 3: Design for a stained glass window with Gothic-style arch, 1977. Brown and white paint with crayon over pencil drawing on white paper. Several sheets, cut out and adhered together with tape. It shows the plan for a tall, narrow window. From top to bottom it depicts the Holy Spirit as a bird, text "this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased," the baptism of Christ with John the Baptist, and scroll at bottom with text "Elizabeth Jubillee 1977" (making reference to that of Queen Elizabeth II). Inscribed on reverse, "Baptism at Jordan / Elora." 298 x 43.5 cm. [ MRB 126 ] - Item 4: An unfinished design for a tall, narrow, rectangular stained a glass window for a church in Elora, possibly for the Anglican Church of St. John the Evangelist, ca. 1963. Multicoloured watercolour paint over pencil drawing on white paper. The upper portion of the window features a quatrefoit in which is depicted a bearded man, likely Jesus Christ, offering something to a woman who has her head bowed. Lower portion of window includes an image of a nun wearing a habit, and carrying a tray on which are set objects. Background consists of rectangles and acanthus leaf designs, some of which have been rendered in colour. The rest has been rendered in black paint and pencil. Inscribed on reverse in the hand of Gordon Couling, "Elora". 183.5 x 53.5 cm. [ MRA 6 ] |
Creator \ Maker |
Couling, Gordon [Artist] |
Item Name |
Drawing Plan |
Person \ Organization |
Boswell, Doris A. Boswell, Frederick G. Church of St. John the Evangelist Devlin, Russel J. Jeeper, Alice Robertson Jeeper, Leslie Smithurst, John (Rev.) |
Place |
Elora England Henderson Street Smith Street |
Subject |
Architecture Religion |
Year Range from |
1960 |
Year Range to |
1977 |
Accession # |
A1988.58 |
Containers |
MRA6 MRB126 |