Lest We Forget

Last week I received an interesting letter in the church office. One I wasn’t really sure what to do with. It was from an older person from Queensland asking about a particular stained glass window in the church building. The Harvey Memorial Glass. Now I had no idea which window they were referring to.

Today, I have been along to the church, looking at the windows to try and see if I could help this person. While I was doing this, it really struck me how much history St Matthews really has. I mean, we all know it is an old building with problems that need to be fixed, like earthquake proofing etc.I think we all take it for granted what a beautiful place we have.

While it may seem like a huge thing we are doing with the new buildings, and believe me, it seems like it has taken a huge amount of time, we must remember that without the people who were members of this congregation years ago, the church wouldn’t be where it is today.

St Matthew’s history goes back a long way, and I think the words we say each ANZAC day really ring true. Lest we forget. The plaques around the church building represent real people, and while we may not have known them, they were people who obviously made an impact in the church’s history.

Coming back to the Harvey Memorial Window (It is the third window on the Stafford Street side, after you come through the doors). Captain Harvey was killed in battle on 16th August 1900, and this Sunday just past marked the 109th anniversary of his death. While I don’t know much more about the man, his family and friends cared enough about him to commemorate his memory with a beautiful stained glass window.

I think it is timely to appreciate the age of this church building, in the midst of the chaos that is the new buildings.

If you are in Dunedin, I would invite you all to come and spend some time looking at the stained glass windows and various plaques around the church, and appreciate what God has truly blessed us with, a rich and varied history. Lest we forget.