A Williamstown local, Ethel Margaret Musther nee Barber (1872-1956) was the daughter of Captain John Henry Barber (1842-1924), a sea pilot and Janet Lidell (1846-1891) Her grandfather, Captain Lidell, was also a seaman. In 1900, she married Nathan George Musther,(18..-1933) a chemist, and dentist in the Navy. They had two daughters: Rosamund Janet Musther(born 1903) and Nanoya Gwendoline Musther (born 1906). She was the principal of the Ladies' College in Footscray. She was involved in many philantropic associations especially for sailors but also during WWI and WW2. She worked for the Anzac Club, the Red Cross, She formed: 1941: the R.A.N. Friendly Union of Sailor's Wives and Mothers. 1943: the Lightkeepers Auxiliary to help the Mission raised funds. The plaque was a gift of the Lightskeeper Auxiliaire and unveiled on 30 July 1959 at the St Nicholas Chapel, by her eldest daughter, Mrs Jean McDonald.It was originally on stained and polished hardwood mount made by Mrs Murdoch (AR1959, page 24). On the day, a desk service-book was also dedicated in memory of Dr John Thompson at the request of his daughter, Mrs Sparrow.In early 1943, Ethel Margaret Musther formed the Lightkeepers' Auxiliaire and raised funds for the third building purchased for the Williamstown branch of the Victorian Seamen's Mission, the former E,S & A Bank. Thanks to her philanthropic work, she was rewarded with a Medal of the British Empire in 1953 for all her charitable work.Invitation card to the dedication of a brass plaque in memory of Ethel Margaret Mustherethel margaret musther, st nicholas' mariners' chapel, nelson place, williamstown, lightkeepers' auxiliary

A Williamstown local, Ethel Margaret Musther nee Barber (1872-1956) was the daughter of Captain John Henry Barber (1842-1924), a sea pilot and Janet Lidell (1846-1891) Her grandfather, Captain Lidell, was also a seaman. In 1900, she married Nathan George Musther,(18..-1933) a chemist, and dentist in the Navy. They had two daughters: Rosamund Janet Musther(born 1903) and Nanoya Gwendoline Musther (born 1906). She was the principal of the Ladies' College in Footscray. She was involved in many philantropic associations especially for sailors but also during WWI and WW2. She worked for the Anzac Club, the Red Cross, She formed: 1941: the R.A.N. Friendly Union of Sailor's Wives and Mothers. 1943: the Lightkeepers Auxiliary to help the Mission raised funds. The plaque was a gift of the Lightskeeper Auxiliaire and unveiled on 30 July 1959 at the St Nicholas Chapel, by her eldest daughter, Mrs Jean McDonald. It was originally on stained and polished hardwood mount made by Mrs Murdoch (AR1959, page 24). On the day, a desk service-book was also dedicated in memory of Dr John Thompson at the request of his daughter, Mrs Sparrow.In early 1943, Ethel Margaret Musther formed the Lightkeepers' Auxiliaire and raised funds for the third building purchased for the Williamstown branch of the Victorian Seamen's Mission, the former E,S & A Bank. Thanks to her philanthropic work, she was rewarded with a Medal of the British Empire in 1953 for all her charitable work.Folded booklet on creamy colour paper and black inkethel margaret musther, st nicholas' mariners' chapel, nelson place, williamstown, lightkeepers' auxiliary, dr john thompson

The furnishing of the St Nicholas the Mariner chapel in the Williamstown's mission was donated to the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum. The donor of the photographs added a note to the list of gifts: the chaise and patin were given by Mr and Mrs Percy Taylor in memory of their son Norman. He was 3rd engineering on a ship Testbank which was bombed in Bari Harbor in Italy (2 September 1943) . His family thought he had died but he and another man had managed to jump into the sea, and walked back to England.2 A4 size paper of 13 black and white photographs photocopied of picnics with inscriptions from Nancy OakleyInscription handwritten in black ink in capital letters by Nancy Oakley: nancy oakley, mission to seamen, nancy dingle, williamstown, flagstaff hill maritime museum, percy taylor, norman taylor, bari harbor, testbank

Colour photocopy on A4 size paperInscription handwritten in black ink in capital letters by Nancy Oakley: "The Age" 14 June 1958nancy oakley, mission to seamen, nancy dingle, williamstown, st nicholas the mariner chapel, randall stewart murray, george craven, opportunity shop, claude james eldridge-doyle, maude breaks, reredos, louise (lulu) amy breaks, hlg, j. wallace, mrs v. paterson, mrs w.j. hockin, mrs v. darvill

The photograph wa published in the Age, 14th of June 1958. The picture shows the round stained glass dedicated on Sunday 14 December 1947 and the reredos with hangings donated by Maud Breaks in memory of her sister Louise Breaks and dedicated on 26 August 1954 by the Bishop of Geelong.This is a rare picture of the interior of the St Nicholas chapel which was erected behind the former E, S & A Bank building used by the Williamstown Seamen's Mission branch from 1944. Article in the Age reading: "Seamen's Window Dedicated - A window in St. Nicholas' Mariners' Church, at Williamstown, in memory of the merchant seamen who were killed on active service In the last war, was unveiled and dedicated yesterday.The ceremony was performed by the Bishop of Geelong (Rt. Rev. J. D. McKie). The window, erected by the Williamstown Lightkeepers' Auxiliary of the Victoria Missions to Seamen is placed behind the altar. It shows a quartermaster, with his hand on the wheel, and the figure of Christ pointing ahead. Bishop McKie paid a tribute to the spirit of the men who gave their lives at sea in the service of their country. He said the work of the auxiliary would still be of great value, although the war was over." The decision of the window was published in August 1947, Mrs Musther -who created the Lightkeepers' Auxiliary branch in Williamstown - ordered it from Brooks, Robinson & Co. (job books 1923-1966). The furniture and window were donated in 1979 to the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village in Warrnanbool, and located in the chapel.Black and White Gloss print photograph - Image features a minister delivering a chapel serviceHand written in black texta; ... Mission to Seamen, Williamstown Chapel service... Circa 1957randall stewart murray, st nicholas the mariner chapel, chapel, lay reader, williamstown, victorian-seamens-mission, 139 nelson place, e,s and a bank, english, scottish and australian bank, stained-glass window, pews, lightkeepers' auxiliary, warrnambool, mrs musther, brooks, robinson & co, hymn board, david conolly

This altar cloth is representative of ecclesiastical linen in use in the early to mid-20th century. It is decorated with the Mariner's Cross symbol, connecting it to the history of the early Christian church. The cover for the cloth shows the respect the maker had for the cloth and what it stands for. The Mariner's Cross symbol also makes it appropriate as an altar cloth for the St Nicholas Seamen's Church at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. Mariner’s Cross symbol and what it symbolises The symbol of an anchor that also looks like a cross is called the Mariner’s Cross (also called the Anchored Cross or Cross of Hope). It looks like a ‘plus’ sign with anchor flukes at the base and a ring at the top. The anchor is one of the earliest symbols used in Christianity and represents faith, hope and salvation in times of trial. The Mariner’s Cross is linked to the scripture in Hebrews 6:19, which says “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil”. This particular Mariner’s Cross also has the letter ‘X’ under the post of the anchor. In Greek, the language of the New Testament, the word for Christ is ‘Christos’, which begins with the Greek letter ‘X’ or ‘Chi’. Together, the elements on this Mariner’s Cross - anchor, cross and ‘X’ - symbolise to the Christian that Jesus Christ the Saviour gives security and safety, hope and salvation. Many church organisations still use various forms of the Mariner’s Cross. This design is also known as the Anchored Cross or Cross of Hope. The Missions to Seamen organisation The Missions to Seamen is an Anglican (Church of England) charity that has been serving the world's seafarers since 1856. It was inspired by the work of Rev. John Ashley who, 20 years earlier, had pioneered a ministry to seafarers in the Bristol Channel in Great Britain. When Ashley retired because of ill health, others determined that the work should continue, and they founded the Missions to Seamen. It adopted as its symbol a Flying Angel, inspired by a verse from Revelation 14 in the Bible. Today there are over 200 ports worldwide where the Missions to Seamen has centres and chaplains. A Missions to Seamen’s Club offers a warm welcome to sailors of all colours, creeds and races. A sailor can watch television, have a drink and a chat, change money or buy goods from the club shop or worship in the Chapel. In Victoria, the Missions to Seamen still has clubs in Melbourne, Portland and Geelong. The altar cloth is representative of the ecclesiastical linen in use in the early to mid-20th century, when the original St Nicholas Seamen's Church was opened in Williamstown, Victoria. The Mariner's Cross embroidered onto the altar cloth gives it a connection with the early Christian church and with the Missions to Seamen. The fine hand stitching and embroidery is an example of traditional handcraft skills used over the centuries and still continuing in use today.Altar cloth, white linen, with custom made white cotton cover. The long rectangular cloth has the symbol of a Mariner's Cross (anchor and cross) embroidered with white silk thread on each short end. The wide hems are hand stitched. The cover has two white tape ties and embroidered text in blue silk thread. On cloth: symbol of (anchor with an 'X' stitched behind the centre of it). On cover, text "FLAGSTAFF/ HILL" flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, religion, religious service, st nicholas seamen’s church flagstaff hill, altar cloth, church linen, ecclesiastical linen, mariner’s cross, anchor cross, cross of hope, symbol of christianity, anchored cross