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: - 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. THE MISSIONS TO SEAMEN (Brief History): - The Missions to Seamen was an Anglican charity that has served seafarers of the world since 1856 in Great Britain. Its symbol is a Flying Angel, inspired by a Bible verse. Today, there are centres in over 200 ports worldwide where seamen of all backgrounds are offered a warm welcome and provided with a wide range of facilities. In Victoria, the organisation began in Williamstown in 1857 as a Sailors’ Church, also known as ‘Bethel’ or the ‘Floating Church’ in an old hulk floating in Hobson’s Bay, Port of Melbourne. It soon became part of the Missions to Seamen, Victoria. In the year 2000, the organisation, now named Mission to Seafarers, still operated locally in Melbourne, Portland, Geelong and Hastings. The Ladies’ Harbour Lights Guild was formed in 1906 to support the Missions to Seamen in Melbourne and other centres, such as Williamstown. Two of the most significant ladies of the Guild were founder Ethel Augusta Godfrey and foundation member Alice Sibthorpe Tracy (who established a branch of the Guild in Warrnambool in 1920). The Guild continued its work until the 1960s. In 1943, a former Williamstown bank was purchased for the Missions to Seaman Club. The chapel was named St Nicholas’ Seamen’s Church and was supported by the Ladies’ Harbour Lights Guild, the Williamstown Lightkeepers’ Auxiliary and the League of Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Friends. It ceased operation in 1966. A Missions to Seamen Chapel and Recreation Room was a significant feature of ports during the late 1800s and into the 1900s. It seemed appropriate for Flagstaff Hill to include such a representation within the new Maritime Village, so the Melbourne Board of Management of Missions to Seamen Victoria gave its permission on 21st May 1979 for the entire furnishings of the Williamstown chapel to be transferred to Flagstaff Hill. The St Nicholas Seamen’s Church was officially opened on October 11, 1981, and closely resembles the Williamstown chapel. 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 are examples of traditional handcraft skills used over the centuries and 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. This cloth and cover is part of the St. Nicholas Seamen's Church Collection. 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, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, maritime village, religious worship, worship service, st nicholas seamen’s church, williamstown, missions to seamen victoria, mission to seafarers, st nicholas missions to seamen’s church williamstown, missions to seamen, st nicholas missions to seamen’s church flagstaff hill, 139 nelson place williamstown, anglican church