The most southerly window on the east wall of the church was installed and dedicated in 1970 in memory of  William Clarence Town and Georgina Isabelle Phillips Town. The window beautifully depicts the Adoration of the Shepherds.

Notice how the posture of Mary, in traditional blue, in the right-hand panel is mirrored in the stance of the shepherd, also in blue, in the left panel. The shepherd cradles a lamb in his arms in a way that echoes Mary’s tender grasp on the Christ child. Often in depictions of the Adoration of the Shepherds, a lamb is depicted as if sleeping at the foot of the manger to symbolize the slain Lamb of God. Here the lamb in the foreground looks alert and adoring as if to remind us to be like the Bethlehem shepherds who eagerly went to see and hear and rejoice in the birth of our Saviour. The lamp, just above Joseph’s shoulder, is the traditional symbol of wisdom and the search for faith.

In the circular window above, the star of Bethlehem is featured, set in eye-catching strips of varying shades of blue, and surrounded by seven stars, perhaps the seven stars that are the angels (messengers) of the Book of Revelation, which are a sign that we should walk steadfastly with God.

Mr. Town, a funeral director, moved his family to Whitby from Brockville in 1927 and established his business on Brock Street South. From that time until their deaths, Mr. and Mrs. Town were faithful servants of both the parish church of All Saints’ Church and the town of Whitby.

They were most generous with their time and treasures and left a legacy to All Saints’, not only in gifts that are still used in the church today, but also in a family of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who continue to worship at and contribute to the life of this church.

The Town family and the beautiful Adoration window were recognized in our service on Janury 17 as part of our 150th anniversary celebrations.

You know that you’re a true “nerd of all things Anglican” if you, like me, eagerly look forward to seeing the stoles and chasubles of visiting Priests and Bishops. What does the vestment’s design say about the wearer? Does it match the liturgical season? Does it have symbols that represent aspects of the wearer’s faith experience? “Oh, that’s an interesting stole,” one might hear from the pews as guest clergy process down the aisle.

What’s that you say? Stole? The truth is, we see church vestments every week, but we may not know their true names or origin. During our 150th year, let’s take a closer look at my favourite vestment–the stole.

The stole is the decorative scarf that an officiant wears during a church service. Here at All Saints’, clergy typically wear stoles with colours representing the liturgical seasons. The lower portion contains a symbol of faith. Common history suggests that ancient government officials wore stoles as a badge of office. Slaves and servants also wore cloths around their necks for cleaning and polishing. In the church, therefore, that the stole takes on these two roles. In the Anglican Church, you can identify a Deacon as they wear their stole diagonally from shoulder to waist. Ordained clergy always wear their stoles around the shoulder more like a scarf. At one time, the stole may have been used by celebrant to clean the chalice during the service. Too expensive for this purpose today, the stole is a symbol of that cleaning cloth and reminds us that the celebrant (whether Deacon, Priest or Bishop) remains a servant of Christ.

The next time you are in church, take a closer look at the vestments you see. You’ll be the envy of your pew when you are able to quickly identify a visiting Deacon from a Priest or gently correct someone who may confuse a stole for a common tippet.

~Bertie Weatherbottom, Notes & Queries Reporter for the 150th.

In October 1937, the Rev. E. Ralph Adye, Incumbent of All Saints and Legion Chaplain, presided at a Legion Drumhead Service. The parade and outdoor service was attended by 2,000 Legion members from across Ontario. All Saints also hosted a Choral Eucharist.

See more Drumhead Service images in the Whitby Public Archives online image collection.