SNELGROVE: I’m looking at one of the most memorable and endearing pieces of handicraft which has resulted form the Second Great War. It is one of those indescribably unique works of art, which although not costly, will serve to remind the people of this town of the great price paid for victory.
What I see are four colourful stained glass windows which are enhancing the beauty of Christ Anglican Church in Meaford, Ontario. Meaford is a small town with about a population of 2000 people, situated on the Georgian Bay, a part of the Great Lakes, about a hundred miles North West of Toronto.
[Photo: the Rev. Harold Appleyard (2nd from left) with other clergy on Sunday, August 11, 1946 during the dedication of the memorial windows]
SNELGROVE: The pieces of glass from which these windows were made came from the ruins of over one hundred cathedrals and churches in the British Isles and the continent. They were collected by the rector of the church, Rev. H.F. Appleyard, B.A. M.C. while he was serving overseas as a padre and dedicated to the memory of parish members who gave their lives that freedom may live during a very impressive service last Sunday.
But here now is Rev. H.F. Appleyard to tell us what inspired such a unique collection.
APPLEYARD: The need for a church memorial became evident when the first member of our parish was killed. Subsequently, five others paid the supreme sacrifice. For I wasn’t in England long before realizing how great a sacrifice had already been made and was continuing to be made daily or nightly by the people there.
With this thought in my mind, the idea of a memorial window, made from the broken windows of desecrated churches appeared to me a fitting tribute to the memory of our boys and also to the splendid people of the Old Land.
From that day on, I gathered a few pieces of glass from as many as possible of the ruined churches I encountered. As the collection grew - I am really sorry to say it grew quickly - I stored it in the homes of friends, and eventually the glass was gathered from over a hundred cathedrals and churches throughout England, Wales, Ireland, France, Beligium and Holland.
SNELGROVE: How come the three continental countries have been represented in your memorial?
APPLEYARD: In each of those countries, my unit, The Royal Regiment of Canada, served, I think I may say, with distinction; hence their fine record is also included in our memorial.
SNELGROVE: Did you have your collection of glass shipped to Canada and windows made here?
APPLEYARD: No, sometime after returning from the continent to England, I took my collection to a reputable English firm [Cox & Barnard Ltd., Hove] who manufactured stained glass windows, and after outlining the purpose of my plan, left it in their hands. The last of the completed windows arrived in Canada in April and were installed in the church a few weeks ago.
SNELGROVE: And so that is the story of how one Canadian community has recorded for posterity the sacrifices of World War Two. This is Ralph Snelgrove of Radio Station CFOS, Owen Sound, reporting for CBC International, from Meaford, Ontario.