LHS 5
Depicts "Her Children Rise Up And Call Her Blessed"
Designed And Installed By:- Brooks Robinson 1924
In Memory Of:- Emily Sophia Pearson
Text And Religious Significance:
Proverbs 31.28
Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: (NIV)
Gift Of And Wording:- This window was erected as a gift from her children. Mrs. Pearson was a loyal and dedicated member of the Church of England and with her husband Sir William Pearson (2nd) they were very generous benefactors of St. Paul’s.
In the glory of God our beloved mother died 19 June 1923
In memory of Emily Sophia Pearson erected by her four children
William Pearson (Snr) came to Australia in 1840 from "Hilton" in Parish of Kilmany, Fife, Scotland. After hearing glowing accounts of pastoral opportunities around Port Phillip, he sailed to Melbourne with his friend Andrew Chirnside who took up land at Werribee.Then a year later in 1841 Pearson, with Malcolm Macfarlane and James Rintoul, moved cattle from Albury south to Omeo and into Gippsland, following close to Angus McMillan who had settled at "Bushy Park" on the Avon River.
William Pearson crossed the Thompson River to settle at what we now know as Kilmany Park of 12000 acres.Malcolm Macfarlane moved up to the Macalister River at Glenmaggie and his neighbour became Ted Tyson of Heyfield Park fame, while James Rintoul selected land at Rosedale.
In those days the whole of Gippsland from Moe to Port Albert and Bairnsdale was open country comprising some forty cattle stations. It is well recorded that the station owners were very helpful and generous to the early church representatives who originally covered the whole area. William Pearson was such a man and references to him appear in the history of the province.
Albert and Bairnsdale was open unsettled country comprising some forty cattle stations. It is well recorded that the station owners were very helpful and generous to the early church representatives who originally covered the whole area. William Pearson was such a man and references to him appear in the history of the province. (Read the Church of our Fathers, by Albert C. Clark).
One of the first stately homes of Gippsland was Kilmany Park built by Pearson in the 1870's and his son William added the second storey. The Pearsons entertained royalty in 1901 when the Duke and Duchess of York came to Melbourne to open the first federal parliament.
It was William Pearson (Jnr) who took over the property, became a member of parliament and with his wife did so much for the community and their church. History records that in 1907 when St. Paul’s needed funds to finally liquidate its debt for building and thus become consecrated the Hon. William and Mrs. Pearson contributed half the amount and the congregation the balance.
It is interesting to note here that Mrs. Emily Sophie Pearson was formerly a Miss Gooch and they married in St. Paul’s on 2 February 1887.
In 1910 and again in 1919 the Government of the day took most of the land for closer settlement but it was not until after the death of Mr. Pearson in 1919 and his wife in 1923 that the magnificent mansion was sold to the Presbyterian Church for use as a boys home. Among the many activities undertaken by these good citizens was the Hon. William Pearson's service on the Board of Guardians of St. Paul’s for some years from 1898 and it is recorded that in October 1903 his wife laid the foundation stone of the beautiful residence at the north end of Raymond Street - Bishopscourt.
In the glory of God our beloved Mother died 19 June 1923
In memory of Emily Sophia Pearson erected by her four children
