The Bishop Dawes window in St. Mary’s Church is a memorial to a son of Rye who became the first Bishop of Rockhampton. Nathanial Dawes was the son of Edwin Dawes and brother of Walter Dawes, who were both Rye Town Clerks. His Nephew Edwin Dawes followed his father and brother in the post.
Nathanial Dawes began his working life as an engineer but later realised the call to the Ministry and entered Holy Orders.
The window depicts God, crowned and in a red robe with hand uplifted as he bids “Go Ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”
On God’s left hand is a figure of St. Bartholomew generally identified with Nathanial. On the right stands St. Paul, called to be an apostle of the gentiles.
Nathanial Dawes died in 1910 the window was decorated with coloured glass and unveiled in 1912, the work being carried out by James Powell & Sons.
From “Rye’s Own” March 2004
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