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The Robert Douglas Memorial Windows
were constructed to tell a story that starts with Saint Matthew’s window
on the right, and ‘the great commission to take the word to the nations’
at the end of Matthew’s gospel. At the top is Matthew’s symbol of the
winged man, and Matthew, beneath, is holding a book (his gospel). At the
bottom is a sailing ship headed towards the Southern Cross which
represents the bringing of the word across the waters to Australia, as
per the commission. On the left is the figure of Saint Luke holding a
quill and his gospel. Luke was responsible for much of the writing of
the New Testament as well as his own gospel. Above him is a winged ox,
the traditional symbol for Luke. A depiction of St. Mary’s Church on the
bottom left panel is a symbol of the establishment of the church in
Brisbane.
Some of the imagerySome of the imagery has a second meaning which relates to
the man to whom the windows are dedicated and his small role in carrying
out Matthew’s commission. Robert Douglas sailed to Australia as a
migrant
from the United Kingdom and later built a life for
himself at Kangaroo Point at the same time as St. Mary’s Church was also
becoming established. He was a benefactor of this church and his
descendants have continued to worship there. They have also carried on
his involvement in the cattle industry and his association with the land
and its development throughout Queensland; a fact that influenced the
earth colour choices for the panels. The crest in the small top window
is that of the Red Douglas Earls of Angus line, one used with pride by
him and his descendants.p>
Robert Douglas of Kangaroo Point July 4 1816 to November 23 1890
Born in Clapham, LoBorn in Clapham, LoBorn in Clapham, London, Robert Douglas was the youngest child
of Robert Douglas of Ardrossan and Catherine Douglas nee Heard. In a
sense he was ‘Robert Douglas’ by default as he had two brothers before
him named Robert, both of whom had died as infants. His father, after
his marriage and loss of one of the earlier infant ‘Roberts’ on board
ship, had semi-retired from active sailing and started a ship’s
chandlery business on the Thames at 310 Wapping Street, London. Shipping
was big business then and the main form of transport as it was
pre-railway and certainly pre-motorised transport.
The family lived in various residences in London and Robert was born at
Clapham when they were taking their annual summer holiday there. The
other children were Colin 5, Catherine 3, and Agnes 2. Their mother,
Catherine, died of cancer four years later, leaving their father and
faithful nurse, Mary Moore to bring up the young children. (History
repeated as Robert of Ardrossan had also lost his mother, nee Mary
Railly, when he was about eleven and later Robert of Mt. Maria lost his
mother nee Sophia Poste when he was four).
Robert’s schooling seems to have been at a succession of London schools;
1822 Mrs. Will’s School at Petersfield; 1823 Mr. Chanel’s boarding
school at Homilton; 1830 Robert moved from Mr. Ward’s school at
Brentwood to Mrs. Slack’s school at Poplar. In about 1830-31, when
Robert was fourteen or fifteen, it was his father’s intention to have
him work in Douglas and Beattie’s counting house as a clerk. Robert
however, had other ideas and joined the Isabella as an apprentice seaman
- no clerical indoor position for him! His father had a share in the
Isabella with a Mr. Christie. The Captain was John Wildgoose and the
ship was bound for Demerara and the West Indian trade (The Journals of
Robert Douglas of Ardrossan).
the family descended from Robert Douglas of Kangaroo Point
Sir James Douglas, of Canada, was a cousin of Robert Douglas of Kangaroo
Point and it is interesting to note parallels in their lives — both
travelled to the colonies, both had a sense of adventure combined with
an honourable duty to not only provide for their families but to take
part in community affairs and administration for the development of
their new homelands. This ‘Douglas’ quality is echoed by many of their
descendants today.
William Douglas c.1174
Archibald Douglas of Hermiston, 1213, 2nd of Douglas, 4th Lord of
Douglas
William Douglas ‘Long Legs’, 3rd of Douglas
William Douglas ‘Le Hardi’ born after 1256
Archibald Douglas of Liddesdale and Cavers, born 1297
William Douglas 1327~1384, 1st Earl of Douglas born c.1330
George Douglas 1378~1403, 1st Earl of Angus of the Douglas name
William Douglas 2nd Earl of Angus, died 1437
George Douglas, 4th Earl of Angus died 1463
Archibald, 5th Earl of Angus, ‘Bell the Cat’ born1449~1513
Sir William Douglas of Braidwood & Glenbervie, born c.1470; d.1513
Archibald Douglas of Glenbervie, c.1502; d. bef. 1570; married (2)
Elizabeth Irvine (Bessie)
John Douglas, writer in Inveresk of Cruixton & Stobbs, Quarrelholes
John Douglas, tailor in Inveresk & Musselburgh (married Alyson Beard)
John Douglas, merchant of South Leith
Robert Douglas, (elder) 1630~1717, soap manufacturer of South Leith
Robert Douglas, (younger) of Cruixton/Brockhouse 1667~1741, soap
manufacturer of South Leith
William Douglas 1696~1732 married Catherine Dunlop
Robert Douglas 1723~1812 married Mary Reilly
Robert Douglas of Ardrossan/Port Glasgow, 1759~1847, married Catherine
Heard
Robert Douglas 1816~1890, Kangaroo Point, married (1) Sophia Poste; (2)
Kate Gore de Styak.
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