Banners

THE BANNERS – ST. ANDREW’ S MAIN CHURCH

PAUL KATHNER designed and created the TWELVE BANNERS in the body of the church  based on a similar technique used for the House curtain for the State Theatre at the Victorian Arts Centre.  Born in 1937, he started his artistic career with JC Williamson’s training as a scenic artist, and since 1976 continued to design for the Australian Ballet, Victoria State Opera and Adelaide Festival.

The intricate and delicate designs for St. Andrew’s Banners were constructed using imported Dutch velvet.  The entire process of creating the Banners took six months from initial research to installation. A  Service of Dedication was conducted by The Most Reverend Dr. Keith Raynor, AO, Archbishop of Melbourne, on Thursday 3rd June 1999 at 8pm.  Paul Kathner has told a story with each Banner and included local aspects in his designs.  The Banners were donated by people connected with St. Andrew’s and add colourful brilliance to our place of worship.

RIGHT SIDE (FROM BACK OF CHURCH)

1. City of Bayside.
   
   
2. Bishops Broughton & Perry–Broughton the first and only Bishop of Australia.
   Perry the first Bishop of Melbourne.

3. Bringing the Church to a strange land – the ship signifies the trip made by Missionary priests.  Christian symbols illustrate a land peopled by believers in Christ.  St. Thomas – patron saint of builders.

4. St. Peter & St. Paul – Peter is remembered with an inverted cross.  The crossed Keys recall the tradition of him having the Keys of Heaven.  Paul represented by the two crossed swords.

5. Mary – Mother of our Lord & the Resurrection Women – Mary shown by the Interlocking monogram of the Blessed Virgin.  The second panel depicts the
   “Resurrection Women”.

6. Jesus: Lamb of God on the top, with the Trinity underneath.  Triangle in a circle to show the Trinity.  Jesus Lamb of God is portrayed by the classic paschal lamb.
   

LEFT SIDE (FROM BACK OF THE CHURCH)

1. Mission in Brighton – symbols are a mixture of local landmarks, waves of
   the Bay, swirl of yachts and old and new Councils – superimposed with Christian crosses.

2. The Ancient Land – Europeans found themselves in a land of different colours, climate and contrasts.  Christian symbols are superimposed – the ICTHUS fish and cross.

3. The English Church – Augustine first Archbishop of Canterbury –
   His shield contains the cross and pall in the top left – the lily of the Madonna
   is added because he died in May, the month of Mary.  Hilda of Whitby (town of James Cook) – her shield shows legendary coiled snakes … that her prayers changed snakes into stones.

4. St. Andrew – The foundations Saints, Andrew, Peter & Paul are depicted. Andrew’s symbols are well known to this parish along with the reason for the X-shaped cross, commemorating the diagonal cross of his crucifixion.

5. The Spirit of God – The Holy Spirit is shown as a dove, and the Trinity by Interlocking sectors of a circle: again timeless symbols for a timeless God.

6. God Creator & Saviour – Top panel depicts God as Trinity (with trianglein circle) and Creator in the lower half represented by the all-seeing eye above God’s blessing hand, being recognised as among the most ancient of Christian symbols.