THE PEWS

The memorial pews were installed in the 1960s and 1970s. They were designed by James Irwin, Cathedral Architect at that time, and were made by the local joinery firm of A.S. Bissland. These oak pews replaced the old, individual wooden chairs with cane seats that had been used until that time.

Each pew has a memorial inscription carved into its backrest. The pews at Row O – shown by the small alphabetical letter at the base of each pew near the centre aisle – are memorials to Alexander Sharp William Bissland 1907 - 1986 on the lectern side of the nave, and to Irma Iris Bissland 1903 - 1967 on the pulpit side of the nave. The front pews on either side of the nave are memorials to Bishop A Nutter Thomas, Bishop of Adelaide from 1906 – 1940. The Governor of South Australia has a designated seat in the front pew on the lectern side, and the pew has a notation painted there to indicate the Governor’s seat in that pew.

THE COATS OF ARMS

Each pew has a wooden shield at either end, on which is painted a Coat of Arms. The drawings for these were prepared by the Right Reverend Thomas Thornton Reed, the Bishop of Adelaide, an acknowledged expert in the fields of genealogy and heraldry. The Bishop took it as a personal project because of his connection with the original appeal committee for new pews in 1954.

On the ends of the pews facing the central aisle the Coats of Arms on the lectern side represent the National or Regional Churches of the world-wide Anglican Communion. The Coats of Arms on the pews on the pulpit side represent the Dioceses of the Anglican Church of Australia at the time of installation of the pews. The pews at Row O have the Coat of Arms of the Regional Church of Central Africa on the lectern side, and of the Australian Diocese of Bendigo on the pulpit side.

These coats of arms help us to remember that St Peter’s Cathedral is not a stand-alone Anglican cathedral, but is a part of a world-wide and Australia-wide fellowship and communion of Anglicans, all dedicated to the service and worship of God.

Facing the side aisles are Coats of Arms, or badges, having an association with the person in whose memory the pew was given – perhaps families, schools, regiments or colleges. Each Row O pew has the Coat of Arms of the Bissland family facing the side aisles.