19. Gifted Carvers left their Mark

There are some remarkable carvings in St. John’s Church, and also places intended for carvings which were never completed. We have recently found a 1935 letter from architect Alexander North outlining his proposals for those protruding blocks. His ideas might seem less relevant nowadays!
Four carvers made their mark at St. John’s.  The choir stalls, the communion table in the chapel, and the pews (including those presently in the west gallery) were carved by Hugh Cunningham and his student Gordon Cumming, who was responsible for the stonework over the north ambulatory, the native flora on the capitals and the decorative work on the pews. The carvings on the archways depict Tasmanian flora, which are eucalypt, waratah and native arbitus and banksia. The native animals of the choir stalls are quite remarkable and well worth a closer inspection. The famous Nellie Payne joins these two as a gifted exponent of the Arts and Crafts movement, which inspired so much of North’s designs. Her work can be seen in the beautiful litany desk, recently used for the induction of Revd Dr. Cameron Munro as rector. A fourth carver, Silvanus Wilmot, was responsible for the classically carved baptismal font, now located in the church grounds.

All Saints History Collection: Hugh Cunningham [P193]

All Saints History Collection: Gordon Cumming [P201]

All Saints History Collection: Silvanus Ben Wilmot [P217]

All Saints History Collection: Nellie Payne [P216]

All Saints History Collection: North’s plan for future carvings at St. John’s [ASJ2025.20]