Pearce Window

At Grace Church on-the-hill a stained glass window was dedicated in 1921 in honour of brothers Lieutenant Walter King Pearce and Lieutenant Gordon Mackenzie Pearce, both lost their lives in the First World War. It was made by Robert McCausland Limited and the theme of this three-light window is “Suffer the Little Children”, based on Mark 10:13-16. It shows Jesus blessing the children, with the caption. “He took them in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.” 

The brothers were born to William K. and Emma Pearce of Toronto, Ontario. Walter was born on 29 July 1891 and Gordon on 30 September 1896. William, like his father, was a banker at the Dominion Bank in Toronto; he was also a member of the 100th Winnipeg Grenadiers militia when enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 8 July 1915. In Europe he became a lieutenant in the Canadian Mounted Rifles; on 15 September 1916 was killed in action at the Somme.

Gordon was a student at the University of Toronto and a member of the Governor General’s Body Guard militia when he enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 8 December 1915. He became a lieutenant in the 124th Battalion; on 26 April 1917 he was killed by an exploding shell at Arras.

The left and right panels contain information about each brother and the centre panel contains the text: “To the Glory of God in Loving Memory.”