The St. Ambrose window in the Chancel – Martha Ellison West

The St. Ambrose window is located on the Gospel side of the Chancel…it’s way up high which made more sense when the floor of the chancel was higher.

The window was given in memory of Martha Ellison West

The St. Ambrose window was designed by Cummings Studio, San Francisco and cost $394. It is 30” x 60”.

Learn about saint Ambrose

Martha Ellison West was the mother of Canon Edwin West, the second Rector of St. Mark’s. During her lifetime, Marth lived in England, Canada, and finally the United States. She was born on June 5th, 1881, in West Gorton, Lancashire, England. Martha’s father was an Engine Fitter at one of the many locomotive factories in Gorton, a suburb of Manchester. In 1885, the family emigrated to Galt, Ontario, Canada where Martha’s father, John, worked as an iron fitter in a factory. Sometime between 1881 and 1891, Martha’s mother, Agnes, and a baby brother, James (born 1881), died. Martha and her surviving sister, Sarah Elizabeth, were raised by their father.

*The St. Ambrose window is located on the Gospel side of the Chancel. It’s easy to miss!*

In 1902, Martha married Edwin Joseph West, a machinist at a local factory. Martha and Edwin raised their three children in Galt (two daughters and St. Mark’s future Rector, Edwin Ellison West). By 1921 the family had moved to Toronto where Edwin got a job as a superintendent at a factory.

Martha was baptized in the Church of England and raised her children in the Anglican Church in Canada. Her son, Edwin Ellison, was ordained priest in 1944 in Ontario, Canada. But it was a family tragedy in 1942 that determined how Martha West came to St .Mark’s. In October of 1942, Martha’s grandson, only child of her son Edwin, was born. Within a week, Edwin’s wife, Mary Eleanor, died. Martha moved in with Edwin to care for the baby, Teddy.

For part of their time at St. Mark’s, Canon West, his mother, Martha, and his son Teddy lived in this old farmhouse next to the Chapel at St. Mark’s. Mary Kennedy recalled that in the early days, this cottage had the only kitchen, sink and bathroom on the property and was used by all parishioners until new facilities were constructed. Martha West must have been a very tolerant and flexible woman!

*The West’s dog, Brilly, lived on site with the West family.*

Martha lived with Edwin and Teddy while Edwin was Rector of Trinity, Aylmer, Canada. She emigrated with them to the United States in 1946 when Edwin was called to be Canon at St. John’s Cathedral in Spokane, Washington. Next,they moved to San Francisco where Canon West was called as Rector of St. John the Evangelist. Finally, Martha Ellison West came to Palo Alto when her son was called as Rector of St. Mark’s in 1951.

Martha continued to care for Teddy and Edwin, and the three even lived in an old farmhouse on the property of St. Mark’s for a time. She participated in various women’s activities and was an active member of the Parish until her death on December 18^th, 1956. Martha was buried in Galt, Canada with her family.

The family asked that contributions in her memory be given to the Memorial Fund at St. Mark’s, and the gifts were used to fund the St. Ambrose window. This was one of the first stained glass windows in the building. It was installed during the construction of the church in 1957.