8. THE CHAPEL OF ST MICHAEL AND ST GEORGE  (Soldiers' Chapel) The Chapel of St Michael and St George (the Soldiers' Chapel) occupies most of the north transept. High in the gable, a small lancet throws light onto the rafters. Built in 1922, the Soldiers' Chapel is like "a church within a church". It seats about fifty. The fabric is of white stone, including the altar, which has a marble top. On the walls are lists of the 1914-1918 war-dead from the parishes of the diocese. In some small towns almost an entire generation of Anglican men was wiped out. A web-like white stone screen separates this large chapel from the nave. It is similar to the type of screen- work found in English cathedrals surrounding "chantry chapels" (chapels set aside for chanting prayers for the good of the departed donor). The association is clear here. This chapel provides a place for the faithful of the diocese to recall before God all those from this region who died in the service of their country in wartime. Inside the screen on the south side is an inscription from Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress: "So he passed over, and all the trumpets sounded for him on the other side".

On the north at the top of the screen, above the panels bearing the names of the 924 dead from the First World War, is the ancient Christian prayer for the departed: "Grant unto them, O merciful Lord, eternal rest and let light perpetual shine upon them". There is carved cresting and tabernacle work above the altar and above the sedilia (clergy seats) at the left. The entire screen was crafted in Goulburn from white Bundanoon stone, an impressive piece for an Australian country city. This is a good place to rest awhile and feel the love poured out, the suffering memories transformed into a shrine of beauty and repose. The subjects of the windows are: in the three light window - the story of the Good Samaritan with a fine portrayal of the agonized victim; and in the two light window - the labourers in the vineyard and the rich man and the poor man with a dog licking the poor man's sores. Embroidered kneelers commemorate those who served in the two World Wars, in Korea and in Vietnam. They bear the Arms of the Service in which the person served and give some personal details. Some were made by the deceased's own family. On the sedilia is an embroidered cushion commemorating the fifteen years of service by Sir Roden Cutler as Governor of NSW. It has his personal Arms and those of the Sydney University Regiment. A companion cushion has the crest of the City of Goulburn.