ST. THOMAS CHURCH RUINS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 169, 18 July 1924, Page 8

ST. THOMAS CHURCH RUINS.

f , I I (To the Editor.) 1 Sir, —Some misleading statements have : recently been made in respect of the 1 ruins of St. Thomas' Church at West Tamaki. The property has been > described as belonging to the Melanesian Mission. It has nothing to do with the : Melanesian Mission. It is vested in the 1 General Trust Board of the Dicoese of ' Auckland in trust as a site for a church. " The board had no power to hand the ; property over to the local governing ! body, and, as soon as the need is felt, .1 church will be erected upon the ! property. This will not necessarily \ involve the removal of the ruins of the I old church. Should circumstances per- ; mit, the ruins will no doubt be retained as an object of historical interest. As to the upkeep of the grounds, it is usual , for a church, site to be maintained and ' kept in order by the parish within which L it is situated. The Trust Board merely > holds the property in trust for the parish concerned, and unfortunately does , not possess a fund applicable tw the [ maintenance of such site. The board has recently accepted a generous offer from local residents to carry out a certain amount of work for improving the condition of the church site. These local residents are no doubt Church of England people, who in due course will be responsible for maintaining the site, as a matter of parish organisation, when a church is built.—l am, etc., G. A. THOMPSON , . ■ Secretary General. Trust Board.