ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12482, 19 April 1906, Page 8

ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH.

ANNUAL MEETING OF PARISHIONERS. The annual meeting of the parishioners of St. Michael's Church took place yesterday evening. Archdeacon Averill, who is leaving on Friday on a trip to England, was in the chair. A summary of the report and balance-sheet-, which shows that the church is in a very prosperous condition, has already been published. Archdeacon Averill, who was received with loud applause, referred to the changes in the parish: since he took up work there twelve years ago. The parish itself had undergone a change, as a result of the report of tho Boundaries Commission presented to last .synod. Lower Riccarton had been added to tho parish, a fact of which he was personally very glad as many good workers for St. Michael's came from that district. He hoped to see that the erection of a church iiad been started before he returned from England. Ho hoped also that the congregation of St. Michael's would show sympathy for Lower Ricca_g:>n, and tliat that parish would soon bo in a most flourishing condition. (Applause.) The growth of tho parish in the twelve years could be illustrated by some statistics. At his first annual meeting tho report stated that the offertories for the year for general parish expenses amounted to £397. This year ther amounted to £738. In 1894 there were 2817 communicants; last- year there were 8179. In twelve years there had been 1830 baptisms, including 80 adults; 970 persons hud been con-firmed, and there had lieon 428 marriages. Continuing, ho said that his hands could not- have done the work without good assistants, and be thanked the oarish for its kindness and forbearance. He was sorry to leave them, but a holiday would do him no harm, and ho hoped to return more able and more fit to do his parish work. (Applause.; The report and balance-sheet wero adopted, and a resolution was carried that a sum of not- less than £20 yearly should be set aside'towards the nucleus of a fund for the eventual rebuilding of the church. The same office-bearers were re-elected with the exception of Mr Brittan, who did not desire reelection, and who was succeeded, by Mr Barrett- on the vestry.