ST. MARY'S, MERIVALE

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16479, 24 March 1919, Page 6

ST. MARY'S, MERIVALE

NEW CHURCH TO BE BUILT. The vicar of St. Mary's, Merivale, the Ven. Archdeacon Haggitt, in a circular letter to his parishioners, emphasises the necessity, long recognised, for building a new church. He records that the new vicarge is very comfortable), solid, and well built, and thanks all who have helped to build it. ''Our next work is to build d new church," Archdeacon Haggitt continues. "The present cliurcn has had its day, and is last falling into decay. The borer has been very busy and happy, with the result that iu'many places a kick would mean a hole. The vestry have tho matter in hand. We shall soon have our plans, and then our campaign will begin. Wo must aim. at getting tho very bost. Iti is our duiy to build . as beautiful and good a church as it is possible for us to build. If wo can raiso £20,000 wo should raise it, and not be . content with £12.000 or £15,000. We must remember that we aro building not for our own generation only, but lor future generations as well.

"Two pa; ishioners havo set us a splendid example. About throe years ago a certain gentleman handed mo a cheque for £l()iJ0 for a new organ for the new church. About threo weeks ago another gentleman sent war bonds to the value of £500 as a thank-offer-ing for his wife and himself for the preservation of their son through the war. Both of these offerings wcro made anonymously. My dear people, God has been to all of us. Who can recount His mercies? If we roaliso it, if we aro really thankful, there will be no difficulty in raising enough money to build a really good church. Let us as a parish make our church a memorial to thoso that gave tip their lives in the great war, and a thank-offering for victory. Surely wo could not havo a better memorial!"