CANON JAMES.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19610, 4 May 1929, Page 16

CANON JAMES.

TO LEAVE AUCKLAND. CALL TO WELLINGTON. (PSB3B ASSOCIATION lELEGBAJt.I AUCKLAND, May 3. The charge of St. Paul's pro-Cathe-dral, Wellington has been accepted byCanon Percival Jameß, for the past nine years vicar of St. Mary's Cathedral, Auckland. In making the announcement at a special meeting of the vertry of St. Mary's, Canon James said that the offer had come to him unexpectedly last week, after he had completed arrangements to leave in a few days on a visit to England. He assured the vestry that it was with great reluctance and regret that he had decided to leave St. Marv's, but he had been impelled to make" the decision for two reasons-: First, he considered it impossible to refuse the unanimous call to an important work in Wellington, and, m addition, he held very strongly the opinion that a prolonged tenure of one parochial charge was not in all cases for the advantage of the clergyman or of the parish. He considered the present an opportune time to relinquuih the charge of St. Mary's, as the parochial finances were now in a satisfactory condition. . . t - *• t The vestry received the intimation ot Canon James's resignation with great regret. It has not yet been decided when the canon's resignation will take effect. The Rev. P. T. Williams is at present in charge of the parish. Following a brilliant career at Queen's College, Oxford, Canon James was engaged in scholastic work in Durham, "England, but during the war served as chaplain to the forces in Mesopotamia. He came from England in 1920 to accept the charge of bt. Mary's, following the resignation of Archdeacon G. Mac Murray.