CHURCH WORKERS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20027, 8 September 1930, Page 4

CHURCH WORKERS.

TRAINING CENTRE FOR WOMEN. An announcement of A definite scheme to establish a training centre where women can receive instruction as parochial and diocesan missionary and other workers, is made in the current issue of the "Church News." It is recalled that some months ago, tho Bishop of Christchurch sot up a Board of Women's Work to explore the possibilities of tho better utilisation of tho work of women in the Church. "Unfortunately," states the "Church News,*' "a scheme will involve considerable initial and continuing expense, first for accommodation, then for salaries and bursaries. _ In the present financial conditions, it is held to bo inadvisable to launch any adequate scheme, and while it is felt that once the scheme is Btarted, it will more than justify itself, there is a strong element of experiment in it. But there are already eome voung women offering as and a further element of urgency has entered into the proposal. "The Dean and Mrs Julius, both of whom are keenly interested in any proposal for the development of women's work in the diocese, have made a most generous nnd self-sacri-ficing offer to enable the scheme to function immediately, on an experimental basis. They have offered to give up part of the Deanery to provide a temporary habitation for the head of the school and the first students. The building has several more rooms than they normally need, and satisfactory arrangements can be made for mutual privacy. "The Dean, however, haa explained

tliat the scheme cannot bo put into operation until a sufficient eum has been raised to ensure the financing of the salary of the head and other expenses for at least one year. He states that tie the scheme in its present form is experimental, it is proposed to rniso the sum needed by voluntary subscriptions. The amount aimed at is about £350, to cover the passagfe money of a trained head, whom it is hoped the Bishoj> may be able to find in one of the similar institutions in England, and her salary for at least one /ear, and the other expenses for furnishings, etc. It is hoped that sufficient will bo collected before the Bishop leaves England on September 13th to enable him to oomplete the engagement of a head, or if not, that he will have been able to engage such ,1 person tentatively. The Bishop, as is well known, is keenly interested in the proposal, and has been gathering I information on methods by visiting the Deaconess and other women workers' training schools in England. "Needless to say, the Dean will be very grateful if any reader of 'Church News| will send him a donation or the promise of one to be paid later on snd it would help to bring the scheme into operation the sooner if such persons would immediately write liim to that effect. Standing Committee has rr.nde provision in the appropriation for some help to the probable students."