Religious Survey In Papanui Tomorrow

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31018, 25 March 1966, Page 1

Religious Survey In Papanui Tomorrow

A religious survey of householders in Papanui and the surrounding area will be made tomorrow to find the denominational affiliations of all persons aged 15 and over.

All churches in the area are co-operating in the survey, which will cover the area bounded by Johns, Russley, Wairakei, Normans and Marshland roads and the Styx bridge. It is estimated that the area includes 10,000 households, and one of a team of 500 visitors will call at each home.

The Rev. R. W. Simpson, chairman of the organising committee, said yesterday that the area had been divided into eight blocks of streets and allocated to the participating churches, which included the Roman Catholic and major Protestant communions. The information obtained would be given to each church involved in the survey to enable it to serve its people more efficiently and get to know them better.

“In an area where housing is increasing rapidly, and

where a good deal of coming and going of householders occurs, this survey should be of great value in making it possible for the churches to bring their records up to date,” said Mr Simpson. “The enthusiastic co-opera-tion of all the clergy and members of the organising committee has been most encouraging. I am sure that all householders will give our visitors a cordial reception when they call and assist them in this worth-while project. “The visitors are not expected to discuss religion with households, nor to attempt to convert anybody. All they will request is factual information of a person’s religious affiliation. This type of survey has been done in other areas of Christchurch and cordial co-operation from citizens was the general rule,” Mr Simpson said.