Church-Goers In Sydenham, Fewer

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31134, 10 August 1966, Page 16

Church-Goers In Sydenham, Fewer

The numbers claiming no religious denomination “are much higher than usual” in the Sydenham census district and the proportion of census Presbyterians was lower than the city average, the monthly meeting of the Christchurch Presbytery was told yesterday.

The meeting was considering the report of a Presbytery visiting committee to the parish of St. David's, Sydenham.

The report said that the parish work had to be seen in the context of a community with a strong emphasis on the older age groups, especially elderly women living on their own, and smaller numbers of younger married people, many of whom resided in the district for a short time.

A further 250 Presbyterian homes had been discovered in the parish over the last 12 months by the visiting of the minister, the Rev. D. C. Boyd. There were now about 450 known Presbyterian homes with nearly 1800 under pastoral care, the report said. “It is clear from statistics that incomes in this area are lower than the average for the city and that more of the people are employed as labourers, craftsmen and industrial workers than would be usual in a cross-section of the community.” It would seem that in the near future the Presbytery would need the assistance of trained people to help with the people in the district,

Anglican Harrier*. Senior and Junior, men: A. Crompton 1, J. Lewis 2. B. Rich 3. Time. 73:10. Fastest time: J. Lewis. 48:50 Ladies: V. Bunn 1. F Davies 2, H Bunn 3. Colts: K Burgess 1, P. Wilson 2, A David *.

said the convener of the visiting committee, the Rev. D. S. Knight. These people did not need to be closely associated with the Church but needed to keep closely in touch with it. The parish also needed more finance for such work, which perhaps could be supplied by outside parishes.