CHURCH REPORTS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 44, 20 August 1913, Page 2

CHURCH REPORTS

KENT-TERRACE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH The twenty-sixth annual report of the Keht-terrace Presbyterian Church, for the year ending 30th June, 1913, which is to be presented this evening, states' that good, practical work has been effected under the direction of the session, and arrangements are well in progress for a house-to-house canvass of the district, with the view of inducing any persons who are not connected with other churches to attend the services at Kent-terrace. Attention has been given to making the Sabbath services increasingly effective and attractive, and out of consideration ior those who live at a distance it has been resolved to make the services a little briefer— a change that has already given much satisfaction. The diaconate, like the session, needs reinforcement, and immediate steps will require to be taken to replenish its numbers. The attendances at the Lord's Supper were 132 for July, 159 for October, 146 foe January, and 191 for April, being an* average of 157, or 53.4 of the membership. The additions to the communion roll were 56, but there were 44 removals, leaving 294 communicants. The, past year has been one of many changes in the Sabbath school, and for some unexplained icason there has been an exceptional ebb and flow in the scholars attending the school, there being a decrease of 28 at the end of June, as compared with the same period last year. The total number on the roll is 223 (108 boys and 115 girls), with an average attendance of 129—58 per cent., as against 57 per cent, for the previous year. There are 20 teachers on the staff of the school. Testimony is borne to the zeal of the deaconess, Sister Elizabeth, and it is stated that the Women's Missionary Union continues its activities^ and the Ladies' Sewing Guild are making preparations for holding a sale of .work shortly, by which it is hoped a considerable amount will be raised and added to the funds of the church. ST. JAMES'S CHURCH The annual report of St. James's Presbyterian Church states that the communioant membership was 364, as compared with 359 at the close of the preceding year. The following figures relative to the congregation are given for comparison with previous annual reports : —Communicant members, 364 ; non-communicant members over 16 years of age, 72; young persons under 16 years of age— about 420 ; families represented by communicant and non-com-municant members, 215 ; other families which have been receiving regular visitation, 80. There has been a noticeable increase in the attendance at the ordinary Sunday services. There are now 360 children belonging to the Sunday School (167 boys and 203 girls), an increase of 14. The references in the report to the work of the three Bible classes, St. James's branch of the Presbyterian Women's Missionary Union, senior division of the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavour Union, and the Ladies' Sewing Bee and Guild', are of a satisfactory character. Thanks are given to Messrs. W. R. Potter (choirmaster) and D. C. Armstrong (organist) for their honorary services, also to the choir. The income from regular sources displr«s an increase of £37 9s 9d, and the larger attendances at the ordinary Sunday services are to some extent reflected in the raising of the average collection from £6 10s 5d to £6 17s 23 per day. The drop in revenue from seat rents, which was experienced in _ the year before, was partially regained b^ £11 Is 3d more being received from this source. Principally through the continued exertions of the ladies the church debt has been reduced ; from £1100 to £800. The total revenue from all sources was nearly £800. The total amount collected on behalf of missionb through the several organisations of the Church, and duly handed over, was £35 14s 4d. The report concludes as follows: — "The Rev. Mr. Shirer has now been for twenty-five years the minister of the congregation, and in concluding this report it is only fitting that the opportunity should be taken to give expression to the esteem with which his continued devotion and untiring zeal is rega.rded, and of appreciation of the practical helpfulness of Mrs. Shirer in carrying out many arduous duties."