OUTSPOKEN VICAR

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 117, 20 May 1939, Page 11

OUTSPOKEN VICAR

UNGENEROUS PARISH

ROLL PURGE SUGGESTED

"This parish is the least generous I have been connected with for 25 years," said the vicar of St. Stephen's Anglican Church, Ashburton, the Rev. J., F. Feron, when he addressed parishioners at the' annual meeting, states an exchange. He drew attention to the unsatisfactory state .of the parish's finances and urged members to cooperate in bringing about an improvement.

"There are a lot of deadheads in Ashburton who do not come to church, who will not pay, but who expect the same amount of consideration as all you good people," said Mr. Feron. "A parish of this size should be able to look after itself. I sometimes think it would be a good thing if congregations were narrowed down so that we would have fewer Christians, but of a better quality. The time has just about come when a communicants' roll should be taken and those who do not turn up to church should be struck : off the parish. • ■ ■ • • :. -'

.."It. is a miserable position to be in to. have to send' the vestry out every year to cadge subscriptions from those who never show up at church. For myown part, I would rather tell them to go to hell.". . .

Mr. Feron appealed to churchgoers to. give more liberally and to bring the finances to" a more healthy position.