SOCIAL EVENING

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 66, 19 March 1943, Page 3

SOCIAL EVENING

NORTHLAND ANGLICANS

Anglicans of Northland attended St. Anne's Parish Hall in full force last night, the occasion being a social evening in honour of the retiring vicar, the Rev. J. E. Ashley-Jones, and a welcome to his successor, the Rev. L. N. Watkins, and Mrs. Watkins. The guests included Miss B. Ashley-Jones, Mrs. Peter Fraser, and the Archdeacon of Wellington (the Yen. W. Bullock). Sergeant F. A. Cotterell, R.N.Z.A.F., vicar's churchwarden, who presided, spoke of the affection the parishioners felt for Mr. Ashley-Jones, who had been their vicar for twenty-five years and had made of the parish a very happy family. On behalf of the parishioners, Archdeacon Bullock presented Mr. AshleyJones with a wallet and cheque, and in doing so expressed thanks to him for the services he had given to the parish, and to the whole archdeaconry of Wellington, since he first came out to New Zealand from England thirtyseven years ago. The Archdeacon then welcomed Mr. and Mrs. Watkins to the parish, and firmly enjoined all parishioners to stand behind their new vicar and support him by regular attendance at all the services of the church. Mr. Ashley-Jones had built up the parish family, which should preserve the family spirit by worshipping together under the guidance of its new head. As the great St. Cyprian had said, there could be no salvation outside the Church. He felt confident that all the church people of Northland would be loyal to Mr. Watkins. In returning thanks for the presentation made, to him, Mr. Ashley-Jones reviewed incidents in his ministerial career of over forty years, and spoke of the happy time he had spent in Northland in the past twenty-five years. He would always treasure memories of the parish, he said, and declared that Mr. Watkins would have round him a zealous band of workers.

Mr. Watkins made suitable reply to the welcome tendered him.

The success of the evening was enhanced by a concert programme contributed to by Mrs. Welch (pianoforte solo), Mrs. Colebrook (songs), Mrs. Coomber (recitation), and Mr. Hickford (songs).