ST. MARTIN'S CHURCH, NORTH-EAST VALLEY.

Evening Star, Volume 12869, Issue 12869, 19 July 1906, Page 5

ST. MARTIN'S CHURCH, NORTH-EAST VALLEY.

The annual meeting of parishioners was hold last evening, a satisfactory number being present. The Rev. G. W. Harding occupied tho chair.

Last year the Committee reported a decrease m the receipts, though sufiicienfc to keep the Church financial. This year the receipts have resumed their normal state, owing, however, rather to several revenueproducing causes than to any special increase in personal payments. Comparison with last year's balance-sheet, shows an increase in offertories, and a correspondinglv decrease m subscriptions. This latter is regretted, as tho district is rapidly growing. The donations have slightly increased, having been augmented from the Ladies' Guild fund. A number of improvements have been instituted, such as the new installation of gas fittings, thus giving greater light at about tho same cost.

In addition to the above statement by iho outgoing Committee, the vicar (Mr Harding) reported that during the past year a stito had been secured upon which to build a. permanent church and schoolroom. This step had involved the parish in a considerable debt, and the united and continuous exertion of each member of the congregation would be needed to clear it. Uatif a permaneat church, schoolroom, and vicarage' were provided there could be no guarantee that the status of St. Martin's as a parochial district would be maintained. At anv time circumstances might necessitate a return to the former condition of a cathedral or collego district. Owing to the action of the Valley School Committee in changing the hour for the opening of the school, it would -nortJy be impossible to carry on the children's daily instruction class. This class had now been conducted with success for three and a-half years, and throughout the attendance had been fairly maintained, and thi general conduct of the children had left ilpthmg to be desired. The choir and Sunday school continued to do good woik, though sopranos fo> the former were needed' and male teachers for the latter. Indebtedness was due to the Ladies' Guild, especially in connection with the bazaar held last October, and the Church site fund. Since the beginning of Lent a regular weekday ceiebrat:on of the Holy Eucharist had been maintained. It was to be hoped that aa increasing number would make use of this opportunity for devotion and worship. The number of baptisms during the year was nineteen-r-a decrease partly accounted for by the high numb2r last year. The bishop twice vieited the church for confirmationa the total number of candidates being seven males *nd fifteen females. The marriages were threo in number. Tho number- of communions made in St. Martin's had steadily increased with the increase in the <**»w*hej: of opnortiuiities. During the jast

four years it had doubled, and now stands at Lol3.

The following gentlemen -were elected cs tlie Committee for the ensuing venr:— Churchwardens, Messrs A. E. Tyrrell and H. Clarke; General Commit tee—Messrs Rnssoll, Dunklcy, H. Drake, Wright, Clark', jwn., 11. Tyrrell, Brocklebank, E. Tattersheld, Hislop, and Ingram. \ ■ Occasion was taken to present Miss Drake, him. organist, with a gold and jewelled bangle, uLso with a handbag, as a slight token of appreciation of her services At the close of the business refreshments were handed round, and several vocal items wero provided by members of the choir.