ST. PETER'S CHURCH

Evening Star, Issue 14529, 31 March 1911, Page 8

ST. PETER'S CHURCH

INSTITUTING A VIC All. A special service was hold in St. Peters Church, Cavershani, last evoning for the purpose of allowing the Rov. Edward Dering Evans to bo instituted as tho vicar of tho church. The church was Crowded to the doors. Tho clergymen present wore the Very Rev. Dean Fitchett, Von. Archdeacon Gould, Rev. Canon Woodthorpe, Rev. 11. L. Miow, Rev. V. G. B. King, and the Rev. C. J. Bush-King. Tho proceedings opened in the customary manner—the singing ot a hymn. The Rev. V. G. B. King road the pravers, the Rev. IF. L. Snow road the first lesson, and the \ en. Archdeacon Gould the second lesson. Tho authoritv for Dean Fitchett to net as Bishop's Commissary having been read by the diocesan registrar (Mr C. H. Statham), Tho Dean addressed the congregation. He said that from that evening tho Rov. Canon King ceased to be vicar of St. Peter's Church. Canon king had held office for nineteen years. His ministering words had gone out to tho people. He had shared their joys and sorrows. Outside the family group there wero no relations so intimate as those of a clergyman to his flock, and that relation could not bo dissolved without a touch of emotion on both sides. When Canon King had first begun his work there the parish had been burdened with debt, but during his incumbency £2,000 had been paid off. The increments of the clergymen had always been inadequate, and there were no endowments. Tho burdens of the church had beeu increasing ever since Canon King came there, and the population had-trebled. He had boon assisted in his labors by many faithful people, and by his son, the Rev. Vincent King, and they (the congregation) must invoke upon Canon King and his family tho blessing of tho Gospels. To his successor their prayers were certainly due, for it was no easy task upon which ho had entered. At Home the new vicar or rector found everything complete to his hand. There were probably endowments.. Here they had no endowments -, they wero yet young. They had been obliged to contract debts on their huildings--in that there was nothing dishonorable, but they had to be carried. There was a groat deal of organising to be done in the parish ; there was a vicarage to hjiild aud there were largo populations at St. Kilda, St. Clair, and on the other side of Cavershani which had to be looked after. AVlicn one man had done his work amongst these, there was room for another, and yet even another. These were the naked facts of the situatiou. It was well that they should be known—not I hat they should be discouraged, but that they might understand the need there was to work together and strengthen the minister's hands. The minister coming into their parish had experience in mission work. The speaker concluded by counselling 'tho> congregation to let their thoughts over dwell kindly on Canon King and his family. Tho address concluded, the Vicarelect made his declaration and submission to tho canons of the Church of the province of New Zealand. The Dean then instituted him into his office as vicar, and delivered to him his liconso and tho key of the church.

Special prayers were uttered, and the service concluded with the singing of the anthem 'Who are these:"'