HOLY TRINITY CHURCH

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2140, 24 July 1907, Page 2

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH

MEETING OF PARISHIONERS. Tlioro was a fair attendance at the annual meeting of parishioners of Holy Trinity Church, held in tho schoolroom last evening. The Vicar, Rov. Dawson Thomas, presided. The officers in submitting the annual report and.balance,sheet expressed confidence that the statement would he commended as satisfactory in every degree. They as a body disclaimed any credit for the result, which was mainly due to the untiring energy of the Vicar and Curate, assisted by the gradually increasing number of church people who had made their homes in this favoured district. Pew rents collected amounted to £253 4s 4d, an increase of £35 over the previous year, and pew rents unpaid totalled £136 7s Bd, easy of collection. General offertories, including subscriptions, totalled £422 16s, an increase of £32 5s lOd for the year. The officers had seen no reason during the past year “to resort to any questionable means of augmenting the parish finance..” Satisfaction was expressed at the efficient services of Mr. Sidebottom, organist, and choir. Tho aid to missions as in the past years had been very liberally responded to by the parishioners. The appointment of the Rev. H. N. "Wright in the capacity of curate had proved a step iu the right direction. It had not so much been warranted by the increased number of Church people in the parish as by the inaguration of services at Mangapapa and Kaiti, at both of which places the Vicar and Mr.

Wright, with other helpers, had beei enabled to attract fair congregations.

The Vicar’s - pastoral letter was couched in helpful and inspiring terms. He mentioned the progress made in the various departments of work, and expressed gratitude to the many helpers. He refrained from dealing in financial matters but said ho must congratulate the parish upon having wardens and vestrymen who never spared thpmselves in watching the Church’s material interests. A report was presented on Mangapapa. work. It was proposed, when available, to erect a Church hall, which would be suitable for services and social 'meetings. With reference to Kaiti it was reported that the services in the school had been fairly well attended, which pointed 19 the want of a proper building on Kaiti tor Church services. Mr. G. H. Lysnnr, snporintendant, reported on tho Holv Trillty School work. The number of children now on tho roll was, bovs 115, "iris 124, total 239, as against 195 last year. The average attendance had increased from 114 to 138 durmg the year; the snperintendant laying stress on tho need for hotter attendance on the part of children. , !e J} c . v \ Wright, snperintendant of the Kaiti Sunday School, considered good progress was being made. The suburb, ho said, was a growing one and families - were arriving weekly, so there was no fear of a decrease. Members expressed gratification at the healthy state of tilings inclosed.

• ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Tlio election of officers resulted:— Incumbent’s churchwarden, Captain C. W. Ferris; people’s churchwarden Lt. Col. G. J. Winter; Vestry:Messrs. J. E. Foster, C. A. Do Lautour, T. Alston Coleman, Dr. Williams, W. E. A'kroyd, .7. C. Kissling, Cl. Shieclaw, E. H. Mann, J. Cook and V. Darker; auditor, Mr E. 0. Matthews. ■ *: \

NEW. CHURCH’* BUI LDING. . A good deal of discussion ensued in reference to the new Church building. The vestry had called tenders for the first portion of the building, due oii August 12th, to guide the incoming vestry. The present proposal is to remove the eastern portion of the Church, comprising the chancel and transepts, to form an addition to the Sunday School; to nso the school for Church' purposes in the meantime, and proceed with portion of the new Church at a cost of about £2000.’ The whole ’nians provide for a £SOOO building in brick, and the idea is to erect portion at once, as an addition to the old structure, and complete the design in years to come. The Churchwardens reported £403 11s 6d cash in hand for the purpose, and £6OO in promises extending over a few years. Messrs Jas Blake, Symes, Long and oiie or two other speakers urged caution in the matter’, as it was a big undertaking to start upon with so little cash in hand. Messrs Winter and Coleman had a good following in advocating progress. Eventually the meeting affirmed a previous resolution not to proceed until at least £BOO cash was ip hand! It was pointed out. that if supporters hastened their subscriptions the fund could readily be supplemented to the amount required to make a start. In the proceedings the Vicar said lie { was at a disadvantage in answering questions, owing to the absence of J Air. De Lautour who had the finances at /}>= fingers’ ends. . VotoS 1 ■of'thanks to tlj« outgoing j officers concluded the' ffieeting,