ST. MARY’S CHURCH

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 213, 22 August 1931, Page 5

ST. MARY’S CHURCH

WORK OF THE PARISH. THE ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the parishioners of St. Mary’s Church, Waipukurau, was held on Thursday evening, the Rev. W. T. Drake presiding over an excellent attendance. The vicar's annual report, which read as follows, was adopted:— "After five years collecting our beautiful new church was completed and consecrated by the Bishop on September 17. It has been an inspiration to us all. Without the slump there would have been no debt left on it, but some have found it impossible to redeem their promises so far. We had to borrow £220 from the Waipukurau Trust to pay off the builder, and we still owe the architect £179, towards which there is £7O in hand. There is also a balance of £43 owing on tho front fence.

"We thank God for the wonderful spirit of our people in building the church and furnishing it so beautifully at a cost of nearly £5OOO.

"We also have something to show for the spiritual building of the past year. The number of communions made during the year was 2980, which is easily a record for the parish; it promises well when more people recognise this splendid privilege of partaking regularly in this highest means of grace provided by our Lord. We do need spiritual grace so much in this materialistic age. “Congregations have increased with the new church, but they are not nearly that they should be. I write this report in Christchurch, where 1 have been the last two Sunday mornings at church (the first time since I was taken ill, three months ago): it has been most refreshing to see a large church quite full at 11 a.m.; this is Fendalton, and the same thing happens, I hear, in the next parishes of Merivale and Lower Riccartou. The

worship of God comes first, even to the loss of a hot Sunday dinner. Don’t let us dare to put Him second in our lives.

"A good year’s work has been done in the parish. The Sunday School and Kindergarten have been carried on by the vicar, Mrs Rice, Mr Addis, the Misses Wharmby, Mills. G. Ebbett, B. Bryce, J. Monteith. M. Kemp, F. Malkin and M. Goodeve. The Bible Class has kept up well under the vicar.

“The mothers’ union had a very good year, and the women’s guild worked hard and made a wonderful success of the flower show and sale: it was easily a record—£l9o.

"The sanctuary guild and servers did regular and faithful work. “The choir developed splendidly with the new church, and was robed for the first time at the opening; the music is good, and we have fine bright services, of which many visitors express appreciation. It is a great help, having sueh an organist as Mrs Bryce. "I shall leave it to our splendid people’s warden to speak about the current finances of the parish; I have not yet seen a balance-sheet. There will be a debit balance for the first time for seven years; but it is quite to bo expected w-hen we remember all the money raised for the new church and furnishing, the financial depression, the drought and the earthquake.

"For these same reasons we have not reached our missionary quota for tho first time. lam sorry about this, but still we couldn’t expect it to be otherwise.

"I feel quite confident that the parish will face these difficult times bravely, and that it will see that God’s work in this part of His vineyard will suffer as little as possible." The election of officers resulted as follows:—Vicar’s warden. Mr W. G. Bryce; people’s warden. Mr J. H. Kibblewhite; vestry. Messrs E. H. Leigh. W. H. L. Williams, H. Duckworth', H. P. Hole. J. Wharmby, D. R. Mills, G. M. Grainey, W. G. Cook, A. W. Kibblewhite, and J. W. Elliott; synodsman, Mr J. H. Kibblewhite. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr G. Ellison for his excellent work as

vestryman and regret was expressed that he did not seek re-election. It was unanimously decided to write to the Rev. Canon E. D. Rice, expressing good wishes from the parishioners for a speedy recovery in health.