NEW CHURCH PROJECT.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 27 April 1937, Page 4

NEW CHURCH PROJECT.

•CONSIDERED BY ANGLICAN. ' PARISHIONERS. MOVE SHOULD BE MADE. That the time was now ripe for an effort to be made to raise sufficient funds to permit of a new Anglican Church being erected in Levin was the conviction expressed by the Vicar, Rev. J. C. Davies, in the course of the annual meeting of the parishioners of the St. Mary’s Church on Monday evening. The matter had -been shelved for several; years now, said Mr Davies, and the stage had now been reached when concrete proposals, should be formulated. .The matter was raised by Mr. Davies in the course of his address to the parishioners. The need for better accommodation than at present was obvious, he said. Although the present stiucture was seen to ,be housing the ordinary congregations, it was to be hoped that the growth of the church would make the need even greater. At present, on the occasion of anything out of the ordinary, it had become a nightmare to provide accommodation for those who wished to attend the services, and during the last confirmation services numerous people had come to the door of the church, but had walked away when they realised that there was not sufficient room for them. There was at present some £2700 in hand in the New Church Building Fund, but it was thought that at least from £4OOO to £SOOO would be necessary to erect a building suitable to meet the needs of the town. The growth of the fund had now reached anything but a satisfactory stage, however. .Since the present trustees took over the fund over 11 years ago, there had been received from the St. Mary’s .Ladies 7 Guild the sum of £230, and from individual parishioners £556. Of this latter amount four parishioners had given no less than £489 between them, while 12 more had contributed £67. Thus 16 people had contributed £556, and of this amount £25 had been given in the past four years. At that rate sufficient funds to commence a new building might be hoped for in perhaps 15 to 20 years’ time. There was a ‘ general discussion amongst those present upon the subject, and it was generally agreed that some decision regarding the immediate future of the new church scheme was required urgently, and that an effort should be launched on a proper basis. On the motion of Mr, G. R. Kime, seconded by Mr. E. E. Hirst, it was decided to recommend to the Vestry that a committee be set up to investigate the cost of a building suited to the needs of the locality, and to furnish details to the people of the church.