ANNUAL PARISH MEETINGS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 8149, 21 April 1887, Page 6

ANNUAL PARISH MEETINGS.

ST ALBANS. The annual meeting of the parishioners took place in the schoolroom yesterday evening. The Eev W. B. Gillaui, incumbent, presided. There was a good attendance. , The incumbent gave a resume or work done during the preceding twelve months. The church services had been well attended, and experience had shown that the church had not been enlarged any too soon. There had been 73 celebrations ot the Holy Communion. The communicants on Easter Day numbered 125, and the average attendance at the Communion services had been higher than during any previous year. There had been 50 baptisms, 4 marriages, and 12 persons confirmed. The Sunday school was ably superintended by Mr Gordon, who was assisted by a staff ot 15 teachers. There were 2G5 scholars on tne roll. The church day school was meeting with encouraging success under the management of Miss Taylor. There were 74 children attending the school. Mr Butteriield had been reengaged as assistant teacher. The incumbent also referred to the good work done by the Guild, the district visitors, and the Temperance Society. He hoped soon to see a stained glass window placed at the east end of the church, and a tower and belfry erected on the site of the present vestry. The work of decorating the interior of the church was to be proceeded with immediately. The churchwardens submitted the following report:—" We have much pleasure in submitting to the parishioners the statement of accounts for the past year. They have been duly audited by Mr Forster, whom we take this opportunity of thanking for his services. We think the parishioners will consider the statement a very satisfactory one. In both offertories and subscriptions there has been a considerable increase. The receipts show a balance over expenditure of -£l3 153 lid. The debt owing on the church enlargement has been entirely liquidated. The loan on parsonage is being reduced by monthly payments to the Canterbury Building Society. Parishioners will remember that a gift auction was held in December last for a threefold purpose. First, payment of interest and sinking fund on parsonage loan; second, payment of balance of fencing and coat ot lamp over porch; third, decoration of interior of church. The balance available for this latter purpose not being sufficient, the vestry deemed it advisable to postpone the work until after Easter, and to recommend the incoming vestry to make a special effort to augment the funds and proceed with the decoration at once. The constitution of the parish in lieu of the old paiochial district (although adding considerably to the expenses, which it will be seen upon perusal ot the statement have all been met) we think a great step in advance, as now parishioners have the privilege of electing their own church officers and nominating their own clergyman." The balance - sheet showed receipts amounting to .£403 2s 4d, and expenditure .£389 Gs sd, leaving a balance in hand of £l3 15s lid. There were no outstanding liabilities. The Chairman explained that about £122 had been raised for the day ana Sunday schools, the Organ Fund, and Temperance Society, which did not appbar on the balance-sheet, so that the total receipts amounted to J 6525. It was decided that in future an account of all m.,heys raised in the parish should appear on the annual balance-sheet. The churchwardens' report and balancesheet were considered very satisfactory, and were adopted. It was mentioned that the small loan on the parsonage building account was being paid by investment snares in the Canterbury Building Society. The Chairman re-appointed Mr J. W. Neate as clergyman's churchwarden. Mr A. B. Chappell was elected parishioners' churchwarden. The following gentlemen were elected as vestrymen:—Messrs Bevan-Brown, E. Strange, T. Gordon, Birt, Mann, Curtis, T. Allen, A'Court, Speight, and Richardson. Votes of thanks were passed to the retiring churchwardens and vestrymen, organist, choir, day and Sunday school teachers, the ladies' sewing bee, and the auditor, Mr Forster. This concluded the business. ST PAUL'S CHURCH, WEST MELTON. The annual meeting of parishioners was held on Monday evening. The Rev W. Dunkley presided. There was but a poor attendance. The financial statement was read by Mr John Hill, the treasurer, and showed that at the beginning of the year there was .£5 in hand, and the receipts from all sources amounted to J 620 11s2d. The expenditure was JEI9 15s 9d, which left a balance of 15s 5d in hand. The rev Chairman drew special attention to a letter received from the Bishop, and hoped that the church officers would carefully read it. He also trusted that those who had worked so hard since the church had been built would not lose heart at the low state of the funds, but would battle manfully onward as Christian soldiers, and bear in mind that God is always with his own people. After the struggle that was called forth in erecting and clearing off the debt on the church, there were some perhaps now resting on their oars that would again come to the front to support the cause, and he would recommend special efforts being made for that purpose. The Chairman nominated Mr J. Hill as minister's churchwarden, Mr G. Watson being chosen as parishioners' churchwarden. The following gentlemen were nominated to serve on the vestry : Messrs Neave, Brock, Bouiko, Coggan. Burnett, and Richards. After votes of thanks had been accorded to the church officers and to Mr and Mrs Neave for their timely gift, the meeting closed. ST JAMES' CHURCH. SOUTHBRIDGE. The annual parish meeting of this churoh was held on Monday evening lust, in the schoolroom. The Rev E. Whitehouse, curate in charge, presided, the Kev S. Hamilton, assistant curate at Lceston, being also present. There was a good attendance of parishioners. At the request of the Chairman, Mr H. M. Lee, Treasurer, gave a resume of the previous year's accounts, which showed that the year had commenced with a debit balance of .£53 lis against the general church fund. Since then, strenuous efforts had been made to clear off the overdraft. A bazaar, held in Southbridge, had produced .£34 profit, and the f'He at Leeston ,£24, and these amounts, with other returns, now left a credit balance in the bank of .£ll 18s 3d, out of which, however, a few small payments bad still to be made. The stipend account was also in debt at the beginning of the year. For this account, .£lO4 had already been collected, and when the amounts promised had been received, this account would be fairly even. In reply to a question, Mr Lee said that the ordinary revenue received about equalled the ordinary expenditure. The accounts were adopted, subject to audit. The Chairman congratulated all those members who bad worked so well in the district as to be able to start this year on the right side. This was all the more creditable considering the amount of church property throughout the district, which increased their responsibility. Not only was great credit due to the church officers, but also to the church members, who had shown their great sympathy by coming forward in the generous manner they had done. He would like to express ois strong

desire to see the officers who had worked so well re-elected. Toe Cnaimian then nominated Mr H. M. Lea as minister’s churchwarden, and Mr C. J- Willis was re-tlected parishioners’ churchwarden. i'll o toiivwiug were elected as vestrymen: —Messrs A. C. Williams, W. luwood, W. E. Maddison, C. Patterson, T. L. Gates, W.S. Hill, J. Woodbury, and W. Warring. The Chairman moved a hearty vote of thanks to the churchwardens and members of the vestry for their efforts daring the past year. Mr J. R. Campbell warmly supported the vote. He had been churchwarden and treasurer for many years, and knew something of the difficulties those offices entailed. He considered the greatest credit was due to the officers of the past year for the present satisfactory condition of the accounts. The vote was carried by acclamation and duly acknowledged. A conversation f hen took place re the advisability of altering some of the afternoon to evening services throughout the year. As this subject would be considered at a general meeting of vestries, to be held at Leeston on April 28, the Chairman was anxious to have the opinion of this portion of the district on the question. After due consideration, the general opinion of the meeting seemed to be that the proposed change would be desirable as benefiting the greatest number. The Benediction closed the proceedings. ST JOHN’S, HOROEATA. The annual meeting of the parishioners of the above church was held on Tuesday evening, the Eev W. S. Bean in the chair. The meeting was opened with prayer. The Chairman reviewed the work of the past year, and congratulated the parishioners on the fact that the church was free from debt. The average attendance had been better, and the number of communicants had been larger than last year. He thanked them for their co-operation, kindness, and hospitality in the past, and trusted they would continue to work with him for the good of the whole paiish. Owing to illhealth he was about to take a three mouths’ holiday. The Chairman nominated Sir John Hall as Bishop’s, and Mr E. Maffey was elected parishioners’ churchwarden. The following were elected vestrymen:— Messrs J. E. Fountains, J. Thwaites, W. Oliver, G. E. Baker, D. T. Osbourn, G. Griffiths, and J. Prestidge. The treasurer (Mr S. E. Fount nine) reported that the stipend had been paid to date, and on the motion of Mr Maffoy, seconded by Mr Prestidge, a hearty vote of thanks was a.corded him for his services.

Mr Fountaine was re-elected treasurer. Mr Oliver proposed, and Mr Prestidge seconded —“ That the guarantee be filled in for £7O, with the understanding that it be raised to £BO, possible. The curate wa» requested to send a letter of condolence to the relatives of the late Mr John Cordy, with an expression of the parishioners’ high appreciation of the services rendered by him to the church from its foundation. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Sir John Hall and family for their handsome present of an alms dish, bookstand, and vases for the altar. The curate proposed, and it was unanimously carried —“ That a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to the choir, Sunday school teachers, to these who had decorated the church for the different festivals, and to the late churchwardens and vestry.” A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the meeting. SAINT MARK’S, RAKAIA. The annual Easter meeting of the parishioners of this church was held on April 14 at the Library ; present—The Eev H. Collins (Chairman), Messrs Broadbent, Cox, Hardy, Stringfellow, Pike, Oxley, Hughes, Bryant, Qorringe, and Gray. The statement of accounts of Easter, 1885 (the late Easter meeting), was submitted to those present. The liabilities of the church were shown to have been materially lessened during the past two years, the present pressing debts amounting to about £7O. The following were nominated for the Bishop’s appointments as church officers for St Mark’s church for the ensuing year:— Messrs Broadbent and Cox, wardens; Messrs W. Wilkinson, Stringfellow, Osborn, Bryant, and Gorringe, vestrymen. A vote of thanks was unanimously accorded to Miss Cox for her efficient services as organist. ST BARNABAS, METHVEN. A meeting of the parishioners of this district was held on April IG, at the church ; present —the curate in the chair, Messrs Chapman, Alington, Reynolds, Morgan, Batty, and Rowse. Mr Chapman submitted the statement of accounts, which was considered satisfactory, the expenditure being only about £3 in excess of revenue for the year. The original debt of £2OO will be liquidated at the present rate of jayment in about three years. The accounts having been passed, the following were nominated as chut ch cfficers, viz.:— Messrs Chapman and Reynolds, churchwardens ; and Messrs George Alington, Batty, Morgan, Jonathan Hibbs, and Uiyett, vestrymen. Votes of thanks were passed to Messrs Chapman and Alington, lay readers, to Mrs Lyons for cleaning the church, to the organist and bellringer.