CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY

Marlborough Express, Volume LIII, Issue 166, 10 June 1919, Page 3

CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY

ANNUAL REPORTS

The annual meeting of parishioners of the Church of the Nativity will take place to-morrow evening.

VICAR'S REPORT

The acting-vicar, the Yen. Archdeacon York, in the course of his report, mentions ' that he assumed the temporary charge of the parish on July 14th ~pf last year, and expresses his thanks for' the cordial welcome extended to Mrs York and himself and the many kindnesses which they have received. With the exception of the epidemic period, the regular services of the Church, both week-day and Sunday, have been maintained throughout the parish. * All the vicar's available time has been spent in visiting the sick and in getting in touch with parishioners in their homes. Archdeacon York eulogises the work done by Sister Catherine, the deaconess, amongst ' the sick and the aged, in tlie various societies connected with the Church, and in the Sundayschool.

The Sunday-school work in the parish, he goes on to say, is thoroughly and efficiently carried on, and the schoolrooms compare more than favorably with those of other parts of the diocese. He hopes during the winter to hold some teachers' meetings, and to arrange for a more systematic use of lessons. A Scripture and hymn competition amongst the children of the s four schools is to be held next month.

Regarding missions, * the vicar trusts that during the coming year renewed efforts will be made in behalf of Home and Foreign Missions. . "The tremendous energy devoted to war work may now,"' he remarks, "be diverted and turned into a' new channel, viz., the extension.of 'Christ's .Kingdom and the effort to promote a reign of peace, love, and happiness in the world." i

The committee appointed by the Bishop to select a site for a new college for girls, as a diocesan memorial to the late Yen. Archdeacon Grace, have selected twentyacres of land and a house known as ' 'Ferringham," within a mile and a half of the town. They now await the arrival" of the Bishop before deciding on the size and design of the building to be erected thereon. As a parish memorial to the late Archdeacon, the Vestry decided to convert the plain glass lights in the church, above the chancel, into stained glass windows. Archdeacon ? York suggests. that other plain. 'windows might be similarly converted to serve as f memorials to fallen soldiers and to relatives and friends of parishioners. '