FEILDING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 120, 22 April 1931, Page 8

FEILDING

ST. JOHN’S CHURCH. The followinir is the report of the vicar (Rev. Canon Petre) to be presented at the Annual meeting of the parishioners of St. Anglican Church : 1 “During the year there have been distinct signs of spiritual progress in the (parish The attendance al the services field in the Mother Church has been better than in former years. Particularly pleasing has been the large increase in coinJnunions made during the year. The serJSdces at the country churches have also itbeen well attended. Good work still continues to be done in our Sunday schools, fthough I continue to regret the fact that She total number of children on our rolls fS B not as high as it ought to be. Despite 'the fact that some of the old members r’Jiave resigned, the choir still keeps up Swell, and the help it has given at our services has been most valuable. Unce ,-fegain the Ladies’ Auxiliary has been instrumental in raising a sum of over hZUU, Svhich has helped us largely to meet our quota and in retaining the _serSvice3 of our assistant curate. The Girls □Club still continues to flourish and its has been well maintained. We Sxe very grateful to those ladies who have fiacted as chaperones during the past year. IJWe have now two Bible classes meeting [Regularly in Feilding, one for girls and tone for ladies. Both have a good membership and the regularity of attendance ot Members shows that the classes are being Appreciated. As in former years, very Valuable work has been done by the Mite JBociety, which has proved a great benefit tthe vestry. We recommend the work oi s society and appeal for fresh 8 “ ' ibers. We should also be glad to hear one or two extra collectors. Soon after r last annual meeting the vestry apinted a sub-committee to organise a ies of social evenings in the parish hall number of these evenings were held and jved most successful. Not only did they ng our church people together, but "they were also the means of materially Assisting a number of our church organisations. It is intended to hold another series during the coming winter months feefore our next annual meeting we shall have reached the date marking the jubilee of St. John’s Church. When that date, Feb. 15, 1932, arrives, I trust that it will be suitably observed. It will be for the incoming vestry to determine what form •that observance is to take. I wish hero !to express my appreciation of the _ex•pellent work done in the parish dur.ng the past vear by our assistant curate. Ho lias prove'd a most willing worker and « tnost loyal colleague. To him undoubtedly is due to a large extent the improvement in the attendance at our services. He has •taken a very keen interest in the work of bur Sunday schools, and his classes for jeachers have been found most helpful, tie we have so many voluntary helpers in the parish, I am not going to attempt to thank them all by name, but I wish them toll to know that I personally—and I am liure the parishioners as well —appreciate most sincerely the help they have given. Following my usual custom I append these •parochial statistics: Baptisms, 33 (41); confirmations, 45 (45); marriages, 14. (11)» Burials, 20 (15); communions made in fat. Church, 3962 (3147).” CHURCHWARDEN’S REPORT.

"We began the year with a debit balance ©f £37 4s 3d, and it has now increased to i£lo3 18s 4d. Unfortunately, the Stanway assessment has not been fully paid, being f£33 in arrears. A cheque for £7 10s was Received from Halcombe, but was too late for inclusion. Tho general offertories snow &n increase, but there is a slight falling bfl in donations and subscriptions. The fcpecial offertories are also down slightly, about £3. The fancy dress ball was a ©lost successful function and realised a goodly sum. To augment the church fund jb, bazaar was organised by the Ladies '(Auxiliary and was a great success. The Receipts were apportioned between the assistant curate fund and the Board of Missions. In our last report we stated that if the services of the assistant curate were to be retained parishioners must contribute, and all who could do so should hand in their names to the vestry, together •with the amount they were willing to xcontribute. This appeal has met -with but little support, and the vestry has very r ®‘ luctantly corns to the conclusion that t-h© cervices of the assistant curate must_ be with, at least for the'time be:ng. (The fund for the Sunday school room at fe-orangi is steadily increasing and we tope that in the near future the room \vill be an accomplished fact. The matter % held up in the meantime until a suitable site is found. The vestry thanks all jfchose voluntary workers who had helped 5n the work during the past year, especially the Mite Society, which year after srear takes a burden of care from its Bhoulders, and also the social committee appointed at the beginning of the year, •which has done so much to promote the social welfare of the parish and also to provide necessary funds for var’ous purposes. We also thank the members of the vestry who have so faithfully carried out Ifcheir duties. To the clergy, too, we tender jour best thanks for their work.’* NOTES. An earthquake was experienced in Feilding at about 11.10 o’clock thi6 morning, the tremor being more of a pronounced sway than a shake.