ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6893, 26 April 1929, Page 10

ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH

Parishioners’ Annual Meeting VICAR’S REPORT The vicar (Rev. Canon W. Fancourt) presided over the annual general meeting of the parishioners of All Saints' Anglican Church, which, was held on Wednesday evening, the attendance being in the vicinity of SO. ' The report of the churchwardens (Messrs. H. G. Bagnall and 0. .Monrad) was adopted. Mr. J. Holmes Bunuicles, in seconding the adoption of tho report and baiance-sheet, congratulated the churchwardens on their comprehensive presentation. Election of Officers. The election of church officers for the ensuing year resulted: —Vicar’s warden, Mr. 0. Morn-ad; peoples' warden, Mr. H. G. Bagnall; vestrymen, Messrs. J. Ax, L. Drake, L. M. Abraham, W. Fulton, L. J. Harwood, A. Skcrman, J. Carter, F. H. Owtram, N. Metcalfe, It. S. Robinson; hon. auditor, Mr. A. T. Bcndall; representatives on Diocesan Bynod, Messrs. F. H. Owtram and 0. Monrad; representatives on Council of Christian Congregations, Messrs. J. Ax, F. T. Vasey, N. Metcalfe, It. S. Robinson and Miss Baker. Itev. H. S. Kenny gave an oral report, upon the activities in tho boys’ division, while Bev. I J . Wiltshire spoke oi the country work, of which he is in charge. In doing so, tlie Bev. Wiltshire expressed his gratitude for the support given him by parishioners, church officers, and .Sunday school teachers. Bov. J. B. Ncild also reported spoa parish magazine matters and other parochial activities with which he had been connected. It was made a recommendation to tho incoming vestry that the golden offering, which is this year to replace tho parish fair, should be taken up on the first Sunday in July. , Vicar’s Report. The vicar then read his annual report which stated, inter alia:— “We aro straining after tho highest efficiency in our Sunday schools. The statistics for the last returns revealed 7S Sunday school teachers in tho parish and 950 scholars. Our main Sundayschool in Air Saints’ is one of the most efficient in New Zealand. Then we have our branch Sunday schools: West Bud, Takaro, and Ward street, where again wonderful forward work is being carried on, and we are endeavouring to catch the children and to keep them. 1 But this work is excedingly difficult in the country. Wo arc suffering then) from the lack of superintendents. A: tho present moment we have two of these Sunday schools without superintendents, and another is supplied from town. The Rev. P. Wiltshire, who is in charge of the country work, is combating nobly with the difficulty. Now wc conic to our second stage, the youth. We have in the churches to stop that terrible leakage, which takes place after tho age of 14 years, to hold the youth in that most difficult of all stages in his life, to create his sympathy and to help him. Church Activities. “Here we have our Bible classes and clubs. In both these respects wo have excellent results in All Saints’: wc arc holding our young people, wo are creating in them a love of God, a love for the church. The Young Men’s Bible classes assemble on Sunday mornings, and their total number is 120. The Young Men’s club provides them with a home and it has every facility for them to enjoy this healthy recreation.• Our Girls' Bible class cannot reach such numbers, for the majority of our girls are the teachers of our Sunday schools, but it is a strong, healthy: body. The girls’ club is doing some of the soundest work in the parish. Then our married women aro provided for in that world-wide institution, the Mothers’ Union, which is to bind them in fellowship with one another, to inspire and to help them in the ideals of tho family life, which is the basis of a nation’s greatness. For our men wc are seeking to establish a Alcn ’a Society, but this is proving to bo siithcult. . There is the need of a society to gather the male members of the parish into fellowship, where they meet one another in social life. “Still, these aro only societies within tho -society!’’ There is tho church, with its services. Wc keep an open church. The Bouse of God should be u house of prayer. The doors of All Saints’ arc open all day for all to have the opportunity of a hallowed building in which to spend a epuiet time with God. “I am most thankful to sec the increased observance of Holy Communion, our week-day services especially, and then more and more of our people aro using this service cn Snnday. It is remarkably encouraging to notice our early services. On one ordinary Sunday one noticed that in the whole parish 187 communicants made tLoir eommuiiion. We have endeavoured to supply this need to tho various country districts, and wo are refreshed with their appreciation of it. On Christmas Day there were 620; on Faster Day-, 618 in the whole parish.’’ Tho report then extends tho vicar’s sincere thanks to his clergy for their devoted service, and to Mr. H. G. Bagnall for his splendid work as treasurer of the church. “I want to thank those’workers who contributed to the success of the annual fair, and especially the faithful secretary, Mr. Martyn Abraham; tho treasurer, Mr. H. G. Bagnall, together with Mrs. Lionel Abraham. Our sewing guild is going on with its work. Tills year it is taking private orders for needlework of all kinds. , The Takaro Church people aro an example to us with their zeal and enthusiasm, and have a splendid financial balance-sheet. Tho district visitors —the eyes of the parish—have given the clergy invaluable help. The Boy Scouts aro now under tlie charge of the llev. J. B. Nciid, with Mr. Kcyworth as assistant scoutmaster. Our Missionary Union has kept alive the fire of missionary- enthusiasm

and enabled our missionary quota to be met. During the year wc have Jost, through death, many of our faithful parishioners, amongst them Mrs. Jessie Jones, who left a bequest of £SO to the church funds. Mr. J. 11. Hankins, at one time churchwarden aud lay reader, Airs. Johansen, Air. Brooks, Air. Bradliold, Mrs. Dalziel, Airs. 'Collins, Air. H. T. Waghorn, Airs. Podjursky, Air. Wka.Ucy. We have also to remember the late 'Bishop of the Diocese, Frederic AVailis, who endeared himself to so many during his episcopate, at one time taking temporary charge of this parish. During his tenure of the office of Bishop, the Dioceso received a most valuable impetus in its forward work. In conclusion, we owe a debt of gralitudo to our churchwardens and veetry, together with our large army of church workers, especially the lay readers and those who motor them to tho country, to Aliss Newman, for her jumble sales for a parish lantern, to Air. Leu Drake, for his faithful services as sub-organist, and tho organists of tho country centres, to Airs. Tucker, lor tier love and care of -the altar and linen, to Misses Collins, Bruce and G. Hands lot the care of the brasswork, to the ladies who have decorated the church and vases, and to all who have co-opmratcd in any way in the privilege which God has given to us, of being fellow-workers with Him.” The meeting closed with a very warm vote of thanks to the vicar and clergy of tho parish, which was proposed by Air. Bagnall and carried by acclamation. In moving this mark of appreciation, Air. Bagnall expressed admiration for the splendid work carried out by tho clergy in all branches of their activities. A, further vote of thanks was also accorded the choir and organist (Mr. J. Holmes Bunniclcs), appreciation also being ex-pressed for tho devoted work Of the Sunday school workers throughout the parish and those in charge of the Bible classes.