Annual Meeting Of Christ Church Parish

Northern Advocate, 24 April 1944, Page 5

Annual Meeting Of Christ Church Parish

A proposed budget of expenditure for the forthcoming financial year of £1547 was adopted at the annual meeting of parishioners of Christ Church, Whangarei, last night. The vicar (Rev. A. E. Prebble), presided over a large attendance. In his report he said that during the past year services had been held regularly in 10 different churches and halls in the parish, the average number of services per month of four Sundays being 31. There had been 298 celebrations of Holv Communion during the year and 8970 receptions of Holy Communion. The church .wardens’ report was presented by Mr. P. V. Hargreaves. It stated that much progress had been made. The new envelope sytem had been a great success, but it was hoped that many more parishioners would contribute to the church funds by this means. The statement of receipts and expenditure for the past year showed that offerings and donations throughout the parish totalled £124.9/12/11. which was £4OO more than for the previous year. Among the principal items of expenditure were £6lO/0/8 for stipends for the vicar and assistant curate; £177/15/6 for missions, social services, etc., and £6l/2/7 for the devastated missions appeal. The bank balance was shown at £226/6. Church Officers

The following officers were elected Vicar's warden, Mr. P. V. Hargreaves; people's warden. Mr. S. Oldcorn: vestry Messrs. S. Leatherby, J. Tudehope, S Steedman, G. Woollev. M. W. Porter, E Clarke. C. J. Dent, J. Haigh, H. E. G Smith, A. M. Woods; secretary, Mr. A. M. Woods; auditor, Mr. F. L. Gunn.

The vicar paid a tribute to the services rendered by Mr. A. M. Woods as honorary secretary of the vestry and also as honorary organist, and also to Mrs. G. Woollev, assistant organist.

A vote of thanks was also accorded Mr. T. Maeken, retiring vicar's warden, for his services to the church in many directions, and to Mrs. F. Waiters, parish treasurer.

On the motion of, Mr. H. E. G. Smith, the vestry was recommended to go into the question of increasing the salaries of the clergy. “The salaries paid do not reflect a great deal of credit on this parish,’’ Mr. Srniyi said. It was reported that repairs to the organ totally about £2OO would have to be carried out. The instrument was well worth having this amount spent on it, the organist (Mr. Woods) said. The repairs were necessitated purely by old age and use. On the motion of the vicar it was decided to ask 20 parishioners for £lO each on loans, to be repaid by ballot, so that the work can be carried out as soon as possible.

The fund collected to provide a memorial to the late vicar (Archdeacon H. T. Steele), was reported to stand at £135. The question of a suitable memorial was considered and it was decided that the amount be used to provide a new altar and sanctuary furnishings for a new church, and that the matter be held over until plans were drawn up. The vicar commented that there was always a difficulty in erecting a suitable memorial in an old church and held the view that the funds should be held for the provision of a memorial in a new church.