ARCHDEACON P. B. HAGGITT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 24 January 1934, Page 6

ARCHDEACON P. B. HAGGITT

FAREWELL GATHERING .PARISHIONERS’ GOQD WISHES The schoolroom of St. Mary’s Church, Merivale, was scarcely large enough to accommodate the many parishioners and other well-wishers wro gathered on Monday evening to say farewell to Archdeacon P. B. Haggitt and Mrs Haggitt, reports the Christchurch “Press.” After 18 years as vicar of the parish, Archdeacon Haggitt will leave this week to take up his new charge as Dean at Nelson. Keen appreciation of the Archdeacon’s services and good wishes for his success in his new sphere of church work were expressed by parish and diocesan officers, and he was presented by parishioners with a framed photograph of the church, a leather upholstered armchair, and an “envelope,” anc ' b y the choir with a walking stick. Mrs Haggitt and the Misses Haggitt were handed bouquets. Mr E. H. S. Hamilton, people s warden, who presided, said that farewells were generally sad gatherings; but on this occasion there, was reason to congratulate Archdeacon Haggitt on becoming Dean of Nelson and vicar of the Cathedral parish.

PRpGRESS IN PARISH It was on 19th December, 1915, that Archdeacon Haggitt conducted 'his first service in the parish, said Mr Hamilton. The intervening years had been full of progress spiritually and materially as was borne out by figures quoted by kr Hamilton. On Christmas Day, 1915, the number of communicants was 300 and on Easter Day, 1916, the number was 352. On Christmas Day, 1933, the number was 550 and on Easter Day, 1933, it was 583. For the year ended 31st March, 1916 the collections totalled £587 6s Bd, and for the last year the amount was £I2OB Os Id. The attendances at service had become more regular and more numerous, and the vicar had built up and maintained the spiritual strength of the parish. The vicarage and the beautiful church had been built during Archdeacon Haggitt’s stay in the parish. “I am not going to pretend that he has been the perfect vicar, but I am going to say that we in this parish have enjoyed the privilege of having one of the very best that we could wish for.’ (Applause). Mr Hamilton said thgt it had once been laid down that the ideal vicar must be a good preacher, a good visitor, and a young man full of energy, a good leader, a good organiser, a good worker among the youth of the church, and at all times tactful. “I leave you to say how our vicar lived up to these requirements.” He wished the Archdeacon and' Mrs Haggitt a long and happy life in their new home. SERVICE TO DIOCESE

Mr B. D. Andrews, chancellor of the diocese, referred to the many years’ association •of Archdeacon Haggitt with Synod, standing committee, and other diocesan bodies, from which he would greatly be missed. “His general happy nature and unruffled temper made him a pleasure to work with, and he was always ready to undertake a task, however arduous, that would benefit the diocese. He realised that the parish was a unit in the larger body and the necessity for all its individual parts to pull together,” said Mr Andrews, who, on behalf of the didfeese, extended best wishes to Archdeacon and Mrs Haggitt in their new sphere.

“Whatever has done during my 18 years in the parish has been due to the devotion ancl untiring efforts of my fellow-workers in the parish,” said Archdeacon Haggitt in reply. He said that he had been wonderfully fortunate in having the loyal support of such .fine wardens, vestrymen, and other officebearers, and the help of a great band of women in the Mothers’ Union and kindred organisations. “It is you solid, loyal, and untiring workers who are

driving me out of Merivale and into Nelson, for by your work yon have made the people of "Nelson want me. So I blame you for the fact that 1 have got to leave Merivale. (Laughter).

REASONS FOR LEAVING “It is not easy to break my association with Merivale and the diocese, and I do not like leaving the beautiful church which I have come to love,” lie continued. “There are nominally ICOO Church of England families in this parish, and it is difficult to keep in touch with them all. In addition, the fact of my being an archdeacon necessitates my attendance at a great number of meetings. Unless a man is abnormally strong it is impossible to do justice to the work under such circumstances, and I must admit that I have felt the strain at times.” Archdeacon Haggitt concluded by remarking that it had been a grief to him that there were so many in the parish who held aloof from the church. His greatest hope was that in the future many of these would join the ranks of those who were doing such splendid work in the parish.