CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume IV, Issue 1052, 29 March 1867, Page 5

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

Fnosi amongst the items of intelligence from the South we cull the following :— The anniversary services of the Congregational Church, Port Chalmers, commenced on Sunday, 17th March. Two sermons were preached by the Eev. J. L. Parsons, of Dunedin, to Inrge and attentive audiences. On the following evening the usual soiree was held. The ladies of the congregation furnished the tables most liberally. After ample justice had been done to the good things, the more serious portion of the proceedings commenced. The Chairman, l(ev. T. S. Forsaith, Pastor of the Church, gave out a hymn, and the Eev. B. Connebee, of Dunedin, engaged in prayer. After a few appropriate introductory remarks the Chairman called on the Treasurer to make his financial statement. We cannot spare room for the insertion of this satisfactory document in cxtenso, but give the principal features. receipts Froiii March 12, 1866, to March IS, 1807. £ s. a. Ordinary Church door offerings . . 157 5 6 Seat ronts . . . . . 24 0 0 Donations . . . . . . 58 3 8 Special donations from Auckland . . 92 17 6 Special donations from Cliristchurch . 8 9 6 1 Grant, from Colonial Missionary Society 40 0 0 Proceeds of bazaar .... 347 6 9 Proceeds of tea meeting . . 48 9 6 Collected for erection of porch . . 12 11 G Communion Fund commenced in Dec. . 4 3 3 Total £800 17 2 EXPENDITURE. £ B. d. Pastor's salary, to account . . . 105 0 0 Travelling expenses . . . . 610 0 Paid balance building account . • 201 3 2 Eefund private loan .... 200 0 0 Interoat . . . • * 61 S 0 Repairs and improvements . . . 36 9 6 Paid account stores, &c. . . 30 0 0 Inaurance, printing, &c. . . 24 7 6 Expenses of bazaar . . . 13 17 6 Erection of porch to the Church . . 21 11 6 Disbursements from Coramunioa Fund . 2 2 0 Total £702 9 2 Leaving a balance of . : . 8 3 0 Adding to which, balance from last year 09 o G Gives cash on hand . . . £77 11 6 The Treasurer concluded by saying: When I made my statement last year there was a balance of £746 3s lOd on the wrong side of the ledger. This year shows a reduction of £423 15s 4d. Our debt at present, so far as I can ascertain, is £350 ; borrowed monies and other small items, estimated at £40, making a total of £390. Prom this deduct £77 lis 6d, cash on hand, and we find a balance of £322 Ss 6d, as the nett debts of the Church.' So that during the year we have supported the cause, reduced our debt from £746 3s lOd to the comparatively small sum of £322 Ss (3d, improved the building by the addition of a porch, and have contributed special collections towards the Gaol Chaplain's Fund, Sunday School Funds, &c. The statement was received with applause. The Secretary then gave his report of the spiritual operations of the Church, dwelling specially on the progress of the Sunday School. Interesting addresses followed from Kev. Messrs. Connebee, Scrymgeour, and Parsons, and Messrs. Morris, Gilbert, andToleher; the choir at intervals singing anthems and select pieces of music, and the proceedings were closed with prayer.