ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19320, 6 May 1926, Page 12

ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH.

MEETING OF PARISHIONERS. PROGRESS DURING THE YEAR. The annual meeting of parishioners of St. Matthew's Anglican Church was held on Tuesday evening. Canon Grant Cowen occupied the chair. A vote of sympathy was passed with the widow and relatives of tho late Mr. J. H. Jones, who for a number of years had been a prominent worker of the church.

The balance-sheet showed a very satisfactory position. The total amount received for general offertories amounted to £IO2O, nearly £2OO more than in the preceding year, while special offertories amounted to £343. Of this amount £BS was contributed in mission boxes for missionary work. Various sums had been subscribed for the Returned Soldiers' Relief Fund, tho Massey Memorial Fund and the Christmas Comfort Fund. The. total amount received for the year was £2747, and the year ended without one penny of debt, of any kind.

The abolition of sent rents in the church had more, than justified the hope of those who suggested it, and the larger congregations that had been attending the church proved it. was a move in the right direction, Tho bazaar held last year realised £373 and this enabled tho balance of the debt on the schoolroom to be repaid. The envelope system that had been inaugurated in the church in lieu of pew rents had greatly helped the finances. During the last five years over £3OOO had boon spent on the church and schoolroom in renovations and improvements. Both tho number attending the church and the communicants this year greatly exceeded the numbers last year. The need of a new organ was pressing, tho present one being over 70 years old, and £2OO had been contributed toward this fund, for which about £3500 was required.

The following officers were elected: — Vicar's warden, Mr. F. 0. Flicker; people's warden, Mr. A. C. Hallett,; members of the vestry, .Messrs. W. Clark, F. Fit-ton, B. F. Fountain, H. Goode, E. ifinton, 11. P. Josey, ('. Mountain, 11. 0. Searle, 11. W. White, T. A. Wood house; auditors. Messrs. T. Atkin and W. Tailbv; synod representative, Mr. H. O. Searle.