APPEAL FOR FUNDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22822, 1 September 1937, Page 14

APPEAL FOR FUNDS

ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH REPAIRS AND NEW 'ORGAN An appeal fund aiming at the collection of £SOOO for St. Matthew's Church was launched at a wellattended meeting of parishioners held in the church hall last night. The objects of the appeal were explained by tho vicar, the Key. G. V. Gerard, who at the close of the meeting acknowledged donations received and promised totalling £405. The fund will remain ..open until November 30. Mr. Gerard said the money 1 was urgently required for a variety of purposes. It was hoped to secure £I3OO for a new organ, which would incorporate parts of the existing instrument. A total of £SOO was necessary for urgent repairs and renovations to the church, hall and grounds, while another £4OO was required for the repayment of loan money and for meeting an accumulated deficit. Itwas- hoped to be able to set aside £2500 as the nucleus of an endowment fund toward maintenance and staffing. "A great many New Zealanders have at one time or another lived temporarily in the parish of St. Matthew's," said Mr. Gerard, in explaining that the appeal was being addressed to peoplo throughout the Dominion who had had any connection with the church either through attendance at services or by baptism or marriage there. Members of organisations which used the church for parades and religious gatherings of a civic and public nature, business firms in the parish, and lovers of art, music and architecture were also appealed to. From the financial standpoint the church had always suffered through tho fact that wealthy parishioners left the locality and went to live in tho suburbs, Mr. Gerard said. The district was a poor one, requiring extensive social work, but resident parishioners could provide little toward that service. At tho conclusion of the meeting final arrangements for the appeal were made. Among the contributions acknowledged were sums of £IOO each from Mr. Gerard and Mr. P. W. White.