ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, ROSLYN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20703, 29 April 1929, Page 2

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, ROSLYN.

ANNUAL REPORT.The annual report to be presented by the vestry at the annual meeting of parishioners to-morrow evening states: The work of restoration which was in hand at the end of last year was completed early in June, and we are now carrying on our services in a fully restored church. The work reviewed in last report was faithfully carried out, and in addition the vestry has been entirely renovated. The panelling teredos, improved lighting, new carpet,, and kneelers have greatly enhanced the beauty of the church, and the installation of an electric heater has added to the comfort of winter services. The organ was completed in time for the opening, and has turned out to be a very satisfactory instrument. The electric blower is proving most satisfactory, and is installed in a special house outside the church. This was built by a very enthusiastic working bee. The restoration of the church was complete except in regard to the windows, of which the large west window was in need of extensive repairs, and all were very old and somewhat crude in colouring. , Through the vicar, Mrs Dr Martin- offered to erect a stained glass window in memory of the late Dr Martin, who passed away after a long life of service. The vicar secured as ■ a generous gift to the parish from, the Cathedral Chapter the cathedral glass leadlights recently replaced in the cathedral by the soldiers’ memorial window. This has enabled the vestry to renew all the windows apart from the east window. The parish will have to bear no cost, direct or indirect, in connection with the east window, for which designs are being obtained locally and from England. The accounts presented give full details of the various funds handled by the parish treasurer during the year. When the appeal was made for the organ and church restoration it was promised that any surplus subscribed would be applied to reduction of indebtedness. This has been carried out faithfully. The indebtedness, in addition to the £I6OO on mortgage, was shown last year in the general summary of accounts as £l3B 9s Id. There was a further liability of £8 0»8d, so the actual,amount was £146 15s 9d. The restoration fund, after allowing for a few payments yet to be made, had a sufficient surplus to retain £SO for mortgage reduction in accordance with the vestry’s decision mentioned later in .connection with the bazaar, and to supply £lO5 10s 7d to the general current account and so reduce the current debt to £4l 5s 2d. The ordinary revenue of the general account was sufficient to pay off the £4l 5s 2d and to retain a credit balance of £2 16s Id. Thus the, financial position of the parish has been improved to the extent of £199 Us 10d." The duplex envelope system has worked very effectively during the year, and the vestry hopes that parishioners jvvho have not yet joined this scheme will give the matter further attention. Standing charges have a tendency to increase rather than decrease. We have had to increase our insurances and expenditure in the church grounds. One of the first duties of the new vestry will be to go into the question of the reduction of debt, which has had to stand over during the last two years owing to the special work caused by the fire and restoration. The Starr-Bowkett fund is still being carried on by- a faithful few, and the attention of parishioners is drawn to this fund, which is in the hands of the parish warden (Mr J. Simpson). The strengthening of this fund will enable us to draw nearer the time when we shall see the whole of the church property free of debt. The balance now in hand to the credit of this fund is £4Ol 11s lOd. The annual bazaar was held in October, and the amount realised (£l4O Is a ver y great help towards the success of the year’s working. The vestry decided to reserve £SO of the proceeds for the reduction of the mortgage. It is the vestry’s hope that the time is not far distant when it will be possible to, meet .all current expenditure from the revenue derived from the envelope system, church collections, and subscriptions, so that revenue from bazaars and other special functions may be applied entirely to the reduction of debt or for some definite special object.