ST. PETER’S CHURCH.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13549, 29 April 1937, Page 5

ST. PETER’S CHURCH.

PARISHONERS MEET.

IMPROVED FIN AN Cl AD POSITION.

Parishioners oi St. Peter’s Church assembled in the Church hall in force last night for the annual general general meeting; presided over by tiia Vicar, Rev. H. Wilson, lI.A Apologies were received from Messrs V. J . Scott, D. D. Lovelock and Mesdames Boyens and Hamilton.

, The meeting, began with the Bene--4 diction followed by the Lord's prayer alter which the Vicar gave a prayer for the welfare of the Parish and the clergy.

The Vicar first ol all expressed pleasure at the presence of the parishioners, although he would have dshed to have seen twice as many resent, He then gave n. brief re- • ime of the activities of the year, rures in parentheses being those for st year. Number of baptisms 45 l) ; deaths 14 (23) • marriages 14 Li ; communicants on Easter Day 1(150) ; Christmas Day 142 (149) ; E church households in the parE 196 (173); country households ■ 1.54), a total Q f 370 (327). An I nnding event on July 26 was consecration of irlie Bishop of Wellington as was his visit to the Parish on February 27th and 2Sth. The Parish festival w as celebrated on June 25 and was a very happy time, the vicar appealing for more communicants on future occasions. Ifthen referred to the vestry which had had a very strenuous year oi earnest effort, particularly in connection with the parish finances. At the vestry’s first meeting it had tried to bring them up tc their proper position of solvency. The vestry had been greatly helped by the country districts and Mr Tattle also put out a persons! 1 appeal which not onl\ enabled them to pay off the 4:115 debt but enabled then to repair the vicarage and transfer £lO to the general account (applause). The speaker eulogised tin- services o-f Mr G. W. Chatwin who since his retirement from the vestry had worked behind the scenes, being largely responsible for the success of the envelope system. The women’s guild had worked very well durng the year, having had two special functions, a bazaar and shop day from which they donated all their takings. Then there was the flower show and Mr Hamilton. its author, must have felt very happy over it as it. had been favoured with many fine blooms on this occasion. There were four .Sunday schools and the l work went on steadily as far as paralysis precautions permitted. He- 1 touched on the Bible Class work, mentioning the senior girls (of St. Peter’s Club) and the boys’ bible class which was as yet hardly established. The speaker ap- 1 pealed feu* the' assistance ol a layman to help with the boys’ bible class from the social side, his own responsibility being the preaching and C-vhing ol the spiritual sick*. Great tvii.Scnlt v had been experienced regarding a teacher for the junior girls’ bible- class and it would be necessary to find a permanent teacher. There' wore four lay preachers, Mes~.rs A. \V Hamilton G Godfrey Taylor. J W Walton and H. A. Biek who were always ready to help when called upon. The sanctuary guild had carried cut their work faithfully during the year as had the two choirs under the two leaders, Mr Hamilton and Miss Chatwin, Seven organists had been available in the* town and country during the year. The vicar mentioned that the girls club had added 13 new members at the annual meeting. Appreciation of the work of Mr Haines, the caretaker was then voiced by the vicar, who also paid a tribute to the efforts oi Mrs Kelsey in connection with the distribution of the ehurcu chronicle. The vicar stated further that every Wednesday from 9 to 10 lie worked in conjunction with the Presby teriaji and Methodist Churches and tlifc Salvation Army on religious instruction in the State schools. The parish provided some £52 for the church missions and the speaker hoped that this would be equalled this year. No confirmation had been held last year, but the Bishop would be coming in either August or Sep-

tember. The Harvest offerings had been very generous and Mr Wills had conveyed the offerings to the children's home in Palmerston North free of charge. (Applause.) As a result of advancement made in Mangaxnaire and Konini it had been decided to he.ld an extra service there once every month. The vicar thanked these who had supported tin parish paper and also those who had assisted in the distribution of same. Referring to the church sanctuary, the renewal of which he had advocated last year, the vicar said he was prepared to pay the cost of it himself although parishioners would have tlie~ right to help in the matter themselves if they so desired REPORTS. Rep- • ts on the various branches of dn church were then placed boforo the him ting. Dir G. [{nine- (superintendent) repci ;* d ;u behalf of the Sunday Schorl which showed a credit of £l6 15s 3d as against £ls the previous Moira Purdie (secretary) detailed the activities of St. Peter’s Girls’ (luh during the year, mentioning that the year closed with a credit ot 476 15s 9c’. as against £52 odd the prevents year, it being mentioned also that club members hop<*<l to have a balance of £IOO next year* in order to build their own club room. Airs Purdie gave a report on the work of the Ladies’ Guild which had a credit of some £lB after carrying out much good work in the church. Mr G. Godfrey Taylor referring to the church building fund announced that it bad now crown to £IOOB 6s Id, plus interest accrued recently. . T* 5? speaker said it had increased 'i'-’S lasi year of which the parish }>; * donated under £2! The speaker then appealed for an increased contribution from the parish, remarking that a donation of under £2 did not

say much for the parishioners' regard tor the future generation. I'he vicar stated that he had been allowed £75 per annum for the expenses in travelling; and detailed the incidentals regarding payments made adding that he proposed to pay some £1.5 back to the church for the purpose of adding fittings. The vicar was given a round of applause for tliis generous action. FINANCIAL SUMMARY.

The treasurer, Mr L. F. Truscott, read a comprehensive statement of the Parish finances, showing how the deficit at the beginning of the year had given place to a credit of £l2 Is 6d, exclusive of an amount to come from Konini. Envelope subscriptions had increased by £4 15s 7d, donations and subscriptions by £63 12s G'd and special receipts for parochial purposes by £197 19s lOd. The total receipts were £783 13s 9d as against £524 5s 8d for the previous year. Mr Truscott also stated that Konini had contributed £IOO 8s 3d to the church fund during the year.

This statement was received with enthusiasm and Mr G. Godfrey Taylor congratulated the vestry on their successful financial effort for the year, having converted a deficit into a credit balance. Mr W. L. Tattle thanked all those who had so nobly responded to his appeal, which had enabled the church to start off the year with a ciedit balance.

The report and balance-sheet were then adopted. The election of officers resulted as under: People’s warden, Mr A. W. Hamilton; vicars warden, held over • vestrymen, Messrs G. Haines, F. Kidder, J. M. Rule, W. L. Tattle, G. L. Chatwin, L. F. Truscott, W. M. Vowell. J. Milne Allen, G. Cornelius, J. W. Walton; auditor, Mr R. C. Austin.

In view of the golden jubilee of the holding of the Anglican Church services in Pahiatua occurring in 1938. the Vestry was recommended to pursue enquiries auent same and formulate arrangements for a suit, able celebration.

Mr Hamilton suggested that a Golden Jubilee Endowment Fund he started to establish a fund for. the benefit of the church in future Mr G. Godfrey Taylor added a word in a ppru vn i of the endowment fund, pointing out that such funds often started in a small way and extended in a remarkable manner, being an inducement for donations and legacies. The vicar remarked that such a scheme had been suggested by Synod. If it could be planted in the ground, as it were, it would grow as a tree and be a fine thing for the church. A vote of thanks was passed to all who had worked in the various activities of the church. At Air Tattle's request a motion was passed expressing thanks to Mr Hamilton for the great work done for the church in his various offices.

The vicar paid a tribute to Air V. J. Scott for his loyal and faithful service the previous year as vicar’s warden, also eulog.sing the efforts of Air A. W. Hamilton, who had worked so hard for the church as people’3 warden dur ng a t.me of stress.

Air Hamilton acknowledged the speakers remarks and gave a brief account of his stewardship.

The vicar stated that in future all church wardens would he instituted at a central part of the district, Alasterton being the place selected for this district. The Bishop’s idea in proposing this was to rise the church wardens and give them greater weight in the eyes of the people. The wardens’ report, which v.as also adopted, will be published in to-morrow's issue.