HAMILTON ANGLICANS

Taranaki Daily News, 8 October 1928, Page 13

HAMILTON ANGLICANS

ALTERATION OF THE SERVICES. CLAUDELANDS STILL UNSETTLED. The Cathedral Chapter elected at the special general meeting of St. Peter’s parishoners on September 19 has been working conscientiously since the date of election to smooth out the differences that have existed and to place church affairs on a sound footing. It has been decided, with the concurrence of Bishop Cherrington, to alter the Sunday 11 o’clock services at the Cathedral again. Under the new arrangement the service will commence with Mat tins each Sunday morning until after the reading of the third collect. A hymn will then be sung and will be followed by the sermon. During the offertory hymn following the sermon those who desire to leave will have an opportunity of doing so. The Choral Communion service will then be held for those who desire to stay. It is hoped by the chapter that this arrangement will meet with general approval. The resignation of the Rev. H. G. Sell as minor canon and his acceptance of a cure in another diocese will relieve the financial position, which has been accentuated by reason of the fact that £l5O, revenue derivable from a business block owned by the church in Hamilton, is not available this year, as it was last year. The chapter has appointed a committee for the purpose of organising the finances. It is proposed to divide

the pariji into 20 blocks, and to thoroughly canvass parishioners for subscription#. An effort has been made in the Clawlelands area to launch the duplex envelope system. The response, however, has not been encouraging. Of 244 circulars and application forms that were sent out over a month ago, only two applications for envelopes have been returned. The financial position was discussed at length last evening, and the reasons for the lack of response to the committee’s efforts were considered. The opinion was expressed that the people were not satisfied with the position of affairs at the Cathedral, and that they were withholding their .übscriptions until circumstances had improved. The committee decided to inform the chapter that it would help it in connection with its scheme to canvass the parish, but expressed reluctance to press the envelope system at present. The proposal to form a separate parish at Claudelands was again discussed, but. no action was taken. It was felt that it was the committee’s duty to stand by the Cathedral Chapter until satisfactory conditions at the Cathedral were assured. Uncertainty whether Claudelands would have the continued administration of a clergyman as.has been the case during the last year influenced the committee in its decision to defer action. Intimation was received that there was a prospect of an amicable settlement of the differences existing between the Rev. J. Rich, the Claudelands curate, and the bishop, who had extended Mr. Rich’s period of service until October 23.