LOSS TO ANGLICAN CHURCH

Taranaki Daily News, 13 November 1929, Page 13

LOSS TO ANGLICAN CHURCH

ARCHDEACON EVANS RETIRES WILL RETAIN TITLE EMERITUS. SUCCESSOR IS CANON G. H. GAVIN.

The Venerable F. G. Evans will resign the position of archdeacon of Taranaki on January 13, when he will have completed 18 years in that office. He will, however retain the title of Archdeacon Emeritus. His successor will be Canon G. H. Gavin, vicar of Waitara.

The announcement was made by the Bishop of Waikato yesterday at the annual meeting of the Taranaki Archdeaconry Board. The archdeacon, he said, had decided to resign only afterthe urgent warnings of his medical advisers and those in close relation to him.

“We want to preserve the archdeacon for many years for work in the church he has served so well,” continued the bishop. "Very many people in this district owe a great deal to him for help about which nothing was known publicly. His desire is that he should be spared as long as possible for work in his church, and we want him to retain the title of archdeacon, with the word ‘emeritus’ added. (Applause.) We hope he will be . well enough to help us when he feels he is able. Though he will be discharged of any responsibility he will be able stjll to serve his church, and we hope he will be restored to health in a few months. He has asked that his resignation should date from January 12, when he will have completed 18 years of loyal, splendid and unselfish service. With characteristic modesty he has asked me to make this announcement during his absence from the hall.” The bishop added amidst prolonged applause that he had asked Canon Gavin to succeed to the appointment, this decision having received the cordial approval of clergy and laity.

DEEP CHRISTIAN CHARACTER. As the archdeacon’s oldest co-worker, Mr. W. H. Skinner expressed very great regret that the necessity had arisen for his old friend to resign., The bishop had expressed what they all felt, he said. The loss would be a very great blow to all with whom he had to deal. They appreciated the lovable nature of the archdeacon and his deep Christian character. Mr. Skinner congratulated the bishop, on his selection for the vacancy.

On behalf of the clergy of the archdeaconry Canon E.. H. Strong voiced sorrow at the archdeacon’s resignation. It was very difficult to think of him apart from Taranaki, he said. He, too, congratulated Canon Gavin oil hie selection. The splendid work accomplished by the archdeacon was the subject of eulogy from Air. T. C. Fookes. “He has never spared himself in any way in connection with his work,” he said, “and I am sure that if he had considered his own comfort, he would have resigned long ago. He has sacrificed himself in many ways that few know of, and his breakdown in health recently was no doubt due to this.” Having been associated with him over a long period in the Stratford parish, Air. Fookes said he knew of the wonderful regard in which the archdeacon was held, by the laity. Airs. Evans had always been a great help to him and her work, too, had been appreciated. Mr. W. N. Ackland (Waitara) congratulated the bishop on his choice of Canon Gavin, with whom he had been associated for eight or nine years.

The Maoris’ view of the resignation was expressed by the Rev. K. Hadfield. The mission, 'he said, had benefited a very great deal from the sympathetic help of the Archdeacon and Mrs. Evans. The Maoris had learned to look upon them as their mother and father, and the loss was going to be a big blow to them. Airs. Evans had helped greatly in the struggling work of the mission. On the other hand the Maoris would be glad to know that Canon Gavin was to fill the position.

CANON GAVIN’S POSITION. Other tributes were paid by the Rev. G. T. Beale (Stratford) and Messrs. G. Gibson (Okato), H. C. Gentles (Fitzroy), and the Rev. W. A. Scott (Uruti). Canon Gavin said he appreciated the honour that had been done him, especially as he was not the oldest clergyman in the archdeaconry. He, too, would feel deeply the fact that Archdeacon Evans was resigning. Both from him and Mrs. Evans he had received a great deal of help and sympathy. The greatest of the archdeacon’s many good qualities was his spirituality. Canon Gavin explained that the duty of an archdeacon was to attend personally on the bishop. He announced that he would certainly hold himself free to criticise the bishop’s policy if he thought fit, but it would be m private and face to face. He would ask them to remem-ber,-however, that in view of his position he could not do this publicly. He would always dp his utmost to fill the office to the best of his ability. On the motion of Mr. W. H. Skinner it was decided by acclamation: “That this Archdeaconry Board has heard with deep regret of the resignation of the Venerable Frank George Evans from the archdeaconry of Taranaki and desires to place on record its appreciation of his devoted work, and prays that he and Mrs. Evans may long be spared to enjoy their period of retirement.”

IN TARANAKI 33 YEARS. WAS VICAR OF ST. MARY’S. Having arrived from England in 1879, Archdeacon Evans has been 50 years in New Zealand. He attended St. John’s College, Auckland, and his first appointment was as curate in the parish' of Holy Trinity, Devonport, in 1880. He subsequently became vicar of Northcote-cum-Takapuna, and in 1883 he was instituted vicar of Thames, where he remained for over five years. He went from there to Te Aroha in 1888, and had charge ~of that parish for over seven years. He became vicar of St. Mary’s, New Plymouth, in 1896, and retained the charge till 1911, being appointed Archdeacon of Taranaki in 1912. Archdeacon Evans haa had 2c years’ service as a military chaplain, and served for over a year as a chaplain on overseas service during the Great War. Archdeacon Evans has always made the backblocke districts and the work among the Maoris his particular care. Canon G. H. Gavin was educated at Wanganui Collegiate after; wards attended St. .J ■

College, Tamaki. .He was ordained deacon in 1910 by the Bishop of Melanesia, the Rt. Rev. Cecil Wilson, and priest in 1912 by Bishop Crosley. He was assistant curate at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Auckland,. from 1910 till 1914, He then went to the war as a chaplain. Op returning 3} years’ later he was appointed vicar of Waitara, where he has remained since. Canon Gavin has taken an active interest in the work of territorial camps.