HOME MISSION PROPOSED

Taranaki Daily News, 28 August 1930, Page 5

HOME MISSION PROPOSED

CENTRE AT FITZROY SUGGESTED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AFFAIRS To consider the establishment of a home mission station with Fitzroy as centre, a meeting of Presbyterian Church people and members of a commission of the Taranaki Presbytery was held at Fitzroy on Tuesday night. The meeting decided to canvass the Fitzroy district eastward from Te Henui stream to ascertain the financial aid available. The commission consisted of the Revo. R. Miller (Manaia), chairman, R. E. Evans (Hawcra), and J. A. Ryburn (Eltham) with their elders. At present Knox Church, Fitzroy, is a branch of St. Andrew’s. Nev/ Plymouth, and has been without a home mission agent for some months. Previously the home mission committee had written to the Presbytery, said Mr. Miller, intimating that the committee could not appoint another man to the New Plymouth district until Presbytery had obtained some information about the condition of affairs in New Plymouth. The percentage of Presbyterians in New Plymouth was 13.7 of a 10,090 population. The population of Fitzroy was 2700 persons, and he thought that in the full district from Te Henui to Bell Block there might be 4500 persons. On the same percentage there would oe over 585 Presbyterians, of whom a quarter would probably be “impossible.” The commission thought there was an opening in the district for .a Presbyterian °home missionary. If one could be appointed he would give the people a greater opportunity for self-expres-sion and unity of purpose, together with other advantages. There would probably be difficulties of finance and adjustment for the first two years, but assistance would be given by the home mission committee. Mr. Brooker pointed out that the 4500 estimate of population was excessive, as the 2700 mentioned was eastward of Te Henui stream. The St. Andrew’s congregation had borrowed several thousand pounds to finance the construction of halls in Fitzroy, Westown and Vogeltown, it was stated. The Fitzroy proportion of this liability had been £llOO, and in the five years that the church had been established £3OO had been paid. Several speakers thought there would be better prospects of a successful division in two years’ time. The commission is to confer with the congregations of Westown and Vogeltown. Speakers pointed out that the proposal to join with Westown and Vogeltown was not geographically possible as there was no community of interest between the districts. At present there was no thought of closing the Fitzroy church, although the congregation had lately tended to decrease. The canvass committee is to report to the commission within a fortnight.