HOLY TRINITY CHURCH

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1931, Page 3

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH

FITZROY ANGLICANS MEET REVIEW OF YEAR'S ACTIVITIES. APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS. A review of the past year’s progress and activity at Holy Trinity Church, Fitzroy, was made at the annual meeting last night, when the vicar, the Rev. W. S. C. Stephens, presided over an attendance of about 50 parishoners. , The vicar’s report stated that in every matter undertaken (with one exception) success had been achieved. Thanks were offered to the vestry, the ladies’ guilds, the choir, the car committee, the Young People’s Club committee and to several others who had worked individually for making this possible—and particularly Mr. Logan McLean.

At the annual meeting last year he had brought forward two matters for consideration. The first was the sale of the vicarage—to which approval was given. The property was placed upon the market and subsequently withdrawn by the vestry as difficulties were foreseen in building the new vicarage with the proceeds of the sale—if made. The second matter concerned the provision of a car for parochial use. The full cost of the car had been raised, also the cost of re-conditioning and other incidentals, and there were no debts of any kind in respect of it. Mr. W. M. Webster was thanked and congratulated on the splendid work he and his committee had done in raising the money. The Ladies’ Guild of Holy Trinity Church, were thanked for their splendid work in the year. There was a slight increase in the profits of the spring fair and by their' efforts a further £5O of debentures had been repaid. GOOD SERVICES OF CHOIR. One of the biggest assets in the parish was the choir —built around the few who for years had given their services Sunday by Sunday. There was now a full choir who seemed to have caught the ideals of loyalty and regular, attendance from those who carried on before.' Work continued and prospered in both the Sunday schools, and while from time to time numbers fluctuated, there had been a steady increase all round. With additional teachers at Holy Trinity, the work of the superintendent, Mr. Childerstone would, at last be made a little easier.

Under the "mothering” of Mrs. Gentles, the Mothers’ Union branch had been a sourace of much pleasure and happiness to its twenty-one members. It was with regret that Mrs. Gentles had found it necessary tc give up the office of enrolling member. Mrs. Chivers had accepted the appointment.

Another band of ladies composing the Altar Guild had worked unostentatiously week by week arranging the altar flowers and (cleaning the altar ■brass. The Archdeacon of Taranaki on his "visitation” several months ago was particularly impressed by their efforts. Thanks were also due to Mr. Waterston for taking charge of the parish envelope system. On. the second Sunday in each month Archdeacon Evans had conducted the mornincr service. On most fourth Sunday evenings the Rev. K. Hadfield, Waitara, had preached. Appreciation of his coming had been shown by the Maori Mission quota being over-subscribed. The Bell Block Ladies’ Guild was a pattern of all that a ladies’ guild should be —it seemed as if every Anglican in Bell Block and for mil. * around ■belonged to it, and under the “mother-

ing” .of Mrs. Street it was prospering. Thanks to the ladies of Tarurutangi for the manner in which they prepared the hall for church services, also Mrs. Potter for always playing the piano, were accorded.

There had been three outstanding events in the year. The first was the robing of the choir—its first appearance in robes being on Easter Day, April 20. Thanks were due to Mrs. W. M. Webster for raising the funds for the cassocks, and to the vicar of Frankton (the Rev. R. Boyt) for the gift of surplices which had been obtained from a church in Britain. BISHOP OF AOTEAROA’S VISIT. The second event of the year wr - the visit of the Bishop of Aotearoa, on April 6. This was the ./hop’ first appearance in Taranaki after his consecration, and it was fitting that he should come to Taranaki’s oldest church. The bishop promised an annual visit.

The third event was the "quiet day” for 'the members cf the Mothers’ Union in Taranaki. The “quiet day” was conducted by the Rev. J. Adams, Okato, and was in every way successful, large numbers attending and benefiting by the deeply spiritual atmosphere prevailing.

There had been five main innovations in the year. The first was the formation of a young people’s club. This was the one failure (or partial failure) experienced. Possibly the small numbers of young people or the dismal nature of the hall made the evenings unattractive. A fairly good start was made but the numbers attending grew less. In connection with the club thanks ’were given Mr. K. Gentles and Mr. F. White for their work as secretaries and treasurers, and the committee which worked hard in their endeavours to keep things moving. Arising possibly out of the failure of the club and seeking a club for boys alone, the choir boys formed a little club of their own, having as their leader Master Bernie Johnstone. These met every Saturday night during the winter and great hopes for this club in the future were entertained.

With the robing, of the choir it became possible to train a few boys as servers, to assist at the Sanctuary at Communion .services. There were three servers who performed their duties perfectly. The harvest festival at Tarurutangi proved a tremendous success. The last innovation had been the formation of a branch in the parish of the Church of England Men’s Society. Numbers ■were not strong yet—but but only those men and boys who ■would take their membership seriously were desired.

As a result of the year’s work at Tarurutangi, culminating s n the harvest festival the desire for a church there had found expression. It was proposed that a small church accommodating about fifty persons should be built —it was anticipated that no difficulty would be experienced i obtaining the gift of an 1-8 or J acre section on the main. road. It was only necessary for the formal consent of the parish to be given to this venture which would not be put in hand till the requisite funds had been raised. A tremendous amount of work had been done during the year, but it was impossible to continue at this great pressure unless given a wider support and co-operation. The statistics for the year are-as follow (last yearns figures are given in parenthesis): Baptisms, 31 (IT); confirmations, 21 (14); marriages, 6 (13); funerals, 21 (11). Celebrations of the H.C., Holy Trinity, 99 (97); S. Luke’s, 14 (11); Tarurutangi, 4 (1). Communions made, Holy Trinity, 1730 (1299); 8. Luke’s, 156 (147); Tarurutangi,. 29 (4). The church-wardens, Messrs. L. N. Fairhall and G. S. Giddy, in their .report stated that the chief sources of income were general offertories,. £222 14s 9d; special offertories, £42 7s 2d. Donations amounted to £54 9s Id. St. Mary’s Trust Board contributed £5O, 'St. Luke’s, Bell Block (with Tarurutangi) gave £5O for assessment and £6 13s 4d for car allowance. During the year a parish car was purchased. The car was now paid for. The church loan had been reduced till it stood at present at £298. Special thanks were due to the Holy Trinity Church Ladies’ Guild, of which Mrs. Greatbatch was the capable honorary secretary, for much assistance. From the proceeds of a very successful sale of work, the sum of £5O was paid off the church loan, also interest on the loan and £l2 5s for the vicarage fence. An amount of £l7 17s 6d, the proceeds of a bridge party, was given to the parish car funds. St. Luke’s Ladies' Guild was also to be commended for excellent work. To all who had assisted in any way to promote the interests of the church, thanks were extended. The ladies’ guild had a very profitable year, reported Mrs. A. C. Greatbatch. In April a sale of second-hand clothes produced £3B Ils 7d. The proceeds of a bridge party were £l7 8s Id. the latter > amount being given to the parish car fund. The annual sale of work was well organised and it had the assistance of a stall conducted by the Mothers’ Union. The guild again assisted the vestry with £l9 19s od for interest and sinking fund on the vicarage; also with £l5 7s 3d, for a new fence and repairs to the vicarage. Loan certificates were paid off,' the amounts being £52 for 1930 and £5O for 1931, besides £lB 12s 8d for interest on loan certificates. The amount owing on the church debt , was £298. The guild hoped to be able to pay off this amount within the prescribed time. AFFAIRS OF S. LUKE’S. The year had been fraught with difficulties for many parshioners, stated the report of the secretary of S. Luke’s Church Committee, Mr. G. W. Bracegirdle. The prices ruling for exports had had the effect of considerably reducing the income of many, and a decrease in the offertories had resulted. Thanks were due to the ladies’ guild for very valuable assistance. It had ■been a pleasure to work with the Holy Trinity vestry. The report of the secretary of the S. Luke’s Ladies’ Guild, Mrs. E. M. French, stated that unfortunately a great deal of sickness was prevalent during the year, and affected the membership and attendance at meetings. Fifteen meetings been held at the homes of various ladies, and although a great deal of sewing had hot been done, the meetings had helped to foster the social ■side of the guild. The main effort had been to raise funds towards the purchase of a parish car, to which the guild was able to give a substantial donation. In addition to several evening functions, an old clothes’ sale was held in New Plymouth, the result of which was very satisfactory and the car fund benefited thereby. The annual spring flower show was held in September and a chrysanthemum tea was also held. In addition to its usual obligations the guild had been responsible for the painting of the church and the staining and polishing of the floor. Donations had been made to the church committee and they had erected » notice board at the church gate. The adoption of the reports and balance sheets was moved by Mr. G. S. Giddy, people’s warden, and carried.

On the motion of Mr. L. N. Fairhall it was decided to decline to pay the 10 per cent, penalty on a debt of £35 to

the Diocesan office on the ground that it was an unjust imposition. Officers were appointed as follows: Vicar’s warden, Mr. L. N. Fairhall; people’s warden, Mr. G. S. Giddy; vestry, Messrs. R. W. Tate, W. M. Webster, A. L. Mac Lean, R. Porlesse, F. Copestake, R. Day, H. J. Johnstone and one member appointed 'by the vestry; honorary auditor, Mr. S. Corkill. The suggestion of the vicar to hold monthly social evenings was adopted, and it was decided to appoint different organising committees each month. The following convenors for the six months of the winter were appointed: Mrs. Stepheps, Mr. R. Day, Mrs. Stafford and the choir, Mrs. Sladden, Airs. Griffiths, and the vestry. The renovation of the hall and grounds and the repairing of the church fence were suggested by Mr. Webster, who was appointed organiser to make arrangements for the work. Mrs. G. Stafford, the organiste, was voted an honororium of five guineas. Before the meeting several enjoyable musical'items were played by Miss G. Stafford (piano) and Masters J. Bouneall and D.. Stafford (violins).