HOLY TRINITY CHURCH

Taranaki Daily News, 27 April 1932, Page 5

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH

FITZROY PARISHIONERS MEET WORK OF THE YEAR REPORTED ON CHURCH BUILDING LOAN REDUCED. Over 30 parishioners of Holy Trinity Church, Fifzroy, attended, the annual meeting of the parochial district last night. The vicar, the Rev. W. S. 0, btephens, presided. The vicar’s report stated: I think it may be said we have held our own and continue to progress. No new enterprises were undertaken, the work of the year being mainly the consolidation of the.previous year’s advances, which with the general depression has been no easy matter. The Ladies’ Guild has increased in numbers and is to be congratulated upon the splendid results of the spring fair. It has repaid a further £53 of debentures and have also paid the debenture interest and interest on the vicarage. The choir has done splendid work and the regular attendance of its members deserves special note. In addition .to the ordinary work several anthems were sung on festival occasions. Work continues and prospers in both the Sunday schools and now that the interior of the church hall has been painted the conditions under which instruction is given have been much improved. Misfortune befell the St. Luke’s Sunday school in that Mrs. Fairfax Cholmeley, the superintendent, became seriously ill in October and all endeav- " ours to find a successor failed. Ulti- ■ inately I decided to take the Sunday school myself and the school is now back to its full strength. The Mothers’ Union seemed unlucky as regards weather but many useful and helpful gatherings took place. The- assistance they gave with their stall at the spring fair was very much appreciated. The very high standard adopted by the ladies of the guild who week by week arrange the altar flowers and clean the church brass has been maintained throughout the year and lias been greatly, appreciated by everyone attending church. At certain seasons of the year it is not always easy to obtain suitable flowers and when it has been impossible these ladies have purchased flowers at their own expense. The Young People’s Club, under a committee of boys, has prospered exceedingly well and there has always been a good attendance at all their evenings. The club this year is having new rules under which no member will be allowed to attend socials without having attended church in the previous month. There is an average attendance of sixty at these gatherings. Throughout the winter months a social evening took place month and many happy and delightful evenings were held. These will be continued this year, with the difference that a charge of one shilling will be made for admission. This money, after paying any expenses, will go to the general fund of the parish. MONEY RAISED BY GUILD. During: the year the ladies of the choir formed themselves into a guild for the purpose of raising money to assist with the new expense of a parish ear. Approximately £l5 was handed to the vestry, being the proceeds of the sale of some beautiful fancy and needlework. The envelope system is in the hands of the people’s warden, Mr. George Giddy, who is being assisted by a number of ladies. By their united efforts it is hoped to obtain a large increase in the revenue and number of those subscribing to the funds by this means. The general depression has 'perhaps affected the' farmers more than any other section of the community and yet Bell Block has managed to keep remarkably cheerful and has fulfilled financial obligations without very great difficulty. Throughout the year the services have been well attended and there has been a big increase in the number of communions made. Mr. Mallaher took over the organ and choir at St. Luke’s Church when Mrs. Cholmeley became ill and Mrs. Bracegirdle and Miss French played at occasional . services prior to Mr. Mallaher taking over. The ladies’ guild has continued its splendid work in social and financial directions.

The services at Tarurutangi have been maintained throughout the year, but no very great progress is possible in so scattered a district. The majority of services have been well attended in proportion to the number of people in the district. The quarterly communion service continues to be a very happy occasion. The question of building a small church has had to be dropped for the present. Mr. Stephenson very kindly prepared plans for a suitable and inexpensive building, and when times improve we shall have something to work' upon. AID FOR MISSIONS. Donations and subscriptions to the various missions to which we are asked to contribute fails very far behind what we should be capable of doing. A missionary committee is to be formed and it is hoped that all who can will take missionary boxes. During January the parish was in the care of the Rev. J. K. MacFarland, Auckland, and at different times it has been possible to obtain other clergymen for an occasional service. We express our united sympathy to our synodsman, Mr. F. Copestake, in the loss of- his wife.

The year’s statistics, with the preceding two years’ figures in parentheses, are: Baptisms, IS (31, 11); confirmations, 22 (21, 14); marriages 3 (6, 13) •, funerals, 5 (21, 11). Celebrations of the Holy Communion: Holy Trinity, 12S* (99, 97); St. Luke’s, 18 (14, 11); Tarurutangi, 3 (4, 1). Communions made: Holy Trinity, 1774* (1730, 1299); St. Luke’s, 206 (156, 147); Tarurutangi, 26 < 29 ’ 4) ' - , . , . , •Includes private communions to sick persons in their own homes. The report of the churchwardens, Messrs. L. N. Fairhall and G. S. Giddy, was as follows: The principal sources of revenue were general offertories £177 7s, special offertories £34 Os 7d, donations and subscriptions £64 2s 6d, as well as the amount of £34 ss, being the proceeds of a garden party ably organised by Mrs. Stephens. Donations, £l3 Ss for car expenses, include an amount derived from a special effort by Mrs. Stafford and ladies of the choir. Holy Trinity ladies’ guild, besides paying off £7O 7s 7d in interest and loan certificates for the ehurch building fund, contributed £49 3s 4d to the general fund, a total of over £l2O. From St. Mary’s Trust Board the sum of £5O was received. The church building loan has been reduced to £245, thanks to the continuous efforts of Holy Trinity ladies’ guild. St. Luke’s, Bell Block, contributed: Assessment £5O, car allowance £lO, repairs to vicarage £10; also £2 3s 4d for insurance.

The vestry raised a second mortgage on the vicarage for repairs and painting, and. to cover the amount of the sewerage connection. It was only by the combined efforts of a large number of parishion ers that the honorary treasurer was able to present so satisfactory a statement in. this time of financial difficulty through which the country is passing. The churchwardens commend to all par-

ishioners (who do not already sub*scribe) the advantage to the Church funds of regular contributions through the envelope system. If more subscribers could be obtained, fewer special appeals would require to be made.

The Ladies’ Guild had a busy year, stated the report of the secretary, Mrs. A. 0. Greatbatch. The proceeds of a bridge party were £l5, which was donated to the vestry. The annual sale of work was well patronised and again had valuable assistance from the Mothers’ Union stall. The guild assisted the vestry by paying the interest on the vicarage, £l9 19s 4d, and paid £53 off loan certificates and the interest jon loan certificates, £l7 17s 7d. The amount owing on the church debt is now £245. A second-hand clothes sale was held and realised £l4 4s to help the vestry’s funds. A function whereby the funds benefited by £lO, was a garden party given by Mrs. Waterston, an indefatigable guild member who had left New Plymouth. St. Luke’s Ladies’ Guild, Bell Block, reported a successful year’s activities. The annual bulb show more than realised highest hopes. There were three silver cups, for competition, and record entries were received in all sections. The chrysanthemum tea was successful. Owing to the financial stress of the country, activities were curtailed rather heavily in the interests of economy. A number of meetings were held at the homes of members. The guild has met all obligations, and also donated towards the vicarage repair £lO, as well as a loan to ’St. Luke’s church committee of £l4, leaving a credit balance in bank within the vicinity of £l5. The statement of receipts and expenditure revealed a. small credit balance. The principal receipts were general offertories £177, special offertories £34, contributions fiymi St. Luke’s £72, donations and subscriptions £6l, garden party £34, donations to car expenses £l3, ladies’ guild £49, St. Alary’s Trust Board £5O. On the expenditure side the main items were special offertories £33, vicar’s stipend, car and telephone £353, church expenses £46, vicarage expenses £33,

diocesan treasurer £33. The balancesheet showed a debit balance of £271 4s 3d.

The statements of accounts of the ladies’ guild, the Sunday school and St. Lukes Church showed credit balances of £l2 12s 2d, £l. 17s 3d and £7 17s 6d respectively.

The reports and' balance-sheets were adopted without discussion. The following officers were appointed: Vicar s warden, Mr. L. N. Fairhall; people’s warden, Mr. G. Giddy; vestry, Messrs. R. W. Tate, IV. M. Webster, F. Copestake, R, Day, L. Mac Lean, with power to add up to the statutory number; honorary auditor, Mr. F. J. Corkill. A letter of sympathy with Mr. R. Day in his illness is to be sent by the church. Mr. Day, said Mr. Stephens, had been a splendid helper and a loyal worker. Airs, J. Stafford, the organist, was voted the usual honorarium of £5 ss. Mr. L. Mac Lean was appointed to represent the ehurch at the diocesan synod in place of Mr. F. Copcstake, who was unable to continue in the office. Messrs. G. Giddy and L. N. Fairhall were appointed representatives on the archdeaconry board, the appointment- of a third representative to be made by St. Luke’s Church.

The meeting decided it preferred to continue the existing arrangements rather than agree to support a proposal made by the diocesan office that parishes should be assessed for the payment of a certain sum to the diocesan general fund for the administration of the diocese instead of making voluntary contributions as at present. Three months before the end of the year the church was in debt to the extent of £9O, which was reduced by the end of the year to £lO, said Air. AlacLean in expressing gratitude for the work of Alesdames W. S. C. Stephens, L- F. Binns and A. C. Greatbatch in raising funds to assist the church. Alention was also made by the vicar of the loan by Airs. E. Griffiths of her grounds for a garden party, and of the work of the Young People’s Club in painting the balk