ST. MARY’S PARISH

Taranaki Daily News, 2 May 1935, Page 9

ST. MARY’S PARISH

ANNUAL MEETING HELD. COMMENTS BY NEW VICAR. ' ' The annual meeting of parishioners of St. Mary’s Anglican . Church, Hawera, Hawera, was held last night, the Rev. Canon D.B. Malcolm presiding over a large attendance. The report presented by the churchwardens, Mesrs. W. P. McAnerin and J. M. Townsend, said that the patronal festival once again brought together large congregations and the communicants’ breakfast was most inspiring. An appeal for funds to renovate the church and hall was responded to in most enthusiastic manner. Unfortunately expenditure was higher than anticipated, but the church having put hand to plough it was impossible to look back. All would appreciate what had been done. The church and hall looked like being good ; for many years to come, at any rate on the outside. The wardens expressed thanks to Miss Caplen and all who helped to make the flower show and sale of work such a succes. During the. year the vicar, the Rev. H. Whitby James, had to leave, his intention being to return to England. The continued serious illness of Mrs. James had prevented this for the present The wardens recorded their appreciation of all they both did for the parish and a sincere hope that God in his good time would relieve all their troubles. A hearty welcome to the Rev. Canon D. B. and Mrs. Malcolm was extended.. They have not been long wit’- the church but already have found a very warm comer in parishioners’ hearts. The garden party in February in the vicarage garden to provide come of the expenditure incurred in the renovation cf the house was a huge success, thanks to the Vicar and Mrs. Malcolm and a willing band of workers. Thanks were due to those who had helped to lift one of the burdens—“the Glover Road property.” The relief from this source would not be apparent at once, but it was very real and would show in the near future. Mr. R. Page nd the choir had done good work in the church and at recitals. Thanks were due to the visiting clergy who had com forward to jist whenever wanted, the lay-readers, Sunday school teachers, and those who arranged entertainments. The Men’s Felowship organisation was doing useful work and was amply justifying its existence. The statement of receipts in the bal-ance-sheet showed that offertories totalled £491, assessments £74, subscriptions £126, magazines £55, rent of hall £49, renovations to church property £155, and special offertjries £9B a total,, with smaller amounts, of £1215 12s 9d. The bank overdraft at date, £876 Ils 2d, brought the total receipts to £2092 3s lid. On the payments side, assessments totalled £4BO, , wages and casual labour £125, magazines £5l, allowance motor expenses £122, prop-

erty renovations to church and vicarage £268, and special offertories £9B, a grand total of £1355 15s 2d. The balance of £l7B 2s 3d for property account (closed) and the bank overdraft at March 31, 1934, brought forward, of £558 6s 6d, brought the total to £2092 3s lid. The balance-sheet of St. James’ Church, Mokoia, showed a credit balance of 6s 9d on the year’s working, the reserve fund totalling £32 Ils 7d. The vicar, excusing himself on the grounds that he had only been in the parish three months, said he would content himself with comments and some suggestions. A fact that stood out clearly was the very solid work done by his predecessor, the Rev. H. Whitby James, ably assisted by the Rev. W. A. 8001. He regretted greatly the cause of the resignation of Mr. James and expressed hope for the speedy recovery of Mrs. James. At the same time good wishes went with Mr. 8001. . The parish organisations showed signs of much activity. The lay-readers were a happy band, and the parish was fortunate to have been doing such regular and consistent work. The organist and choir had put in some hard work since Christmas. , Canon Malcolm said he was grateful to the churchwardens and vestry for help and support since he arrived. The missionary guild was meeting regularly and ably discharging important work. He would like to see men on the committee. The sanctuary had been carefully looked , after by a devoted band of women to whom he was grateful. A total of 700 magazines was distributed every month and for the first time the magazine had paid its way. The girls’ club was in full swing with a membership of 40. A pleasing feature of the parish activity was the men’s fellowship. Mr. C. D. Arlidge had done yeoman service as synodsman. _ He criticised the way many parishioners talked as though affairs were hopeless. Officers elected were: Vicar’s warden, Mr. W. P. McAnerin; people’s warden, Mr J. M. Townsend; vestry, Messrs. J. W. Harding, F. E. Clarke, W. Mulcocks, E. L. Whitworth, J. J. Pease, J. West junr., F. G. Hancock, B. H. Harley, J. C. Smith and Walker; auditors, Messrs. A. K. and E. M. Fyson; . ynodsmen, Messrs. C. D. Arlidge and R. T. Wyatt. It was decided to open a subscription list for the election of memorials to the late Canon C. H. Grant-Cowen and the late Archdeacon J. A. Jacobs, former vicars of the parish. , Miss K. Biggs, reporting for St. Mary s Missionary Guild, said nine meetings were held, attendances being well maintained. Money collected totalled £6B 19s 3d, a decrease of £5 2s 2d on the previous year, which was supplemented by donations totalling £l2 9s 3d. Of the ] total receipts of £lO2 4s 2d, including j £2O 10s 8d in hand at the end of March, - 1934, the guild paid £42 18s to the board i of missions for the quota ended June i 30, 1934, and £25 on account of the present year’s quota, leaving a balance 1 of £25 19s 2d. The quota for the parish < had been reduced to £l3O and was due < on June 30. . . It was decided to open subscription i

lists for the erection in the church of suitable memorials to the late Archdeacon J. A. Jacobs and Canon C. H. Grant Cowen. Speakers paid tribute to the outstanding services to. the parish of, both priests, and it was- considered a memorial in the Hawera church was a more fitting tribute from parishioners than the raising of : subscriptions for a memorial in other churches, particularly for Canon Grant Cowan at St. Matthew’s Church, Auckland. It was decided'to send letters of appreciation to ■ the , auditors and to Mr. A. Beck, an auditor for many years, now living at Te Aroha. ,