ANGLICAN CHURCH

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19374, 24 December 1932, Page 13

ANGLICAN CHURCH

REVIEW OF YEAR’S ACTIVITIES ST. MARY'S TIMARU Over seventy years ago a small wooden building with a sanctuary and transept in stone and a bell-tower standing apart on the west side, was consecrated as the first church of St. Mary's, Timaru. This was in April, 1861, and the record of these seventy years is one of which the present church members have good reason to be proud and thankful. In 1877 a movement was started to build a new church in stone, and three years later in September, 1880, the foundation stone of the present nave was laid by the Very Rev. Dean Jacobs. This was completed and consecrated on August 26, 1886, by Bishop Harper, Bishop of Christchurch, and Primate of New Zealand. About 1906 the building of the chancel and tower was commenced, and in July, 1907 the foundation stone of the complete building was laid by Bishop—now Archbishop—Julius. The present tower was completed in 1908, and is a piece of architecture unique in New Zealand. During the whole process of the building of the church, the Venerable Archdeacon Harper was the moving spirit, and it is easily seen what care and painstaking devotion was put into the designing of the church. That is why the tower is so different from any other in New Zealand. Pour years ago a Fabric Endowment Fund was founded with the idea of building up a capital fund to constitute a permanent endowment sufficient to keep St. Mary’s in perfect repair for all time.

During the past two years, times have been difficult but they have called forth from all church members a greater faith and a deeper devotion. The numbers presented for confirmation, the congregations at the Parish Festival, the number of Easter communicants, have exceeded the records of recent years. In the last report and balance sheet, issued by the churchwardens in April of this year, it was revealed that in one of the worst years of financial depression experienced, instead of slipping back, St. Mary’s had gone forward, and improved its financial position. The people had given, not less, but more to the work of their church. This record filled parishioners with greater confidence for this year.

There was a large gathering of parishioners in the Parish Hall on April 21 to receive the annual report and elect the officers for the year. It was good to see so many able men offering themselves for service on the Vestry. The meeting showed what a keen interest is being taken in the work of the Parish.

Throughout Lent, the services held in the different Parish churches were uniformly well attended. Special services were held in St. Mary’s on Wednesday evenings, the addresses being given by the Rev. Canon Coursey of Geraldine.

On the Tuesday of Holy Week, the Parish Choir gave a splendid rendering of the Passion Music “Olivet to Calvary.” On Good Friday, the Three Hours Devotion was conducted by the Rev. E. Osmers, of Methven, while in the morning a massed children’s service was held when the children presented their offerings for missions.

All the churches of the parish held their Harvest Thanksgiving on April 10, when all the gifts of fruit, vegetables etc. were given to the Central Relief On April 24, and Anzae Memorial Service and Toe H church parade was held, the preacher being the Rev. Stephen Parr, of Christchurch. A visit was received from the Bishop of the Diocese on the first Sunday in May. During June and July confirmation classes were held, and a special course of sermons on the history and doctrine

of the Church of England preached at Evensong at St. Mary’s by the Vicar. On August 5 the annual confirmation service took place, when about 150 candidates, of whom about 50 were adults were presented to the Bishop, September 11, was a memorable occasion, that of the Patronal Festival, another milestone passed in the history of the parish. The services were taken by the Very Rev. G. C. Cruickshank, Dean of Dunedin. After this service all the children took part in the ancient ceremony of “Clipping the Church." Clipping comes from an old Saxon word that means “embracing.” The children joined hands round the church, while the massed children’s choir processed round, all singing hymn “We love the place, O God." There was a large attendance at the Young People’s Rally in the afternoon, while for Festal Evensong, the church was crowded. Parishioners were asked to make a golden offering at this festival as special birthday gift to their church, and £4OO was received The South Canterbury Choir Festival was held in St. Mary’s Church on October 6, when the united choirs of the different parishes of South Canterbury took part. This year the service took the form of a Hymn Festival, to encourage the congregation to take a greater interest in hymn singing. Some of the most popular of modern hymns were introduced, the Vicar of Waimate. the Rev. A. K. Warren, giving a short description of each hvmn and interesting facts about its history.

In the four suburban churches, St. John’s, St. Michael’s, All Saints, and SL Peter’s, good work has been done

by the assistant clergy, the Revs. W. S. Southward, T. Williams, and J. Evans. The lay readers have also continued their willing service. In August, the Rev. W. S. Southward left to take over St. Chad’s Christchurch, consequently the staff has been one priest short, but Mr. David Thorpe is to join at Christmas.

The work of the five Sunday Schools has been carried on by a very keen and efficient staff of teachers. Miss Kay, the Sunday School organiser, who has the Bishop’s Licence as an authorised woman worker in the diocese, and parish, has held a teachers’ training class which has been of great benefit, Junior Bible Classes are provided for boys and girls of High School age, while the choir boys are in a special Bible Class conducted by the Vicar.

St. Mary’s Young Women’s Bible Class and Club, w r ith a membership of over a hundred has been a tower of strength in many undertakings. Under the able leadership of Mr. A. 1 W. V. Vine, the Parish Choir has reached a high standard in its work, that of the boys showing great promise. This year the introduction of descant singing in many of the hymns has been a feautre, and is greatly appreciated by the congregation. At the beginning of this year a branch of the Bible Reading Fellowship was started, and the scheme was enthusiastically taken up throughout the Parish.

During the year, the New Zealand Board of Missions organised a special crusade to arouse the church to new enthusiasm for the work of the missions. Recently a letter was received from the Board of Missions conveying its appreciation of the help sent for the missionary, and congratulating St. Mary’s on heading the list of parishes in the province of New Zealand. The Missionary Guild prepared and sent Christmas tuck boxes to the Melanesian Mission, but these were unfortunately lost when the mission ship

“Southern Cross” was wrecked. , Other organisations continue to do good work. That of the Sanctuary Guild and altar decorators can be seen by those who worship in St. Mary’s every Sunday. The Sewing Guild made a special birthday gift to the church in the form of a prie dieu and ■ stool to go with the Bishop’s chair in the sanctuary. The Mothers’ Union have had a very successful year, concluding with the usual Cradle Roll garden party to which all mothers whose babies are on the Cradle Roll, were invited. One good work undertaken by the Union is that of hospital visiting. The Boy Scouts, Girl Guides and Brownies are progressing under enthusiastic leaders, while the Harrier Club and the Tennis Club cater for the sporting members of the church. Looking back over another year’s work, the parishioners of St‘. Mary’s may well be filled -with thankfulness, and a deeper sense of their privilege in the service of that Church, with courage and hope for the future. On a hill above the town, with the noise, the bustle and the cares of life all around it, the Church of St. Mary, with the tower that was designed to be more and more architectually beautiful as It ascended from the earth towards the heavens, stands as it has stood for many a year, a symbol that amidst the doubts and fears and gloomy forebodings of these days, the Church of Jesus Christ remains firm. There is to be found, if anywhere, confidence in the future, the faith that Our Heavenly Father will bring us safely through the troubles of the times, and that the star which shone over the manger in Bethlehem, hundreds of years ago, still lights the way.

ST. AUGUSTINE’S WAIMATE “No two clergy work in the same way” wrote Canon Cocks at the end of 1931, when announcing the appointment of a new Vicar of Waimate. He urged parishioners to respect different methods, new ideas, and some changes. The arrival of a new Vicar means in some sense a fresh start in the church life of a Parish. During 1932. Waimate has shown itself capable of building on old traditions and incorporating new ones too. Chief perhaps may be placed, a growing sense of responsibility on the part of the Vestry to the work among the youth of the Parish, for it is they who will be the congregation of tomorrow. It is believed that it is good

to hold the youth together in social activity provided that such youths are first active members of the church. Among the boys, two Bible Classes are running with Clubs in conjunction, one for those under 16 and another for the Young Men. The Girls’ Communicants guild are a nourishing body, who have been active in organising entertainments socials and dances and in raising funds fbr keeping the organ in repair, and for paying for one of the stops. That the youth of the Parish are assuming their responsibilities is shown in the way the church Hall, which had had little done to it for many years, has had the interior renovated throughout with materials provided entirely by the Girls’ Guild and

< Young Men's Club and labour was | supplied voluntary by the young men. lln conjunction with the Boys* Bible ! Class it is hoped to hold a camp near i Waimate in January. | The young people of the church are ! now being catered for and it lies with j them whether they take advantage of what their church is offering them. A Parish council was elected to work in conjunction with the vestry and during the year they have organised socials and held a shop in aid of Parish Funds. A Ladies’ Working Party have met I throughout the year and by selling I article : suitable for Christmas presents j have swelled the Parish funds by £35. i Parish finances have given the Vestry food for anxious thought. Twelve months ago £ICO was needed to meet outstanding expenditure. It is , satisfactory to record that the year has ended with all leeway made up. and £25 paid off the Organ Loan, and this in spite of the fact that parishioners are in considerably harder circumstances than a year ago.

The Church itself has been improved by removing two screens which separated off the old vestries, thus throwing in to the building the two transept". One has been converted to a children’s corner and the other provides extra seating room, which is required on special occasions. The Sunday School has been growing in numbers both of pupils and staff, and in efficiency; due to the visit of the Sunday school Organiser from Timaru. The Mothers’ Union also has increased its numbers though some difficulty is experienced in getting younger mothers to take an interest. Finally, but by no means least the Missionary obligations of the Parish have been well carried out, little short of the quota having been raised. The spiritual life and interest of the Parish have deepened by a series of Lenten services services taken by the Archdeacon of Timaru, and by visits from the Dean of Christchurch, the Archdeacon of Oamaru, and the Rev. W. B. Hamblett of Dunedin; and also by visits from Bi\ile Classes from Temuka and Timai'u. Very hAppy relations have been maintained with the other religious bodies in the town, and a combined ! service of Witness was held in September in the Olympia Hall, the Vicar of St. Augustr/ie’s preaching. That the Churches i/.i Waimate are alive, was shown by the fact that the Olympia was over-crowded and a number unable to obtain admittance. CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

FROM THE VICAR OF WAIMATE “To wish you in the conventional phrase, “A Merry Christmas," would sound hollow and insincere. Although we have so often been told v/e have turned the corner, yet few are able to make merry, and some are facing Christmas with little short of despair. It would seem we are up against a high \yall across our path to recovery and we are powerless to scale it. “What has Christmas meant to us in the past? just an opportunity of merriment, and (I say it in all reverence) of so much “Baby Worship?” lome of our Christmas Hymns and the tory itself tend to focus our attention m the Infant Jesus. But the Message of Christmas lies deeper than that, it .nvolves more than the worship of the Babe, full of wonder though that may be. It is summed up in the word Emmanuel or God with us. The Eternal God came down at Christmas to raise us up to Him. It is in His power alone that we can find peace

of mind and that we can face the perplexities and problems of 1933. “Do not be cowed by the wall of obstacles that seems to lie across your path. The love and power of God make all things possible and most things bearable.

“May God come to you this Christmas; may his power invigorate you and bring with it peace of mind and courage for the future. Take out your prayer book and learn Psalm 18 verse 29—“ With the help of my God I will leap over the wall.” ALWYN K. WARREN. Vicar of St. Augustine’s, Waimate OTIPUA PAROCHIAL DISTRICT I appreciate very much the opportunity of sending a Christmas Me&age to parishioners. As I arn relieving in the parish for just a few month \ and have not met many of you very intimately yet. you will no doubt be missing the personal touch of your

vicar, at this season. I hope you will accept this as a gesture of friendliness and goodwill. I may say that Mr. Thorpe, after an exceptionally rough and unpleasant trip, arrived in the Chatham Islands. I know that the Islanders will be very pleased that his vi'it commences with the Christmas Festival. He hopes to be back about the end of January, but he can come only when the “Tees” decides to bring him. “I have found the organisations of the parish working smoothly, and have received a great deal of help from the church officers and others. Services are held in five centres:— St. Mark’s Church Otipua, the parent church, is built of stone and looks beautiful in its setting of shrubs and English trees, especially as the surrounding country looks so well this year; St. Matthew’s Church, Kingsdown. on the main road, stands as a constant witness for God, to the endless stream of passers-by; the Church hall at Pareora meets the spiritual needs of that township. Services are also held in the schools at Salisbury and Fairview. CHRISTMAS MESSAGE “May you all have a happy and blessed Christmas. It perhaps sounds a little incongruous to wish some of you happiness this year. Many are worried financially, a host are unemployed and will find it very difficult t-o bring any Christmas cheer to their children. But it is just when we are faced with difficulties and hardships, that we can appreciate the Message of Christmas. The meaning of the Festival has been so clouded by the Whirling round of activities, of feasting and, merrymaking, that we tend to forget the simplicity and humility of the coming of the Christ Child to our poor world. A poet has put the meaning of Christmas in a fairy nutshell:— A little Boy of Heavenly birth But far from home to-day. Comes down to seek His ball, the earth, That sin has cast away. O comrades! let us one and all Join in to get Him back His ball. “When we come to kneel before the Manger Throne on Christmas morning at the Holy Communion, may we bring with us a birthday present—our share of His ball the earth." J. A. WILSON, Vicar Otipua Parochial District.

A man praised for a deed of heroism explained simply, “Why, you see I just happened to be there.” Happening to be in the right place, and to be of the right material, accounts for a great many of the finest things that are done.

ST. MARY’S GERALDINE It is difficult to give a brief account of the year's work in a scattered Parish such as Geraldine. The clergy, with the help of layreaders, have maintained services in ten centres, in four of these a service is held only once a month, in three, three times a month; at Woodbury and Orari cervices are held each Sunday, and there are three services at St. Mary's Parish Church every Sunday. The spiritual wellbeing of the children is looked after in Sunday schools at Peel Forest, Orari Gorge, Orari and Geraldine. In addition, several children are enrolled in our correspondence Sunday school, so that an effort is made to bring the teaching of the Church to every Anglican child in the Parish. There are three bible classes, which are growing in number,

in Geraldine, and in connection with these classes we have lone members in the qountry districts. The work of the Parish is maintained by the voluntary contributions of the parishioners, as we have no fetes, bazaars, socials, or concerts for the purpose of raising money. Our contributions to home and foreign missions, St. Saviour’s orphanages, St. Anne’s home, and The British and Foreign Bible Society, are also raised by direct giving. Last year, our contributions to causes outside the Parish amounted to £5lO.

During this year several of our parishioners have passed away. The loss of Messrs. T. Hughes and G. A. M. Macdonald will be felt in the Parish; as members of the vestry and layreaders they were an inspiration and an example to our younger members.

Like other Parishes, we have felt some anxiety through the existing economic conditions, but we have much to thank God for, because of the liberal manner in which some of our people have responded to every call made upon them. We look forward with faith and hope to 1933, and pray that it may be a year of blessing for all of us. MESSAGE FROM THE VICAR OF GERALDINE. “I hear it has been suggested that we should not keep Christmas in these days of depression. “In my opinion we should keep it all the more! We need a merry happy time in the midst of our gloom. But we want to learn that happiness does, not depend merely in ‘splashing* money about. “We should be merrier this Christmas than for years, because we will come back to find joy in the simple things of life. “If we consecrate our Christinas Day and Christmas joy by worship at the Manger Throne, it will be joy indeed." J. F. COURSEY, Vicar of Geraldine. PARISH OF TE NGAWAI The parish of Te Ngawai was formerly part of the Temuka District; but separated about 1880. It was formed a Parish in 1883. taking its name from the Te Ngawai River. The District stretched from Washdyke to Mount Cook. When the Rev. Stanley Henson was vicar, Fairlie was made a separate charge. There are three churches in the parish. St. Alban’s at Pleasant Point, St. Martin’s at Albury and St. David’s at Rainchff. Services are also held at the schools at Cave and Cannington. The past year has been one of rather more than average progress, in spite of hard times. Two lads’ bible classes have been established: One at Albury, the other at Pleasant Point. The ladies’ guild at Pleasant Point, and the mothers’ union continue to do good work. There are two Sunday-schools, one at Pleasant Point and the other at Cave. Congregations are maintained, i One of the main tasks of the clergy is to foster hope and trust in these days and this may be a Christmas Message: •GOOD WILL TO MEN.” “We know the days are difficult, but let that make us men and women of j good will. Those in the past who did the finest work, were those who rose j above adverse circumstances, and, in ! spite of them, or, because of them, became people of courage and high ! character. They put their trust in God. They remembered His past loving-kindnesses and worked cheerfully, bravely on. Let our Watchword to-day be Courage. “Farmers, tradespeople, all of us, have difficulties to face. Young people, leaving school, are disappointed of hopes. We say, courage! do not lose heart: Take what work you can get: Keep your visions and trust on. “The Christmas Season strikes just the note we want. As the old Carol says: “Let nothing you dismay. Remember Christ our Saviour Was bom on Christmas Day.” C. C. OLDHAM. Vicar of Te Ngawai. TEMUKA AND WINCHESTER The parish of Temuka was cut off the parish of Geraldine in 1878. and comuprised the present district, the parishes of Pleasant Point and Fairlie. However, in 1880. these two districts were cut off. leaving the parish its present size. The parish church is St. Peter’s at Temuka. the present building having been completed in 1900. The other Churches in the parish are St. John's at Winchester, built in 1880 and > Holy Trinity. Maori Pa. built during the present, year. G. NELHAM WATSON. Vicac.