Durham Street Wesleyan Church.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6830, 18 April 1890, Page 4

Durham Street Wesleyan Church.

ANNUAL SOIREE AND MEETING,

The twenty-fifth anniversary of the formation of the Durham Street Wesltyan Church was celebrated by a soiree and public meeting, at both of which there was a large attendance, though, on account of the weather, not as large as usual. The tea meeting passed off very agreeably, after, which an adjournment was made to the church, where the chair was filled by the Eev W. Morley. The financial report was read by Mr N. Martin, Secretary and Treasurer, and was a3 follows : — " The Trustees have pleasure in presenting to the congregation a statement of the accounts for tho year ending March 31. It is pleasing to note that the amount of seat rents is above that for last year, showing that a more regular system of payment is being adopted. This being a very important item of the Trust revenue, the Trustees hope that it will continue. It will be seen that the proportion from Sunday collections is not so large as last year's. This is owing to an alteration made by the quarterly meeting, by which the Trust now receives three full Sunday collections in each quarter, in place of a grant of fifty pounds as formerly. The present amount in the balance-sheet represents five quarters. There has been a large amount spent for repairs during the year, all of which were very necessary for the preservation of the buildings and the comfort of the congregation. During the year the now parsonage adjoining the •jhurch property has been erected, at a total cost of .£1309 14s Gd, which also includes a caretaker's cottage. The need for the latter has long been felt, and the proDerty is now under proper supervision." * The statement of accounts showed that, with a credit balance of .£47 Is 7d, at the beginning of the year, the receipts had amounted to ,£1847 15s lid, included in which were the items ,£BOO, deposit on account of the new parsonage, and J3500, granted from the Loan fund. The expenditure ■ had exceeded this amount by J836 83 2d, the principal item being £1284: for the building of a parsonage and caretaker's cottage. The Circuit, &c, Home and Foreign Mission funds, Sunday school, and Church Poor funds were all reported in a satisfactory condition. The Eev ,W. Morley, in Bpeating of the affairs of the church during the past year, referred in appropriate terms to the los 3 sustained by the church by the deaths of Mr G. Gould, the Eev T. E. Fisher, and some juvenile members of the congregaI tion. He stated that there had beeiTthree ! hundred and fifiy communicants, the services had been' well attended throughout, though many were absent at the morning services, and the prayer-meetings had been conducive of much, spiritual benefit. The Sunday School was thriving, but many teachers who had absented themselves recently were urged to return to tbeir duties. The Eev Gordon Webster congratulated the congregation on their successes, and welcomed the new ministers to Christchurch. Mr R. Dawson formally introduced the Eevs.W. C. Oliver and E. Taylor, who each delivered suitable addresses. During the evening the choir gave some anthems, which, under Mr E. T. Searell's conductorship, went very smoothly. The benediction being said, the meeting closed. 1 ]