PARISH MEETINGS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6833, 22 April 1890, Page 4

PARISH MEETINGS.

o ■ , , ST MICHAEL'S. ■ The annual meeting of the parishioners . of St Michael and All Angela' was held last evening in the schoolroom. The mii cumbent, the Key Walter Harper, prosided, and there was a moderate atten- : dance. Apologies were made for the j absence of Messrs Harman and Parkerson. The incumbent's report noted with satisj faction that the Sunday services and ; celebrations of Holy Communion had been \ well attended, and the congregations at [ the services in Holy Week and on Good , Friday were larger than in previous years. Seventy-two candidates had been confirmed \in August— the lavgeßt number ever presented in thiß church. The monthly meetings of the guild of communicants [ had been fairly well attended. These . meetings were held for the purpose of . giving spiritual assistance and instruction . in respect of the Sacrament of the Lord's 5 Supper. The mothers' union continued , its good work, and the parish owed a debt ; of gratitude to the ladies who did so much to make these meetings successful. The . attendance at the parish day-school was t much the same as ia the previous year. Thanks were due to the superintendent and teachers of the Sunday School. The report concluded : " Let it be our prayer that the blessing of God may rest upon all our endeavours to advance the cause of true religion, that in the Bpirit of selfsacrificing love we may yet more closely follow Him 'Who loved us and gave Himself for us.'" The outgoing churchwardens (Messrs W. . Vincent and F. J. Kimbell) submitted a t report and statement of accounts, which . showed there had been an increase in the , offertories, seat rents and subscriptions, as '. compared with the previous year. There j was a cash balance of £73 5s lid to begin j the year with. The expenditure had been { — General expenses, £858 11s sd; choir , expenses, £133 4s 3d; special offertories, \ £156 93 7d, while the receipts amounted to ; £1221 11s 2d. The Fabric Fund showed a , debit balance of £81 15s 2d. The fund for j new organ amounted to J221 14s lid. The [ school accounts showed that £276 13s lOd . had been received and .£24o l7s 2d expended, . leaving £35 16a 8d to credit. The accounts . had been audited by Mr H. Allison. The ( ladies of the work guild had presented the I church with a handsome credence table in [ addition to other gifts. The reports were [ taken as read. The Chairman referred to the satisfacl tory financial condition of the parish. He , said that during the year there had been ] 121 baptisms, 20 more than last year. On . Easter Sunday there were 220 communiJ cants, and at other festival services the , number of communicants had been 174, '. 134, and 160 respectively. . t The reports and balance-sheet were ( adopted, on the motion of Mr Vincent, seconded by Mr Lane, and the school accounts approved, on the motion of Mr W. G. Brittan, seconded by Mr F. J. i Kimbell. The following gentlemen "were appointed

church officeta: — Incumbent's churchwarden, .Mr F. .J. KimbelLj parishioners' churchwarden, Mr W.-G. Brittan; vestrymen, Messrs Evans, Francis, Vincent, Palmer, Burns, JJane, .Foster, Harman, Farrow and Robsj Parish -School Committee, the incumbent and churchwardens, with Messrs Evans and Hawley. Vote 3 of thanks were accorded to the churchwardens, the vestry, the ladies work society, Sunday School teachers, the choir, and those assisting in the decorations of the church. A special vote of thanks was passed to the ladies' work society if or their gift of a credence table. It was resolved on the motion of Mr Vincent, " That the vestry be*ecomniended to'devote £50 to the organ lund, and consider the adrisableness of making a special appeal to the parish on behalf of this fund." The meeting then terminated.