BANKRUPT CHURCH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 109, 11 May 1933, Page 5

BANKRUPT CHURCH

EECTOB’S STRONG APPEAL. DISTRESSING DIFFICULTIES. “If we were a business house we would be forced to close our doors, because we are bankrupt,” the Rev. John Hope told the congregation at Christ Church, St. Laurence, Sydney, on April 9. “Few realised the critical situation of the parish,” Mr. Hope continued, “and the church wardens thought that as on Palm Sunday we have a large congregation I should put before you one or two facts. During the past two years a few people have made sacrifices to keep the church going. Their efforts were simply magnificent. But Christ Church is not for the few to maintain; it is for everyone to do his utmost. Unless we do this there will be no more Palm Sunday celebrations in this church. “Apart from winning our law suit. God only knows what will take place. The case which is one between the diocesan authorities and the church wardens of Christ Church with regard to resumption moneys, has been dragging on for months, and we are being tested and tried to the utmost.” Mr. Hope urged the members of the congregation to stand behind the clergy and office-bearers in their trying experience. “Whether we win our Court case or not,” he said, “we feel we can depend on you to maintain this historic church and all it stands for, that Christ’s work may be done in this place.” The parish journal, published by the rector and church wardens, refers to “the distressing financial difficulties in which we find ourselves through the action of the diocesan authorities withholding all our resumption money,” and states: “We are unable to give a statement in figures with regard to our finances, but the fact is that for some months now it has been impossible to pay the stipends of the clergy with any regularity, and our verger and others have had to put up with the same inconvenience. At the last wardens’ meeting it was reluctantly decided to make further reductions in stipends and wages, until such -4 timc as our legal difficulties are ended, and wc have won our case.’ ’