ST. MARY’S CHURCH

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXII, Issue 222, 10 December 1926, Page 5

ST. MARY’S CHURCH

iPARISHIONERS MEETING. SITE QUESTION PARAMOUNT. .There was an unusually large attendance (about 100) of the parishioners, of St. Alary’s (Anglican) Church at a general meeting hold in St. Alary’s Hall on Wednesday night, the vicar, Rev'Canon E. D. Rice, presiding. . TEMPORARY -ASSISTANT. The Vicar stated that he had been asked by the Bishop to undertake the training in parish affairs of a Alaori student to be ordained this month. The assistant thus to be. appointed wouldremain in the parish for six months er a year. Another would be'attached to the Hastings parish, similarly. DUPLEX FINANCE SYSTEM. The .Vicar introduced to the notice of the meeting the Church Duplex Fund, which, involved a systematic system of giving, explained here recently by Captain Watson. The method meant that each person decided what he or she should give to asist the, work,.of the Church, and took a fair share in the financial responsibilities. He mentioned the Sunday collection on a wet day—in aid of the Alaori Alission, £4 15/11 being the inadequate total although perhaps good effort as applied to the few present, Such haphazard' methods were not satisfactory as evidenced by shop days, bazaars, etc. Reference was made to the need, for systemised finance. Last year £l.lO had been realised for missions, as compared with £26 during the previous .period, and £2 earlier, but 'the contributions should be placed on an equitable basis; The scheme would be introduced, if adopted, at the beginning of the next financial year. Air W. G. Bryce proposed that the Duplex envelope system be adopted. Air J. H. Kibblewhitc seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. NEW CHURCH. - SITE QUESTION. Canon Rice said the Vestry had decided that the scheme of building the Church on the Vicarage site' should be brought down for approval by parishioners. He. moved: “That this meeting approves of the Vestry ’s plan to build the new Church on the front of the Vicarage site,” and in speaking to his motion made a strong plea for unity along lines of best solving God’s Kingdom in the parish. He favoured erecting the Church near the Vicarage because it would facilitate the work of the Church and its direct control, including the improvement of the —which should be well kept? He had inaugurated. daily services and desired to continue this feature of Church activities, Throughout the year, The Church should be kept open all day. and the Porangahau Road site would lend itself to this objective. It had been the opinion of the Bishop, Archdeacon Simkin, and the Rev Air Stace, that the Vicarage -site was the best, and his two years’ observation convinced him of the desirability of this location. The cemetery area, adjacent to the present site of the Church, should be vested in Cemetery Trustees or the Borough Council. Religious training was essential and he hoped that if the Government adhered, to its secular system of education they would event-, ually have-a day school of their own —■ the present Parish Hall was not adequate for the Sunday School work. The Vicar was applauded on concluding. Air Kibblewhitc strongly /supported the proposal of the Vicar. He said that the Church was fc-r-t’t-nate in having such a fine Vicarage site. In.his opinion the town would continue to grow —it had doubled itself in the past 12 years covering the period of his knowledge of the parish. The drift of residential development was in the direction of the Vicarage, the*site of which -would in the no distant future become the centre of the town residentially. The site would be an excellent one for the new Church and Parish Hall. The nearness of the Hospital was another claim to the credit of the Vicarage location. Sentiment had been referred to in support of the old site, on the hill, but it was the service of God should be the first consideration. The Vicarage site —an adequate one would best assist the Vicar and his helpmate. He seconded the motion amidst .applause. In answer, to Air L. A. Bowen, the chairman stated that voting by proxy is not allowed by the canons. of the Church, nor ordinary usage. In reply to Mrs J. Winlove, Canon R’-fee said that registration on the

Churchwarden’s Poll for a period of two months was necessary as a preliminary to voting. Mr J. Winlove paid a tribute to the Vicar, also Mr Kibblewhite as to their obvious sincerity. He said that the impression conveyed was that the Vestry was unanimously in favour of the proposal advocated. Two members opposed to the change were absent from the last meeting—Messrs Duckworth and Steer —he could not answer for the opinions of the third absentee, and had they been present the position would have been a different one. In his opiuionMlic present site was best suited for Church needs. On sentimental grounds he favoured the present site. He hoped that any decision made would not hurt the Church. If those urging the claims of the Vicarage site would stop to think, they would not he so readily prepared to support the change, (applause.)

Mr I. W. N. Mackie said that he had been, impressed with the views of"the Vicar and Mr Kibblewhite. He would like however to hear the reasons of opponents for their point of view. Mr Bowen spoke against the proposed change, on geographical grounds, and pointed out that the A icarage silo was too far removed as applied to the residential convenience of the majority of parishioners. He observed that the Vicar had, previously, supported the Parish Hall site.

Mr G. R. Ellison (secretory) sail that he favoured the present coramaucling site as being best suited to meet parish requirements. The city trend had been to remove churches into the quieter —residential —areas, rather than seek proximity to the main highways. The old site of three-quarters of an acre would be adequate for all purposes, including a Vicarage. He considered the Vicarage site could be more readily sold than the church area. The cemetery reservation was a disability as applied to the disposal of the present Church site. Mr Robinson said he was a supporter of the proposed change, and stood by the Vicar, regarding the matter as one of confidence or no-confidence. Air Winlove protested against the suggestion of confidence or otherwise in the Vicar and the chairman upheld the point of view that consideration of the Vicar personally should not enter into the merits of the question. Mr Bryce supported the proposed change of site, and pointed out that the-rates, totalling £29, on the Vicarage site, would bo reduced by utilising a portion of the area for a new Church, and the rates, £9, on the Sunday School site would also be saved by the sale of this section. Eventually the rates would approximate £SO. The first bell rang and the first Waipukurau service was held on the Vicarage site. VICAR’S REPLY. The chairman in ■ reply said that he had not intended to infer that the Vestry’s decision was unanimously arrived at, but had placed before the meeting the recommendations adopted. Mr Leigh’s property was in the centre of the borough, and the Vicarage therefore occupied the more central position. The building fund of the new Church would be helped greatly by the sale of the present site, which was purchased for £lOO hence gift conditions did not operate against selling. He asked in all earnestness, that the vote pro or con be recorded in a spirit, worthy of the occasion. It had been mentioned that he had at one time favoured the Parish Hall site as best suited for the Church. This however, was on a compromise basis, and later observations as to the desirability of close control and the attractions of the Vicarage site, had caused him to become convinced that the right place having regard not only to present needs, but future development, was the latter. THE VOTING. On a vote, being taken, on the voices, the ayes and the nocs appeared to be of equal volume. A division -was called for, and Messrs Bryce * and Ellison were appointed by the chairman to act as scrutineers. On the show of hands an obvious majority of votes were recorded against the motion.< Mr Bryce expressed regret that the point of voting rights had been raised, as all parishioners should take part. (Applause.) Mr Ellison said that usually; the votes of subscribers were accepted, and voting riot confined to registered Church members. It was a question whether the canons of the Church could be departed from however. The chairman said that he felt obliged to support adherence to .the registered roll as completed two months back.

Mrs Eeid commented on the fact that she and others had no knowledge of the need for signing the membership declaration book. A fresh division was takem in accordance with the ruling given, resulting:— For the motion 2S Against the motion —. 36 The Vicar said that he felt sure that those who favoured the A icarage site vtbuld now loyally support the decision to retain the old location as that for the new building. He hoped the parishioners would continue to show the keen interest evinced that night in the affairs of the Church, and that its spiritual advancement would he heartily promoted in the. future. The meeting was then closed in the customary manner.