CATHEDRAL PARISH

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19564, 1 May 1935, Page 4

CATHEDRAL PARISH

YEAR OF ADVANCEMENT.

BISHOP’S REGIME AS DEAN,

■ FINANCIAL SURPLUS SHOWN. Sphitual and material advances in many directions have been m&de by St. Petef’s Cathedral Parish during the year and the general progress made was favourably reviewed at the Annual meeting of parishioners In St. 'Peter's Hall last evening.- The Cean, the Very Rev. T. P. Weathefhog, presided over an attendance of about 60. Other clergy present were the RCvs, W. M. Smallfleld, ip. Sergei, F. 0. Dawson and S. Oxentorldge. Bishop’S Review. “ The spiritual work Of the parish has, I think, shown steady progress,” said'the Bishop, in his review of the year’s Work. “The Rev. W, M. Smallfield has again for another year takeri the responsibility of St. Aldan’s dis* trict off my hands and has done thd work there, I think, to the satiated* tlon of most people concerned. My other ttVo colleagues, the iftev, F, lOv Dawson and the Rev. G. C, H. Phillips, have been of the greatest help in the parish, everyone Having been regularly and systematically visited. The church attendances have been Up tcf the mark, while the Communions made have been steadily maintained. “ The generosity of our church people has been phenomenal and is a very real criterion of our spiritual life. It is for this reason that I dwell, on this in detail. The queen carnival held last May and June brought about results that exceeded all my hopes and we were able to assist St.deorge’s In a very real way, to materially assist St. Mary’s, Gordonton, to secure What was necessary for the cathedral clock, and to reduce the debt on Hamilton Bast to very small . dimensions. But it Was the hearty goodwill ahd readiness to help on the part of all Con--e'erned that made the effort really Worth while, and we feel sure that all Who helped were really pleased With' their, success,

“We have provided a new Window on the north side of the Nave;' and secured a permanent cross fori SR, Arm’s Chapel and' other 1 necessary things with a generous ahonyrtioUs donation, We have paid £IOO Off Hall's mortgage, and I ealfieStiy h6pe at least,another £ioo Will he dealt with this year.”'

Some Forward Steps, Missionary boxes had prOduCed over £ioo during the year, added His Lord* ship, credit for this result being due Id the clergy, the secretary; the ReV,' B. i , Addis, and the contributors. The choir had been presented With a new hound set of ahtlienis. Last July a second-great forward step m the spiritual life of tile parish was made in the consecration of a beautiful new church at Gordonton. This was opened' and 'consecrated free of debt and since that date many vaiU* able gifts had been given to and- made for the church, Which was now almost entirely seated for the Congregation, Another forward step, prepared for during the year, but only consummated Just past it, was the dedication on Palin Sunday of St. Aldan’s Church hall as a church, to be set aside entirely for divine worship. Thus the parish Was now blessed with four “ Houses of God” and this fact was a further proof of the spiritual advances land it was hoped it would make for still further progress. A word of praise for the work of the four ladies’ Guilds in the Cathedral parisli was voiced by (he Bishop, who maintained that the St. Peter’s Guild had set aside £75 for a reredos in the cathedral and had given half the (money for the 'complete re-roofing of the cathedral. The frontals which they had presented and made were now complete with the handsome greed one, for which thanks were extended to Mrs Curling ahd her friends, having been finished for the Sunday after Epiphany. The St. Mary’s, St. Aidan’s and St. David’s Guilds had also done great Work.

“With all my heart I thank these ladies -for their self-denying work, and congratulate them on the success of their efforts and hope they may long work for the various excellent objects that they have at heart,” added the speaker, who also thanked the cathedral organist and choir, the dean and chaplain, and the many .officers and bodies associated with the Church and !ho Sunday schools',-for their devoted work, special-reference being made to 'the service rendered by fhe clergy. Aftor reading the Bishop’s address (lie Dean expressed deep appreciation to the clergy, choir and .parishioners for the very warm welcome lie had already received: and Intimated that lie looked forward with confidence to .ilie loyally and support..he knew would be forthcoming in. tho 'coming year. ...

The..financial statement showed the revenue at i'tOOS and the expenditure, at £9Ol. Of the total receipts the .Cathedral provided £BIO and (he oufr districts CUT.- Tile sum Of £173 was contributed to missions and the Cathedral offertories during the year totalled £521. On the expenditure side stipends totalled £25 and administrative expenses £470. Wardens’ Report, “We wish to express, on behalf of the chapter, and tho parish as a whole, sincere thanks and appreciation of the wonderful help given to the parish by his Lordship the Bishop during his term of office as acting Vicar of the Parish,” stated the report presented bv the wardens, Messrs A. B. Whyte and J. T. Reid. “His Lordship relinquished the. post on thO first of March and the Very Rev. Dean Weatherhob took over from that dateWe feel sure that (he Dean will have the same loyal support, and cu-rpera-lion that was given to the Bishop."

in reviewing the finances of the Parish, the report drew attention 10 iho fact that again the accounts showed a surplus. The overdraft had been reduced by £B2, the parish had met ils quotas for missions, and £IOO has been paid in reduction of mortgage dolts and £62 on painting and reovatin / the vicarage. Tho quee; carnival had been a huge success, oCoring very material assistance to the sister parish of Frank ton in reducing ils huge load of debt, by some £425 and at tho same time giving much needed assistance to belli Gordonton and Hamilton East .hi clearing their capital debts. The outdistricts had shouldered their responsibilities as usual and assisted the

Chapter in meeting the annual charges for stipends and running expense*. Thanks were extended to the Greater Chapter for placing the McNicol bequest of £SO at the disposal of the Chapter' for renewing the Cathedral roof and the Ladies’ Guild for contributing' a further £SO to the same object. "The general position 'With regard to finance needs careful consideration as the Parish Will now haVe to find approximately £1250 per annum to meet all commitments, ’’ the retort continued. “However,- we feel 'confident that parishioners as a Whole Will give the Wardeiis and Chatter their wholehearted co-operation in this matter, and that the Parish will Continue to give a lead and (be ah encouragement to all struggling districts in the Diocese." . .

Referring to the request of the conventional district of Claudolands to be made a separate Parochial district, tile report stated that the matter had yet to toe considered in detail and Was required to be thoroughly Investigated by the incoming 'Chapter, before any decision could be arrived at. ' The annual report and statement of accounts were adopted.

Mr R. English pointed out that all fees and “tips" acquired toy the Bishop at marriage, baptismal ahd other ceremonies had been donated toy His Lordship to the warden's fUhd dr other church fund. This .statement Was confirmed toy Messrs A, B, Whyte and J. T. Reid, the warded*.

Officers for the Year.

The election of officers resulted:— Dean's warden, Mr A. B'. Whyte; People’s Warden, Mr F. B. Hall; Lesser Chapter, Messrs C. H, E. Barton, F. H, Olapham, A, C, Dinihioek, R, English, H. s. innes’-Johes, l. V. Judd, J. T, Reid, -S, E. Senior, E, L, Watkins, G. Wheeler; representatives on Synod, Messrs 'II. G. Sergei and F. H. Clap- , ham.; hon. auditor, Mr Hi Pi Haadrd. 1 An outline of the proposal to enable parishioners to make regular contributions to the church through the envelope scheme was given by,Mr S. E. Senior. *A resolution promising support to fhe scheme wad carried. ' Hearty votes of thanks were passed to the hon. auditor, Mr ft, P, Hazard, to the various queens who participated In the Queen Carnival last year, and to Mr J. T. Reid, former people’s warden. Appreciation, expressed by long acclamation, was also advanced at the work of the Bishop While acting Dean. Rhe meeting dosed With prayer.