WILLOWBY WESLEYAN CHURCH.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2237, 26 September 1889, Page 2

WILLOWBY WESLEYAN CHURCH.

The anniversary celebration In oonneowith the Wlllowby Wesleyan Or.urch, whioh has jast takon plaoe, has proved In all respeoia a pronounoed sucoess. The special services on Sunday last were Attended by crowded congregations and (ho offertories were oonilderably In •dvanoa of those of last year. The Rev R. 8. Buon oocnpled the pulpit, taking for his eobjaot In the morning "The Christian's Hope," and In th« evonlng "The Prodigal Sot." On Wednesday evonlng a soiree took plaoe In tbe sobool room, at whioh there wai an immense sttondano?, so Urge that (here were four relays at the tables. Besides all the Wlllowby poople, friends assembled from Wlnalow, Flpming^on, Waterton and Ashbqrton with a few from so far away a* the Ponlnsu'a, aiid all gppesred thoroughly to enj iy tberoaelveo, and the good tbiogs provided. The tables were presided over by Mesdsmes Lowp, Chapman, Wheeler and Frump ton, assisted by the young ladles of tbe congregation. At the aftermeeting the Rev J. N. Battle ooaupled tna chair, and Addresses wore delivered by the R?v Chairman, Rerß Booihroyd (Primitive Mathodlst), B>ke (Presby ceri>u) and liana, and UJr S phapmaa. These were intetnperaed by anthems and aacrod songs oxaellently performed by the choir, under the le*c?e ship of Mr Wheeler, organist of the oboroh. A abort fimno'a! statement road by Mr Ohapmnn was of a most p'onslng character. It ehowed that boiidea moating current expontliture, a <Zebt of £90 had b-sen o'eired off tho church property during Ibe yoar, or rathor wQuld'be bo olp'arel oft when the proceeds of tho tea-meeting Wbre brought to' account, and tflat the WJHowby congrog'a tion bad m the past twelve month's contributed tho la-go aum of £100 toirardsj tho support of the ministry m the Ashburton oircuit. It was also reported tnatthe Sunday Pobobl under ihesiiperintendoncy of Mr B. Lowe was m a thriving p jndition end doing good work among the young, faring the meeting feeling reference tfas m>do to the death of Mrs Aitken, S9nior, ! a lady who was for many years a member of jtbe congregation and who tpokf great Interest m the work of the churchi At the u&nclußjb,n hgarty vote 3 of thmks wer6 p^sed to |be J»dieu, Bpenkeis,aud choir oud also to MrsS!O dda(t and otner ladiea for tho gift of • bandeomo pulpit oushion end furniture, aud tho proceedings wore brought to a olobo by jfcae Banediotion .