PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Chronicle (Levin), 15 August 1946, Page 4

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

ANNUAL MEETING HELD REPORTS ON YEAR'S WORK Last evening the annual meeting of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church was "held in the schoolroom. Reports for the year ending June 30 last were presented by M*.. W. Davie, on behalf of the session, and by Mr. M. J. Munro, on behalf of the board of managers. The financial statement was presented by the treasurer, Mr. G. Cameron. Two important events in the life of St. Andrew's had taken place — the retirement of Rev. N. H. Finch and the call to Rev. A. Salmond. Appreciation was expressed of the good work done during a ministry of five years by Rev. N. H. and Mrs. Finch. The number of names on the communion roll (146) showed an increase on the figure recorded at the annual meeting of August, 1945. Session reported that the minister was conducting regular services at St. Andrew's Hall, Waitarere Beach, and had also undertaken a monthly service at Muhunoa East and at Levin Farm, Kimberley Road. An appeai was made for additional members of the youth staff of the congregation. It, was essential that the Sunday School obtain additional staff and that leader.-ynp should be forthcoming for Young Men's Bible C1S.SS work. Officefs for the coming year were elected as follows: — Session: Messrs. W. Davie, A. Brash, M. J. Munro, A. G. H. Bodley, J. A. Chapman and A. L. Lumsden; board of managers: Messrs. G. Cameron, F. G. Thomson, C. Bartholomew, S. L. Lumsden, L. G. Court, C. Knight, R. Suteliffe and M. Wright, Mrs. C. Bartholomew and Miss E. Anderson; Presbyterian Women's Missionary Union: Mrs. A. Brash (president), Mrs. A. Salmond and Mrs.. Kerr (vice-presidents) , Miss E. Anderson (secretary), Mrs. Fletcher (treasurer) ; Presbyterian Ladies' Guild: Mrs. M. S. Bartholomew (president) , Mrs. A. Prouse (secretary) , Mrs. J. A. Chapman (treasurer) ; Senior Young Women's Bible Class: Mrs. A. Salmond (leader), Miss E. Hitchings (secretary) ; superintendent of cradle roll: Mrs. S. Lumsden. The financial statement revealed that the year had been a successful one. For the missionary work and wider work of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, the congregation had given £115 11s lld. A notable feature in the administration of the year had been tlie final payment to the New Century Fund of £60. The loan had been incurred for manse repairs many years ago. The board of managers was able to report that the property of the congregation was in reasonable condition, and that minor improve.ments had been carried out in the manse grounds. During the year the ladies' guild had assisted the administration by gifts amounting to £75. An interesting sketch of an improved interior set out for the church was studied by members present, and the board of managers was instructed to go more fuliy into the matter. The meeting agreed to the suggestion that a building maintenance fund be opened in order that heavy items of expenditure, such as repainting the church or manse, and linking the properties to a borough sewerage system, should not fall heavily on the resources of any particular year. Thanks were expressed to all whose voluntary work had contributed to the life and service of St: Andrew's Presbyterian Church in 1945-46.