CHURCH MEETINGS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2449, 30 April 1915, Page 3

CHURCH MEETINGS

ST. LUKE'S, WADESTOWN. The annual meeting of parishioners of St. Luke's,' Wadestown, was held on Wednesday night, wheh the vicar, tho Rev. Cyril H. Harvey, presided over about 80 parishioners. It was pointed out that the congregations and offertories had very materially increased during the- past year, and the balancesheet showed a deficit of only 30 shillings. The vicar asked for a more hearty support of the services conducted by the lay readers of the district. The members of the Ladies' Guild were heartily thanked for t heir hard work in connection with-the sale of work, which realised £74. Reference was made to "the improvements made in the church by the addition of new carpets and white hangings, and parishioners were thanked for their generous donations towards this object., A scheme was submitted for forming a permanent Church Decoration Fund, and met with very considerable support in the room. The vicar pointed out that he. had divided the Sunday School into two separate departments—a catechism for the elder children and an infant department. He invited, parishioners to attend, the catechism any Sunday afternoon in the church and see tlife working of it. themselves.

lie election of officers resulted as follows Vicar's warden, Mr. IL Pankhurst; people's warden, Mr; F. J. Halse; jestry, Messrs. B. S. Withers,; P. J. Wilkinson, il. X. Simmons, Noble, G. Taylor, Wyatt, J. G. Cooke, H. T. Cook, Stuart, and Goyder; auditor, Mr. Moms. ■ The singing of the National Anthem terminated the first part of the proceedings. ' The members of the Ladies' Guild then handed round refreshments, and a musical programme followed,' in which the following took part:—Miss Goyder, Mr. B. S. Withers, Mr. George Taylor, Mr. Wyatt, the Misses Clare Cooper and Janie Halse, Master Rodney Pankhuist, and the vicar.

ST. AUGUSTINE'S PARISH. At the annual meeting of St.-Augus-' tine's parishioners at l'etone the llev. tv. B. Stephenson presided. The annual report stated that all liabilities had been met,/an'd the deficit had been substantially reduced. sale of work held, during the year realised the sum of, £85, £75. of which was paid off the church _ debt, the ' balance had' been placed in the current account; £50 was in hand from the letting of, .the hall, which Would be used to reduce the loan which at present was £100. During the year the Eastern Sunday School was completed; and with an advance of £26 from the general account had been paid for. ' Officers were elected as follow:— Vicar's churchwarden,! Mr. J- Castle; parishioners' churchwarden, Mr. Johnston; vestry, Messrs. : Fowler, Shenvin,' Matthews, Andrews, Heathcote, Claridge, Morgan, Abrahall, ; AVatt, and Miller. ' .

PRESBYTERIAN' CHURCH, ISLAND . 'BAY. ■ : ■ A well-attended meeting of, the. In Meniorian. Presbyterian' Congregation, Island Bay, was held 011/ Monday evening,. the Rev. R. Wood in the chair. The special business was to consider what should be done to reinstate'the church that, had been almost entirely destroyed by lira recently. It. was resolved that the'old building be reinstated and ' enlarged, and specially adapted for Sunday School purposes. It was further resolved that steps tie 'taken > erect a new church as soon, as pes--'bible; and that a special'' building com•mittee be authorised to collect money and tb proceed with the worjj. It .was reported l ; .ihat subscriptions amounting to £117 ; -have' been promised .towards this movement by. members of;the cmgregatioii and outside the 'congregation unsolicited. The proposed new 'church is to .bo part..of a,-design that, could be enlarged when'needed. It was further agreed, on tile motion of Mr. Bath, ; that the new, 'Church Praise be. in-" troduced, into tlao Church service. ■

ST.' JOHN'S ; CHUKCH, FEATHERSTO'N ' A meeting.of tfie parishioners of St. John's Church,- Featherston was held on-Wednesday evening,. the Vicar (the Rev. J.' G. S. Bartlett) presiding. General receipts for the year were £262 14s. MOd., "and the expenditure £237-' las. 2d., leaving a balance on hand of £24 19s. Bd. The buildings fund showed the cost . of-, the vicarage as £1062 2s. 10d.) of which £779 Os. sd. has been paid off, leaving £283 2s. sd. still.duo."' . Subscribers to the building fund were:—-Mr. and Mrs. William •Barton, Messrs. J. 0. Bidwill, W. E. BidwiLU •, and Alfred Matthews, £100 each; Mr. vt J. Toogood, £20; Mr. D. H. S.'-Riddiford donated th? acre of land 011 which tho vicarage is erected; Mrs. Barton also contributing an additional sum of £149, being proceeds of a garden party at "Fareham.'' A motion of condolence was passed to the relatives of the late Mr. J." G. Cox, who.ha-d been an active member of the church for "over 40. years. The officers eksted were:—-Vicar's warden, Mr. Geo. Fenwick; parishioners' warden, Mr. D, H.' S. Riddiford; vestry, Messrs. W. Buck, I. •V. Wilson, A. Stubbs, Wm. Benton, J; Carne Bidwill, F. E. Merlet, E. A. Laery, A. J. Toogood, James Dalton, Dr. Palmer; auditor, Mr. A. H. Knowles. A social gathering was held .after the business was concluded, musical and vocal contributions being rendered by the choir, Miss Fenwick, Miss L. Hodder, Mrs. Wickens, Mrs, Stubbs. Miss Walker, Miss England, Miss Dalton, Miss Machon, Messrs. A. Stubbs, G. Fenwick, and the Rev. i J. G. S. Bartlett.