ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 70, 15 December 1921, Page 3

ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH

CONSTRUCTION OF FOUNDATIONS.

The rebuilding of St. Andrew’s Church was discussed at some length by the Presbytery on Tuesday. Recently a contract was let for tho foundations only. The Rev. S. R. Vrr explained that this was done without the sanction of the Presbytery, but tho St. Andrew’s board and congregation had no intention of being discourteous to that body. The whole crux of the matter was finance. The St. Andrew's board did not know how much money they would have to put under-ground in constructing the foundations, and therefore they would not know the amount available for tho building above-ground until the foundations were completed. They had in consequence Jet a separate tender for this portion of the work. There was little use in acting otherwise.

Tho Rev. W. J. Comrie said that the Presbytery had not been taken into the confidence of St. Andrew's board and congregation. It was proposed to spend money on these foundations (some £3OOO or £4OOO, he was told), and it did not seem to be wise to embark on such expenditure without having a fair idea of what tho church was going to cost. The Presbytery should be supplied with all information before it sanctioned the outlay. Mr. Orr said that it was the first time ho had he.ird, or any member of the board had heard, that the foundar tions would cost from £3OOO to £4600. The next meeting of , tho Presbytery would, be held in February, and it was thought that it would be a wise thing to have tho foundations put down in the meantime. The board could then inform the Presbytery of the cost of the church. On every occasion when St. Andrew’s Church went to the Presbytery tho same situation arose. Ho could not remember anything being brought up by him without some discussion ot this kind. He did not know whether they were bigger sinners than others. A contract had been let dor the foundations at so much per cubic yard, and they did not know yhat they were going to cost. If the Presbytery proposed to hold this matter up, he did not think it would be acting wisely. The Moderator (Rev. R. H. Catherwood) said that ho was very sorry matters had taken the turn they had. He was sure they all wished to help St. Andrew’s Church. The contract was let, and if the Presbytery told them to hoKi up the work the contractor would sue them. . On tho motion of the Bev. O. *>. Shaw, it was decided to accept Wr. Orr’s statement that no discourtesy was intended. The Presbytery sympathised with the congregation in its peculiar position, and hoped that the result ot the ivork would be that it would submit its plans in due course.