CHURCH MEETINGS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 88, 15 April 1911, Page 2

CHURCH MEETINGS.

ST. MICHAEL'S, KELBURNE. At the «ixth annual meeting of St. Michael's Church, Kelburne, Archdeacon Harper presiding, there wa6 a fair attendance. The annual report stated that on the whole considerable progress has been made in church matters at Kelburne during the year just closed, the Sunday services (now held morning and evening) being well attended, and the various organisations working emoothly and steadily in their respective spheres. The district had lost a good friend in the Rev. G. P. Davys, who had returned to England. Mr. Davys took a prominent part in the movement for establishing a. branch of the Church in Kelburne, and to hie wise counsel and practical help ie largely due whatever measure of success has been attained. During the few months Archdeacon Harper, the new vicar of St. I?eter'6, had been in charge, he had not spared himself, and through his instrumentality much haa been done to secure greater efficiency in the various church organisations engaged in advancing the work in the district. The retirement of Bishop Wallie, who for months past has been a resident of Kelburne, will be very much felt throughout the diocese. His Lordship had always shown a warm personal interest in. the welfare of Kelburne Church, and the kind and practical help rendered by him in connection with the fpi*vices at St. Michael's would be gratefully remembered by the congregation, whose earnest hope would be that the Bishop might speedily recover his health, and enjoy many years of happiness in whatever field of labour he might be engaged in in the future. The Sunday School wae now well staffed and there were from 60 to 70 children on the roll. Donations of books for the school library would b* thankfully received. The great improvement in the attendance at the various services >yas very largely due to the general mission held last year. In view of the improvement in the attendance and the increased earnestness resultant from the mission, the idea of building a permanent church in Kelburne must not be lost sight of, and if things continued as at present the new committee would have to consider the question of raising funds for the erection of a new building There wa6 a credit balance on current account of £45 7s Bd. • The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, referred to the satisfactory progress that had been made during the last twelve months in Church matters at Kelburne, and expressed his hope that the time was not far distant when the ■committee would be seriously considering the question, of the erection of a permanent Church. The Archdeacon expressed his deep regret at the retirement of Bishop Wallis, and referred to the warm personal interest his Lordship and Mrs. Wallis had always shown in the welfare oi Kelburne Church. The kind and practical help rendered by the bishop in connection with the services at St. Michael's would be gratefully remembered by the congregation, whose earnest hope would be for his- health and happiness in the new sphere of work he was taking up in England. Mr. Longhurst seconded the motion for the adoption of the report, which was carried. The election of officers was 1 then proceeded with, and resulted a-s follows: — Honorary secretary, Mr. J. S. Jameson ; honorary treasurer, Mr. D. Bray ; committee, Misses Austin, Collins, Cachemaille, Stephens, and Sturtevaiit. The parochial auditors of St. Petei's were reelected auditors. A vote of thanks was accorded to l Mr. E. D. Cachemaille fo? his past 6ervices as treasurer. An address trom fche committee on behalf of the congregation, beautifully illuminated by Mr. Sturtevant, for presentation to the bishop, was exhibited to the meeting and much admiied. ST. MARK'S. The report of the parish cf St. Mark for the year ending 31st March states that the year now closed has been memorable in the history of the Church of New Zealand, because of the visit of the General Mission. The vestry and churchwardens of St. Mark's record their thankfulness to Almighty God for the spiritual blessings that have descended from Him into our midst through the mission. They gratefully acknowledge- their high appreciation of the earnest and devoted work cf our missioner, the Rev. C. F. C. de Carteret. The C.EM.S. has served a useful purpose in the economy of the parish and did excellent work in preparation for the mission. Of the work of Sister Constance but one opinion can be held : there was need in the pai'ish. for her, and she has admirably done what was needed. Tho finances of the parish are undoubtedly in a, secure position. The general offertories show an increase of £28 as compared with last year's.; the five special offertories on the other hand show a decrease of £10. There is a loss of revenue under the heading of seat rents, but more than half of this loss is due to the fact that there are fewtr Church boarders at the college than in past years. _ The vestry call the attention of parishioners to the large sum spent in necessary repairs to church and vicarage. They feel that this must be a constantly increasing figure on the bal-ance-sheet, both buildings being riddled •with borer. The year has closed with a credit balance of £36 17s 4d, as against £96 14s 6d, but there is a sum of £150 on deposit, part of which is earmarked for ths Parish Mission. They have pleasure in recommending that £100 be handed to the Parish Trust Board. By the recent death of Mrs. Coffey, the Church property at Roseneath falls into the "hands of the Parish Trust Board for the benefit of the parish, but, according to the terms of the Rev. Richard Coffey's will, it is probable that many years will elapse before the parish reaps the benefit of the larger part of his generous legacy. The main Sunday-school at St. Mark's has maintained its prestige- for the excellent tone that pervades the school. Mr. R. P. Bray has continued his tactful work as superintendent, and there is a full staff of teachers. | The Parish Magazine was revived in August, 1910. The circulation has improved lately, but it is still much too tow to enable the paper to pay for itself.