ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, LOWER HEATHCOTE.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 25, 29 June 1874, Page 3

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, LOWER HEATHCOTE.

A meeting of the members of the Church of England attending St John's churchy Lower Heathcote, was held on Saturday evening at half-past seven o'clock, at the Woolston Library, to consider the present unsatisfactory state of parish affairs. On the motion of Mr J. W. Davis, Mr Stuckey was voted to the chair. The chairman having briefly opened the proceedings requested Mr J. W. Davis to state the object of the meeting. Mr J. W. Davis said, that at the request of some other persons he had written to the churchwardens calling their attention to the present unsatisfactory state of the parish affairs and pointing out that under the present system there were three morning services held at St. Mark's Church, Opawa, to one at St. John's, Lower Heathcote ; and as the average attendance at St. John's was fully equal to that of St. Mark's, if not larger, a manifest injustice was being done by the present system to the congregation of St. John's. To this Mr Harley hal replied, regretting the dissatisfaction that existed, and suggesting that as the matter was one with which the vestry had no power to deal, it should be referred to the incumbent. , Upon the receipt of Mr Harlcy's letter, he (Mr Davis) had consulted with others of the parishioners, and the result was that the present meeting had been called. Mr H. A. Bamford proposed the following resolution : " That this meeting is of opinion that the unsatisfactory arrangement of Sunday services demands the earnest consideration of the members of St. John's Church."

Mr Clark seconded the motion, which was agreed to unanimously. Mr William Kennaway moved—•' That a deputation wait upon the incumbent to call his attention to the dissatisfaction that exists at the present arrangement of the services at St John's Church." Mr Nicholls seconded the motion.

Mr J. W. Davis moved, as an amendment —" That this meeting again affirms the oftexpressed feeling of the parish that nothing would tend so much to the welfare of the church as the services of an assistant curate, and that a deputation wait upon the incumbent to ascertain the reason why the services of the assistant curate were dispensed with, and to protest against the present arrangement of the Sunday services." Mr Clark seconded the amendment. The chairman having put the amendmeut to the meeting declared it to be carried. The following gentlemen were appointed e deputation to wait on the incumbent:— Messrs Stuckey, J. W. Davis, Clark, Palmer, and William Kennaway, The deputation to report to a meeting to be held on Saturday next.

A vote of thanks to the chaii man terminated the proceedings.