KAIAPOI WESLEYAN CHURCH.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 249, 30 March 1875, Page 4

KAIAPOI WESLEYAN CHURCH.

The anniversary sermons of the above Church were preached on Sunday,March 27th, in the morning and evening by the minister of the Church, the Rev R. Bavin. The evening sermon was the last which the rev gentleman will preach to hio congregation, previous to his removal to Wanganui, according to conference appointment. The congregations were large, that in the evening crowding the church to its utmost capacity. In the afternoon Mr Bavin delivered an appriate address to the teachers and scholars connected with the Sunday school. Yesterday the annual tea meeting was held in the schoolroom, at which 300 persons assembled and took tea, the trays being provided and presided over by the ladies of the congregation.

After tea a public meeting was held in the Church, which, in addition to its connection with the Sunday school, partook of a valedictory character. The church was crowded, seats havihg to he placed in the aisles for many of the congregation. Mr Blackwell, after the usual devotional exercises, took the chair as superintendent of the Sunday school, as well as one of the stewards of the Kaiapoi circuit. In the course of a few remarks introductory to the object of the meeting, he dwelt upon the value of Sunday schools in the formation of youthful character, and also directed attention to the loss which their church was about to sustain in the removal of their pastor. Mr Lock, secretary, read the report of the school, and the treasurer’s financial statement, both of which showed the school to be in a prosperous condition. Addresses were subsequently given by the Revs H. Bull, A. R. Fitchett, and J. Armitage, all of whom made reference to their personal esteem for Mr Bavin, and to their knowledge of his zealous and efficient labors in the various departments of the church’s work. Mr Blackwell then said that it devolved upon him, by instructions from the quarterly meeting of the Kaiapoi circuit, to present to the Rev R. Bavin the following address, and in doing so, assured the rev gentlemen that it expressed not merely his own sentiments, but the views and feelings of the Kaiapoi congregation and circuit at large. The address was as follows : “To the Rev R. Bavin. Dear sir,—ln compliance with a resolution passed at our last quarterly meeting, we beg to convey to you an appreciation of the valuable services rendered by you, through God’s blessing, to this circuit during your zealous and successful administration of its affairs; also the sincere regret we, in common with all our people, feel at your removal from us. We beg likewise to forward you a copy of a resolution, which was heartily and unanimously carried at the same meeting : —‘ That this meeting thankfully records its appreciation of the zealous and successful manner in which the Rev R. Bavin has managed the affairs of this circuit, and regrets the necessity that exists for his removal.’ Wishing you and yours every blessing of the new and better covenant, and that you may ever abound in the fullness of the blessings of the Gospel of Peace. We remain, dear sir, yours very sincerely, G. H. Blackwell, B. Batb, circuit stewards, Kaiapoi. March 29th, 1875.” He felt much pleasure in accompanying the address with a purse containing twenty sovereigns, [Cheers.J The Rev R. Bavin, who said that he labored under the disadvantage of being unable to express the various thoughts and feelings occupying his mind, thanked the members of the church for the kindly, and he believed sincere, expression of esteem contained in the address. In a speech of some length the rev. gentleman referred to his connexion with the Wesleyan Church in Canterbury, extending now over a period of eight years, and to the unfeigned regret with which he left the province for the North Island. He would ever carry with him remembrances of much kindness shown to him, and of many occasions of happy intercourse, alike with ministers and people, throughout the term of his residence in Canterbury, and especially during the last three years of it spent in Kaiapoi. He concluded a very suitable address by words of instruction and encouragement to a church which would ever be dear to his heart.

Votes of thanks were passed to the ladies who had presided at the tea, to Mr and Miss Lock for training the children to sing their anniversary hymns,' and to the chairman for presiding. Thanks were also accorded to the Rev John Armitage, of Leithfield, who is about removing to Oamaru, for his services to the Kaiapoi circuit during the past two years. The proceedings of the meeting were enlivened by the singing of a selection of suitable hymns, prepared for the children by the teachers and the choir.

The proceeds of the anniversary services were stated by the chairman to have amounted to £BO.

The singing of the Doxology brought the meeting, which was of an interesting and impressive character throughout, to a close.