HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, LYTTELTON.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2232, 23 April 1881, Page 2

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, LYTTELTON.

The annual parish meeting of this church was held in the schoolroom on Friday night, the incumbent, the Bev. J. Townsend, pre* siding. The attendance of parishioner* was meagre. The meeting was opened with prayer, after which the Chairman referred briefly to the satisfactory state of the finances of the church, as shown in the under-men-tioned report-. The reverend chairman spoke at length of the good services performed during tbe past year by the vestry, churchwardens, and all who had filled offices in connection with the work of the church, and paid a worthy meed of praise to the church-choir and to the superintendent of the Sabbath School, Mr A. Joyce, and to the staff of teachers. The chairman, in the course of his remarks upon his own work, said it was within bis knowledge that books of an infidel and sceptical character wore circulated and read in the families of some of the congregation. He had in this connection taken steps towards starting a Christian Evidence Society, and he trusted, as soon as the present busy season had passed, tho matter would take practical shape. The Secretary, Mr H. M. Spenoer, read theminutes of the last annual meeting, and they wore confirmed. Mr F. Ward read particulars ef the receipts and expenditure for the past year. The statement showed that a debit balanoe of £7l 8s 2d was started with, and this had been reduced during the year to £sl 15s present debt owing by the congregation. He produced a li-t of offertories, showing an analysis of the offertory at each service, the number of pounds, half-sovereigns, fiveshilling pieces, half-crowns, florins and shillings, sixpences, fourpenny and threepenny pieces, coppers, buttons, and bits of lollies. The list when read caused some'little amusement, though Mr Ward strongly protested that the fact of something over 2900 of the smallest silver coin known to the British currency figuring in tbe year's offertories was a complimentary feature of his financial statement. He concluded by asking for a subscription list to be started to wipe off the debit balanoe. The cemetery account showed a credit balance of £8 lGs Id.

Mr Joyce read reports of the Sunday School Fund and Melaneeian Fund, the oredic balance of which now stood at 4b 2d. All the reports and statements were proved. The election of officers was then proceeded wi'fa, the first being minister's churchwarden —Dr. Rouse retiring, Mr F. Ward wns unanimously chosen in bis place. As parochial ohurchwarden—Mr Jas. was proposed. Mr Dawe wished to be excused. Mr Derbidge being proposed also declined ; also Mr Puflett. Mr Dawe was ultimately persuaded to uudortake the office. Six vestrymen were elected, as follow :—Messrs H. Allwright, A. Joyce, H. M. Spencer, W. "Whitby, J. T. R:ju*o, R. Puflett; with Messrs W. H. Lance and R. Cotton as auditors. A speoial rote of thanks was passed to Mr 3. Allwright for his kindness in advancing money during the year, and the choir and Mr W. J. Dawo also received a vote of thanks. The thanks of the parish were given to those who took part in the entertainments, and a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the ladies who assisted at the conversazione. A. vote of thanks was also passed to the outgoing vestry. Acting upon the suggestion of the treasurer, a subscription list was started in the room to liquidate the debit-balance referred to above. Several subsoribed to it at onoe. The Chairman closed the meeting with, prayer.