ST. MARY’S CHURCH, MERIVALE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2506, 19 April 1882, Page 3

ST. MARY’S CHURCH, MERIVALE.

Last Monday the annual meeting of the parishioners was hold in the schoolroom, and lasted an hour and twenty minutes. There was a moderate attendance. The Rev. Thos. Flavell, incumbent, presided, and tendered messages of apology for tbe absence of Messrs John Mann and Bllisdon through illness, and also of Messrs Q. A. Reade and Meadows.

The Chairman, having opened the proceedings with prayer, read the minutes of the previous annual meeting, which were confirmed.

Mr W. F. Bcateon read the annual report of the churchwardens (Messrs Beatson and Geo. Dickenson), the statement of receipts and expenditure for the year ending 31st March, duly audited, being taken as read. The enlargement of the church, sanctioned last year, had barn carried out, and the new orgau erected, without any expense to the vestry, A friend in the parish had kindly undertaken to pay for two years the amount of interest on the loan of £IOO borrowed from the Church Property Trustees. Owing to circumstances over which the vestry had had no control, the receipts for the current year had not reached the amount estimated. The expenditure amounted to £603 7a lid, the receipts to £519 12s Bd, miking an overdraft at the Bank (including the balance from last year of £l7l 15s sd) £260 10s Bd. Mrs R. H. Rhodes had given a bath-chair for the use of invalids in the parish, Mrs B. Rhodes (of Wellington) a silver commu don service, and Mrs G. Buck an alms dish and vases. The thanks of the parishioners are due to the choir, the Sunday school teachers, and the Ladies’ Working Society for their services during the year. In reply to Mr W. H. Lane, the Chairman stated that the organ fund was placed to a separate banking account from that of some of the items. Mr Lane commented on what ho deemed unwise financing in there being a credit balance on which no interest was being paid, and an overdraft on which there was interest paid. The parish really owed £260 10s Bd, £ll3 12s, and £100; or a total of £474 2s Bd, less £1 11s 3d, £9 Is lid, and £1 18s Id. In fact, the parish was indebted to the amount of £461 11s sd.

The Ocairman pointed out that tho moneys collected for the specific purpose of purchasing the orgau could not have been applied to any other purpose. Mr Lane disclaimed any supposition for one moment that there was a figure wrong. He had desired to simply complain of the manner in which the moneys had been manipulated. Mr Waymouth pointed out that the phrase

“ without any expense to the vestry ” was not literally accurate, in the face of the liabilities incurred in extensions and in procuring a now organ.

The Chairman intimated, in reply to a question, that he had himself become liable for a portion of the expenses undergone in connection with the organ, Mr J. Bxall proposed, and Mr Ferguson seconded, a motion that the report and balance-sheet be received and adopted. Mr Gibb said he thought it would greatly

simplify tho accounts it the whole of the moneys were to pass through the churchwardens’ hands, and wore placed to a single banking account, Mr Best also thought this plan would be preferable to that at present in vogue. The Chairman acquiesced in the propriety of the suggestion made by Mr Gibb, and supported by Mr Best, and expressed surprise at its not having been adopted by previous churchwardens. The “circumstances over which the vestry had had no control ” arose from the seat rents not reaching the amount anticipated, and from a falling off in the offertories, partly through the Cathedral having drawn away some of the congregation, and partly through some people having left the pariah. The deficit on the ordinary account was actually £BB 5s 2d. The average amount of the offertory each Sunday was £3 15s,

The report and balance-sheet were then adopted.

The Chairman moved—“ That the thanks of the parish were due to tbe churchwardens and the vestry for the efficient manner in which they had done their work.” Mr Lane seconded the proposal, which was carried by acclamation. Mr Beatson briefly returned thanks on behalf of the churchwardens and vestry. The Chairman paid a high tribute to the attention which Mr Beatson had uniformly paid (o the affairs of tho church in the capacity of clergyman’s churchwarden. The following were elected the vestry for the ensuing year:—Messrs J. Mann, Meadows, Shaw, Ristrick. J, P. Ward, Grimes, W. V. Million, and J. Merson. The incumbent nominated Mr W. H. Shaw as his warden. The name of Mr J. W. Ward was unanimously proposed and seconded as parishioners’ warden.

The proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks to tho chairman.