CHURCH MEETING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 364, 30 April 1856, Page 6

CHURCH MEETING.

A general meeting of members of the Church of England residing1 in LyUelton, was held at the temporary church, LyUelton, to receive the report of the committee appointed to obtain plans fur the reimildiiiuf of the church ; the ll'?v. tiih Incumbent hs the chair. After the business of tlm meeting had been opened ns customary wiilj praver^ the following report of the c nn'.nittee wsis read by the Sec-retary—

REVORT:

"At their first meeting, a sub-committee was appointed to communicate with the Church Property Trustees, and. in answer to their application, received a >eply from the Secretary, to the following efli-ct, viz.,—that a sum of money amounting t> £440, b?irnj a donation promised by Mr. Sewell on the part of Sir 'Walter .fames, is now in their hands, and bearing jn to rest at 4 per cent., and is intended to be repaid fir the purpose of re-building Lyttelton Church- This sum is liable to the payment of £1W advanced by the late committee; the greater part of which, however, if not the whole, may be available. This ,u;n, it appears, has been lent to the^ Church Property Trustees, to be repaid any time within ten years. The Secretary states that, at present, there me no funds applicable for the purpose of liquidating the debt; but at the same time expresses

the willingness of the Church Property Trustees to pay it over as soon as it is in their power to do so, but that it is impossible for them to fix any definite period, in consequence of the difficulty of getting in their arrears of rents and purchase-monies—A subsequent application and reply, of the date of April 14th, is to the same effect. Mr. Mountford brought before the committee his proposed alterations, contained in two "reports, which will be read to the meeting- H« therein recommends re-building the church with the present materials. " The committee, however, after much enquiry and deliberation, came to the conclusion that a church with stone walls would be desirable; and, upon a second application, Mr- Mountford furnished the committee wih the sketch plans now laid before this meeting. His instructions were, that the new building should accommodate 300 persons, and come within the estimated means of £SOO, and capable of enlargement at any future period. "Messrs. Gundry and Bayfield, the Churchwardens, were added to the committee originally appointed. ' "The committee, therefore recommend the erection of a church in accordance with the sketches now before the meeting, and that Mr. Mountford be requested to furnish proper plans and working 'Irawings for such a church, with the usual estimates, to be laid before a future meeting, and by them to be thrown open for public tender, if thought desirable. " By that time the comm ttee hope to be enabled to report at large on the funds they may then find available for the purpose- The committee, in the meantime suggest the propriety of an occasional special offertory in aid of the funds for the erection of the church." It was then proposed by Mr. Dampish and seconded by Mr. Bayfeild, thai thejeport be adopted. After some discussion the following1 amendment was proposed by Dr. Donald and seconded by Mr. Bkeby— "That the report be referred back (o (lie committee, to obtain an estimate of the cost." The amendment was carried. It was then proposed by Dr. Dudley and seconded by Mr. Bkeby,— ''That means be taken to raise the necessary nun for preliminary expenses, and with the permission of the ■Incumbent that special offertories be made for the purpose." On" the motion of Mr." Bayfeii.d, seconded by Dr Dudley, the following proposition wns adopted. " That Messrs. Pat.mvi?, Breby, and Ho■\vAP.n be added to the Committee." The Rev..the Incumbent then pronounced the blessing, and the meeting' separated.