MINISTER JOINS FORCES

Southland Times, Issue 24227, 10 September 1940, Page 4

MINISTER JOINS FORCES

PARISHIONERS BID FAREWELL REV. N. F. SANSOM LEAVES WOODLANDS Parishioners of the Woodlands Presbyterian Church entertained the Rev. N. F. Sansom, who has resigned irom the charge to join the forces as a cnaplain, Mrs Sansom and family at a larewell social evening. There was a l ar s® attendance, the Rev. J..A. Thomson, o Invercargill, being chairman. The chairman said that as a member of the Southland Presbytery he wished to extend to Mr Sansom congratulations on his selection as the first minister from Southland to be chosen as a chaplain. Mr Sansom had done excellent work at Woodlands and it was regrettable that he was severing nis association with the charge. The call had come for a higher work and he felt sure that Mr Sansom would prove that his selection was a wise one. Tributes to the fine work of Mr Sansom in galvanizing the parish and attracting the interest of residents in the work of the church were paid by the session clerk, Mr C. J. Roseveare. The pastoral work of the minister had endeared him to the parishioners, he said. On behalf of the congregation he handed Mr Sansom a cheque and offered his best wishes for his success in his future ministerial work. The valuable support which Mrs Sansom had given her husband was mentioned by Mrs W. Bell, who said that she had done much good work which was not perhaps fully realized by the congregation. It was pleasing to know that she and her family would be remaining in Invercargill during her husband’s absence and the congregation would have frequent opportunities for meeting them. She presented Mrs Sansom with a handbag from the congregation. " , , , Presentations were also made to Mrs D. Sansom, Miss Madia Sansom and Master R. Sansom. Mr and Mrs Sansom acknowledged the gifts. Mr Sansom said that while he regretted leaving Woodlands, he felt honoured at his selection as a chaplain and considered it his duty to undertake the difficult and responsible task.

The following programme was presented: —Anthems by the choir; songs, Miss Buchanan and Mr A. McFadyen; quartet, Misses Barraclough and McKenzie and Messrs Allott and Barraclough; song, Mr Sansom;, quartet, Sutherland brothers; song, Miss Sutherland; duet, Messrs Sansom and Kennedy Black.