HOLY TRINITY CHURCH.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 92, 25 April 1913, Page 2

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH.

ANNUAL MEETING OF PARISHIONERS. The annual meeting of parishioners of Holy Trinity Church, Stratford, was held in the Parish Hail last evening, when the Vicar (Rev. W. A. Butler) presided over an attendance of twenty-three. The Vicar's Address. In his address, the Vicar said that spiritually, so far as he could form an opinion, the Church in Stratford had been holding its position during the past year. They had not been able to make very much progress, for the simple reason that the work had increased to such an extent that it was impossible for him to handle it by himself. So that the speaker thought the parishioners had cause to lie thankful that, at any rate, things had not gone back. With regard to the financial position, the balance-sheet of this year made it appear that it was none too favorable. Comparing this balance-sheet noth last year’s, and taking all things into account, the contrary seemed to be the r case. The vicar pointed out that there had during the past year been an extraordinary expenditure, for example there were items such as £25 for stable at Vicarage, and £25 paid off the Vicarage loan. There was also £IOO extra on the additions to the Parish Hall. The position, therefore, was not so bad as it appeared to be. The speaker continued that the Church had suffered tremendously through changes; people were coming and going; and in the latter category were many church workers, whoso places did not seem to have been filled. The Rev Mr Butler referee! especially to Mr Lewis and Miss Black, both of whom had played an important part in the work of the Parish, and had recently severed thenconnection with the Holy Trinity Church. In this connection he paid a tribute to the work of Messrs Liddington and Wilson, who had assisted him in taking services, and said ho was very grateful to them for their help. With reference to the choir, the Rev. Mr Butler said that the boys and ladies were at full strength, but he was very sorry to say that there was a great difficulty with regard to the men. Here again the Church* suffered through departures. Wheat)#ihera: were some members who found it hard, and he quite realised that difficulty, to attend regularly at both services’.on Sundays. It might be found advisable to ■ change the .services somewhat' so that- they were not so dependent bn the devices of the choir, s Wiljh f£garc( -.t0.; the gipsio,, ‘(he church j laboured under difficulties in that the organ did not “hold’.’, the congregation; it did not give sufficient lead to the singing, which suffered very considerably, especially ,at when there A) as a shortage. The speaker then proceeded to deal with the Sunday School, which, be said, was the brightest spot, in connection with ’the 'Church. The mrm-

ber of children,oh the roll Avas somewhere between 180 and 200,, but- here again there was a difficulty in .obtaining workers. Teachers had left, and they did not seem to be able to get fresh ones. Male teachers especially were required. He mentioned that Mr Kivell had carried out the duties of superintendent in a very excellent way, and no man in town could have controlled the school Avith such tact, and so well, as Mr Kivell had done. There were great difficulties in connection with the running of the Sunday School, but Mr Kivell seemed to have overcome these. Mr Butler continued that he Avished to speak on a matter that was very near his rheart, and that Avas the Boy Scouts. He did not think that he had the ■'sympathy and support of parishioners in connection • with his Avork in the Scout movement. Of course the Boy Scouts Avere not a Church organisation, hut he reminded those present that thirty of the boys in the troops were Church of England boys, whom he Avould scarcely, come across unless as District Commander of the Boy Scouts. There Avere boys of other denominations in the Scouts, and ho Avished there were more. Ho Avould like to build these boys up to become good honest citizens, loyal to Avhatever Church they might belong. So far as the boys were, concerned, the Scout movement in Stratford was one of the strongest things they had so far as building up our churchmen of the future. He tried to aA r oid making the movement denominational, but endeavoured to gain the confidence of parents, so that they would .be willing to trust their boys to his care. He Avould also be glad if someone Avould volunteer to take un the position of scoutmaster, and thus lessen his work in connection with the troop. Mr Butler then referred to the church school, and remarked that he wished the people of Stratford Avould not call it the ‘ Parish School.” The school was a private concern, run by Mrs Morgan and himself. They Avere trying to build up churchmen of the future, but he Avould like it understood that the school Avas not the “Parish School.” Another matter touched upon by the speaker was the Bible in Schools Movement. Personally, he was very anxious about the question, which was such a supremely important one, that there was no room for apathy on the part of anyone. Either they should be bound to do all in their poAver to support the movement, or else they should .do their utmost to oppose it. He trusted that the parishioners Avould take every opportunity to Aveigh the pros and cons, so that if the matter came to a referendum, they would have firmly established opinions on the subject. In conclusion, the Vicar said I he had endeavoured to secure an as-

sistalitj but iu four Instances bad iniled. He mentioned that be was at present negotiating with a clergyman New Zealand, and fie was also in communication with an English schoolmaster, now in Wellington, who was anxious to become ordained. This gentleman was well qualified, and he trusted that the Bishop would consent to ordain him as assistant-clergyman here. That seemed to lie the only wav out of the difficulty, failing the mail expected from Horae. (Applause.) The balance' sheet showed an expenditure for the year .of £672 17s 10d. The year was commenced with a credit balance of £79 os 6d and ended with a debit balance of £6O 6s 9d. The receipts included, offertories £l6B 11s, and subscriptions £BS 18s. Assets were estimated at £IOBO. Ihe liabilities included 1 icarage Enlargement Loan £l4O, Parish Hall cottage and Hall mortgage £7OO, the assets being in excess of liabilities by £lB/ Its 9d.

The secretary to the Vestry, Mr W. H. H. Young, reported that nothing had been done in the matter of enlarging the church, recommended at the last annual meeting. The Vestry decided to issue debentures totalling £IOO to the parishioners to finance the Parish Hall additions, and it would bo for the incoming Vestry to put this scheme into operation. Mr Young also explained that the credit balance brought forward from last year had been expended in paying off accounts outstanding at the beginning of the

year. ;/■;!• Mr T. C. Fookes;. remarked , that offertories and grants from the country districts showed a falling off, which was not very encouraging, for these formed the principal revenue for the Vestry’s operations. 1 v ■ The Vicar sa.id he. had noticed a falling-off in congregations. The, average number of communicants who were the most liberal givers had fallen off considerably, and the evening congregations were smaller. /<• • The Secretary said that perhaps the heavy calls on the congregation for £2oo* for the Parish Hall in the previous year had made people less liberal in their contributions. Possibly if the church were made more comfortable and less draughty, the congregations at night would he better. The report and balance sheet were adopted, on the motion of Mesrs W. V. Wilson and G. W. Mills.,, , ,

The Vicar re-appointed., Mr A. C. Bell as his warden, and MU W- • Grant was elected people’s warden, unopposed. ,e . {. J, , ;

The,following vestrymen- were elect-ed;—-Messrs J. H. Hobbs, ,G. Liddington, T. Partridge,, Midden, W. H. H. Young, T. C. Fookes„,G. W. Mills,, Stanley, UE. H. Kivell, and Rogers (Cardiff), i -/ ■ : n4t i .

A complaint was made by th,e SumSchool Spperintqndent that the, Parish Hall, nqw.UjSOd bptji as, a dajj., school and a Sunday school, was lefthy the former in a disgraceful state. — Referred to the Vestry for prompt action. Sonic discussion took place concerning the need for installing a heating apparatus in the, church. , ■ i i 1 -• !nvJi- uroC