HOLY TRINITY CHURCH.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 19, 27 April 1916, Page 3

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH.

| THE ANNUAL MEETING OF ! PARISHIONERS. The annual meeting of Parishioners of the Holy Trinity Church was held in the Parish Hall last night. The vicar, Rev. C. W. Howard, presiding over a fair attendance, Apologies were received from Mr W. Wilson and Mr T, C. Fookes. CHURCH,WARDEN’S REPORT. Finance.—As you are aware the onurch timid,ces at ;ho last animal | meeting were in an unsatisfactory I state, and we had to face the position | ol starting the year with a consider- | able overdraft, and many outstanding I accounts. Thanks to the work of the.. I Ladies’ Guild, two successful sales of | work were held, and primarily through 3 L iheir efforts, and again through iutro- | dncing the envelope system to augment s the offertories, we are to-day in a much | improved position, and wo trust the in- * coming vestry will lie supported to 5 maintain the same, Vicarage loan.— The sum of forty pounds has been paid off the vicarage loan, and we hope further efforts will be made this year to still further reduce it. Parish Hall.— The Parish Hall and cottage are in good order, and are at present bringing in a fair 'rental, and we hope, dur-, ing the coming year, will ho self-sup-porting. Services.—Regular , services have been held throughout the Parish during the year,! hut. 1 latterly, iihrough Mr Smith leaving, we have* been dependent ■ on the two Ipcal lay readers to assist the Vicar. Your vestry iron Id urgently draw your attention to v the needs of another Curate for the efficient working of the Parish. Choir;—The choir has felt the effect of the war and men’s voices are especially needed. The organist is acting as hon : qrary since last, October. Sunday School.—The Sunday School is, as usual, doing its good work, a Bible Class being held at the Vicarage for the elder boys. Thanks.—The thanks of the Parishioners are due to the lay readers, Sunday School •teachers, d. and [ all Church workers ! •s)' thflU v services. • i ~' ’ U

The balance-sheet showed receipts £7O/5 7s 3d, exipenditure £7Ol Os 2d. VICAR’S REPORT. The Vicar’s annual report, read : jVIy Dear People.—l am very thankful for the financial statement of the past year, hud wish to tender my sincerest thanks'to all the various workers of the church, churchwardens and vestry; to Mr Bell for the keen interest and help he so freely gave towards the church and to myself. Especially do I wish, to thank Mr Middleton for acting in the double capacity of people’s warden and hon. sec. of the vestry. I also wish to thank Mr Crawshaw for his valuable work as auditor. Mr Mills has kindly consented to act as secretary and treasurer of the C. E. M.S., the membership of which at present stands at twenty-five, some of whom are at the front. I wish to tender my thanks to the lay readers, Messrs W. Wilson and T, C. Fookes. members of the choir, and Miss Middleton for her voluntary services as orgiinist. I consider the Sunday School one of the most satisfactory parts of the work of the church. I he teachers, all ladies, are really interested in the work and are doing excel- j lent work. 1 wish to thank Mrs Middleton for her valuable work in connection with the Sunday School. Me owe a considerable debt of gratitude to the Ladies’ Guild, Whose work dur-

fing the year brpught in £IOO. Tito 1 Parish Hall only barely pays its way. The interest is large, and we should begin an effort, however small, to pay off some of the capital, i should very much like to make one suggestion in regard to the Church, which the Bishop spoke expressly to me about. That is the throwing out of the sides of the church along the main aisle. Xo doubt the envelopes have helped us very considerably, and we are indebted to Mrs Grant for the collecting and checking of same. If another priest is to In* maintained. .1 have no doubt of the response from the country districts. It is in Stratford that we must keep our endeavours. We have every .right to ask people, who describe themselves a,s Church of England, to .support tinwork of the church through which tuts country first received the news of the gospel, and through, whose means it was lirst opened up to settlement, which for a 100 years lias borne the brunt of the work amongst both the pakehas and Maoris, and from whose ranks have been drawn by far the larger part of those who are defending tlie liberties of our homes and upholding the best traditions of our race. Not a few of them have made the great sacrifice, and they have made it possible for us to live in comparative safety and peace. In conclusion, I trust wo shall always go forth with confidence and hope. What our church hr Stratford is to he in' the future de-‘ pends on what wt? ( aj - p.doing here in the' present.) We .wish to.sow and to water in order that otiidrs tiiAf reap the Increase. On the motion of*!Xlr A. W. Budge, seconded .by M|* G. W. Mills, the report and balance-sheet was taken-'as read. G EXT'* l ‘ AIV BUSINESS. ( no • ■ - > ■ t Mr A. C. Bell was re-iippointbd vicar’s warden arid ’Mr ’W. H’. H. Young .people’k Ward cm. The following were elected vestrymen: Messrs Rogers (Cardiff), Symonds (Midhirst), Moimsell (Toko Road), Were (Toko), Rutherford, Dixon, prawshaw, Fletcher. Mills ■ Williamson. Middleton and K. KiveU '(Stratford). Mr Bell said great * credit was due, to the lady collectors, and suggested j that the collectors meet the vestfv every two or three months. He also} •referred to the good Work of the organ'j ist and -die of the choir. (

The Vleai’ .s:\id he jyas ,s.uro. try wo/ild he '• pi te ased' * to • meter* til fe”co 1 ■ lectors periodically;, ' " , Mr Mills said the time' lin'd arisen when the ou;lying> ,districts .should form committees. The Vicar should attend a meeting called for the .purpose and elect a committee. Mr W. H. H. Young said a resolution coming from the vestry would meet with approval. .. Mr A. W. Budge said the election ol the committee should he arranged hy the vestrymen for the different restricts. 1 Mr Rogers said such a comm--.ee had been in evidence in Cardiff at one time, ln.it it had lapsed for want or support. Mr Budge said the matter was entirely one for the vestry. Mr Mills moved: “That it he a m>commendation from the meeting to the country representatives to form committees in the districts to further the work of the church.” —Seconded by dr Young and carried. The Vicar said in his experience, owing to the country churches not being owned by the' Church, there was no incentive for the .committee 10 give the necessary attention to 'lie work. Mr Crawslnnv said CM for rent el j the Parish Hall seemed very little -o

him. In his opinion the Hall should be lot more often at such a low rental. The meeting concluded with • g’nt ro freshments supplied by the -.ivues.