ANGLICAN CHURCH.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1922, Page 5

ANGLICAN CHURCH.

TAKANAKI ARCHDEACONRY BOARD. ADDRESS BY THE BISHOP. GROWTH OF THE DIOCESE. Following evensong at. St. Mary’s Church lout evening the members of the Taranaki Archdeaconry Board met at. St. Mary’s school-room, when there was a representative gathering of clergy and laymen. Present: Dr. A. W. Averill, Bishop of Auckland (in the chair), Archdeacon F. G. Evans, and the following representatives of the various parishes: St. Mary’s, ’Revs. E. H. Strong and G. A. Young, Messrs. W. H. Skinner and S W. Shaw; Te Henui, Rev. G. T. Beale, Messrs. L. F. Fairliall and G. Giddy; Stratford, Rev. C. W. Howard, Messrs. W. H. Young anil 11. Martell; Inglewood, Rev. R. T. Stanton, Messrs. F. H. Brown and W. lE. Henderson; Waitara, Rev. G. H. Gavin; Okato, Rev. 11. A. Coleman and ‘Mr. W. Gray; AVhadgamomona, Rev. T. H. C. Partridge; Uruti, Messrs. H. G. Sell and W. H. Butt. The Rev. G. A. Gavin was appointed secretary. THE YEAR’S CHANGES. In the course of his inaugural address, Bishop Averill said he was pleased to welcome members once more. Last year they Jiad met as a conference, but now they were a properly constituted Archdeaconry Board. . He was glad that the recommendation of the conference with regard to the three years’ appointment had been carried out by the .Synod, so that those present would hold office for three years. According to the regulations a report of the ■board’s activities would lie presented at the next meeting of the Synod of the diocese. Since that last meeting the personnel had not changed very much. The Rev. F. G. Harvie, vicar of St. Mary’s, had been lost for the time being. Mr. Harvie had always taken a live interest in church matters and had acted as secretary at last year’s gathering. The speaker was very glad, however, to welcome the Rev. E. H. Strong, who was a man of considerable experience, and whose work would be very acceptable in the parish and the archdeaconry. Then Mr. Partridge had been appointed a tutor at St. John’s College, but during the vacation had offered hie services to the diocese and had been re-appoint-ed to Whangamomona. The speaker was glad that that district would have the services of Mr. Partridge till the end of February, at any rate. With regard to that district . the speaker had tried very hard indeed to get a permanent home missionary, but so far without success. It was not easy to find men for these hack-block districts. The diocese, however, was fortunate in having the services of Mr. Sell for the distrirt to the north of Waitara. Mr. Sell had been doing good work. The speaker hoped to be able to ordain him deacon next year. In passing, the bishop expressed his gratefulness to the clergy for help rendered in connection with the Whangamomonadistrict during Mr. Partridge’s absence, and he hopd that, if another appointment was not made, they would continue to supply such ministrations of religion there as was possible.

MORE CLERGY WANTED. “I think we will be getting a larger supply of clergy soon,’’ continued Dr. Averill. At least flften Auckland men had passed recently in various grades and would soon be ready for ordination. He ventured to say that in two years’ time the position would be very much better. “This diocese is increasing far faster than spy other diocese in New Zealand,” stated the bishop, who also mentioned that the diocese had more clergv than any other diocese, but he looked forward to the time when_ the strength would be increased to 150. Referring to the home missionary fund the bishop said ho was glad to hear that the people ot Urenui and Uruti were organising a sale of work in aid of this fund. This fund, of course, had been responsible for the finances of the hoine mission districts, but the fund had steadily gone back till it was at the present time very nearly £7OO overdrawn. It was a very serious state of affairs. Special efforts, he thought, should be made to help the current revenue, as the time would come when ‘here would be no home mission stations, but all would be parochial districts. Thetefcfre he advised that current. revenue should be built up instead of the mission fund. During next Lent an appeal for a special offering to reduce the overdraft would be made. Then the revenue could nil be merged into one central fund, but he did not wish the diocese to take over a deficit. Therefore he hoped the overdraft would be reduced by April next, when the new financial year began.

THE BISHOP’S VISITATION.

“I am pleased with the result of my visit to the archdeaconry,” said the bishop, in concluding. During the first part of the visit the weather had not been as kind as it. might have been, but he was pleased with the hospitality ot the people, especially at Uruti and Pukearuhe, where very good congregations had assembled despite the heavy rain. An interesting feature of his visit was the laying of church foundation stones, sure signs of progress. The church at Warea-Puniho would, he believed, be worthy of the district and of the old mother church. He desired to thank the Rev. A. H. Coleman ami friends on the result of their energies in that direction. Congratulations were also extended to the vicar (the Rev. R. T Stanton) and the people of Inglewood on the splendid church they were erecting. It was a very great joy to the speaker that the people of Inglewood were not satisfied with the minimum, but were building a church worthy of its great purpose. He was looking forward to laying the foutidation stone on St. Andrew's Day (to-morrow), especially as the ‘' hurch wa " , a ' s . o ., a memorial to the boys who had fallen in the war. He could not imagine anything more beautiful than a church memorial. Later in the evening the bishop gave an account of the legislation passed at the last meeting of the Synod. His remarks were keenly followed and at the conclusion, on the motion ol the Kev. E. H. Strong, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the bishop for his lucid explanation. INTEREST IN MISSIONS. Arclideacon Evans gave notice of motion to move: “That in the ojjuuon

of this hoard it is highly desirable that strong missionary committees should be appointed in each parish, so that interest in the mission of the church may ba increased and the amount of contributions towards the funds greatly augmented.” Holy Communion will be celebrated at St. Mary’s at 8 o’clock this morning, after which the members of the board will be the guests of Archdeacon Evans at breakfast at the Grand Central. The 'board resumes at 10 o’clock and it is hoped to dispose of all business 'by the luncheon adjournment Afterwards the bishop will entertain the