ST. MARY’S CHURCH, GERALDINE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1330, 21 April 1885, Page 2

ST. MARY’S CHURCH, GERALDINE.

VESTRY MEETING. A meeting of the Vestry was held before the annual meeting, at which were present the Rev. Jas. Preston (in the chair), Dr Fish, and Messrs W. M. Moore, R. H. Pearpoiut, W. E. Birker, and E. Hardcastle. The minutes of Inst mooting were read and confirmed. Mr Poarpoint reported that the leak in the church had beau repaired. An account had been sent in for the work by Mr Craigie , w hich amounted to £l7 6?. He (Mr Pearpoint) referred the account back and asked tor one in detail, as the amount was unsatisfactory. Mr Ornigies men had estimated the work would not exceed £l6.—The matter was left over to the Churchwardens to deal with. Mr Preston stated that no auditor had been appointed to audit the year’s accounts but Mr Eckford had kindly consented to act. This being all the business the meeting closed.

ANNUAL MEETING- OF PARISHIONERS.

The annual meeting was then held, at which there were present eleven parishioners. The Incumbent having opened the meeting by prayer, the minutes of the last annual meeting and of a special meeting were read and confirmed. The Incumbent then read his annual report as follows : incumbent’s report. “Easter, 1885. Gentlemen,— -The Churchwardens’ and Stipend Treasurer’s report will, when read to you enter, fully into fianancial matters connected with St. Mary’s Church and the Parish generally. I will, as briefly as possible, confine myself to those things in the district over which I have charge, which immediately touch upon my own labors. “I am thankful to say that in spite of hard times and drawbacks Church work is progressing in a satisfactory manner. “ By the help of lay-readers, of whom there are ten, duly licensed to conduct services in the various places of worship (in my absence), I have been enabled to keep up regular services as follows In the Parish Church, Geraldine, morning and evening service have been held every Sunday in the year, in other Churches and buildings service has been held at least once every Sunday in the year. The Holy Communion has been administered as follows In St. Mary’s Church, Geral* dine, on the first Sunday of every month in Ihe year ; in St. Thomas’s Olmrcb, Woodbury, on the third Sunday in every month; at Peel Forest Church,.on the fourth Sunday in the month ; at Fairlie

Creek on the second Sunday of every second month ; in Holy Innocent’s Church, Mount Pee!, once a quarter ; in St. Ann’s Church, Pleasant Valley, occasionally. “ I have, as a rule, held three services every Sunday during the year : that is, in different places. “ The Sacrament of Baptism has been administered by me on the sth Sunday in the month at 3 p.m. in the Parish Church, and also in other places where I have held worship, whenever children have been brought to me for the purpose. The number of children baptised during the year amounts to 64; the number of people buried, 13 ; the number of marriages, 5; the number of persona confirmed, of both sexes, 48. “The Sunday School established at Geraldine, over which Mrs Preston is superintendent, has eleven teachers, and there are 150 children the the roll, and an average attendance of over 100 scholars, The Sunday Schools at Woodbury and Peel Forest are doing good work, and also the Union Sunday School at Fairlie Creek, taught by Church of England and Presbyterian teachers and presided over by Mr John Goodwin. “ I have been unable to carr#on any Bible reading in the public school, Geraldine, for some lime, owing to having to attend to the preparation of candidates in so many different places. Now the confirmation has taken place I purpose commencing again without dslay to read as usual on Wednesdays and Fridays weekly from 9 a.m. to 9,30 a.m. “All connected with St. Mary’s Church owe a deep debt of gratitude to Miss Fish and Miss Alice Fish for their services as organists, they having conjointly, for many years, with unwearied zeal given their valuable services free of any charge to the Parish.. Also, we owe a great debt of gratitude to Mr Hughes who, in spite of his numerous duties, has never hesitated to give up his time and talents to the duties of choir master so as to render the musical portion of our services efficient. “I beg to thank on my own behalf and on behalf of the Church at large all the lay-readers of the Parish and district —they having often, at great personal inconvenience, had to attend place of worship so as to keep the service of the Church punctual.—Also great praise is due to all superintendents and teachers connected with our Sunday Schools for their zealous labors on behalf of the young members of our Church. _ “Owing to the Parish and Parochial District over which I have charge being so extensive, and my duties so varied, I cannot at present pay that attention to the Parish Church and town of Geraldine that the population nov is beginning to demand. But the day will come in due time when my labours will be confined within a smaller radius, and then I shall be able to do so. In the meantime, as long as God continues to give me health and strength, I shall go on doing my duty to the utmost of my abilities. “ We are now in the full enjoyment of the advantages of a new and commodious Parish Church ; there is room for all who wish to attend our services, and the seats are free. I trust that now all Churchpeople will set an example of .regular attendance at public worship, and will unite witii one heart and one will in furthering the cause ot Christ in every way to the glory of God. “ l may state (and I do so with great pleasure) that the Church blown down some months ago at Peel Forest will very shortly be rebuilt, on a larger and more commodious scale than the last, and in a way calculated to resist any future storm. “In reference to the funds for which I am personally responsible, viz., the Benevolent Aid Fund, the Sunday School Fund, and the Sunday School Library Fund—l beg to state that the Benevolent Aid Fund stands thus: No money baa been collected for this fund during this year, excepting that I have received the sum of £l2 10s from the Mon. J. Barton A. Acland, which he kindly contributed out of his honorarium for charitable purposes, and which I placed to the credit of this fund. The sum of £7 0s 3d has been expended for benevolent purposes, and there remains a balance in hand of £l2 10s lid. The Sunday School Library fund stands:thus; No funds have been collected during the past year. The money I collected last year amounted to £lO 13s lid. Of this £lO was forwarded to the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, London, for a box of new books. The carriage of the books from Lyttelton to Geraldine and charges amounted to 15s lid. This leaves the fund indebted to. me personflly 7s 9d. Mrs Andrews still manages the Library, and we are greatly indebted to her for kindly providing room for the books and taking all the trouble (free of cost) to Issue them to the Sunday School scholars and others. The Library was founded in 1877, and Mrs Andrews has acted as Librarian ever since. St. Mary’s general Sunday School account stands thus; The balance from last year, April 1884,18 s 8d; offertory during year ending April 1885, £3los; total, £4 8s Bd. Cost of working expenses during past year ending April 1885, £3l3s Bd. This leaves a balance of 15s. The money coming from proceeds of Sunday School treat and other sources amounted to £2l 2s s|d, The money expended on account of treat and to procure books for the Sunday School prizes amounted to £2l6s 6|d. This sum taken from the above sum leaves a debt of 4s Id. Fifty-two prizes were given to the Sunday School scholars, which cost £4 0s 4d. This sum, of course, is included iu the above statement. “James Preston, “ Incumbent of Geraldine.”

churchwardens’ report.

«»We have the honor to lay before you a statement of the financial position of the Parish. The receipts for the past year amounted to £139 4s 7d, and the expenditure to £l3q 12s, leaving a balance in hand of £2 12a 7d. The offertories amounted to £lO3 14s 6d against £lO7 last year. It is to be hoped the Church members will continue to support the Church liberally as heretofore. The necessity for this is shown by the fact that but for a welcome donation of £lO from a member of the Church, the offertories alone would have been insufficient to meet the expenditure. A leak in the roof of the new Church has caused some slight damage to the building, but repairs have been effected which we hope will remedy the defect. Funds for this purpose are being collected from the members. At the request of the Church Property Trustees, Mr ftbiers kindly reported on the condition of the Parsonage. The report showed that sundry repairs were

urgently needed in order to preserve the building. It will be necessary for the incoming Wardens and Vestry to carry out the work. A grant of £SO still owing to the* Parish by the Church Property Trustees was applied for in December but was not granted, funds being not available for the purpose. We would remind our successors in office that it was decided to make application for (he sum again this year, notice to be given to the Standing Committee within 14 days of the meeting of the Synod.—We are, etc,, R. H. Pearpoint ) ChurchTnos, Hughes ( wardens. STIPEND FUND. Mr W. E. Barker (Treasurer) reported that the receipts for the Stipend Fund had been £298 8s Id and expenditure £267 6s 2d, leaing a balance of £22 Is lid, Several lists wore not yet in, and it was hoped the amount would be slightly over last year’s, ACCOUNTS. Mr Cook proposed—“ That the accounts as read bo passed.” Seconded by Mr Slack. Mr Hawke proposed—“ That subscription lists be kept open for fourteen days longer.” Mr Pearpoint seconded this, and it was carried. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Mr Preston read the Clause of the Ordinance referring to the election of Church Officers. For his Churchwarden he chose Di Fish. Mr Moore proposed, and Mr Pesrpoiut seconded—“ That Mr Hughes be elected Peoples’ Church warden. ” —Carried. The following Vestrymen were elected; —Messrs W. Coltman, W. Hawke, R. H. Pearpoint, W. U. Slack, W. M. Moore, E. J. S. Eckford, W. Willoughby, E. Hardcastle, R. S. Cook, and J. Kelland, junr. Mr Barker was re-elected Treasurer for the Stipend Fund for the ensuing year. The following were elected Stipend Collectors : Messrs T. R. Gillingham, Fairlie Creek ; W. tieskelh, Kakahu ; W. Hawke, Orari; G. F. Brown and J. M. Barker, Woodbury ; 6. J. Dennistoun, Peel Forest; W. IT. Slack, Pleasant Valley ; and E. Hardcastle, Geraldine. VOTES OF THANKS. Mr Barker proposed a vote of thanks to the collectors. Seconded by Mr Hughes, and carried. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Barker for his services as Treasurer. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the outgoing Vestry for the manner in which they had carried out their duties during the year. On behalf of the parish, Mr Preston proposed a vote of thanks to the layreaders, who had so well assisted him during the year. A vote of thanks was heartily passed to the Misses Fish and to Mr Hughes for their services in connection with the choir.

In reply to Mr Coltman, Mr Pearpoint said the funds had not yet admitted of an increase in the verger’s salary.