ST. JOHN'S, WINCHESTER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2349, 28 April 1892, Page 2

ST. JOHN'S, WINCHESTER.

ANNUAL GATHERING. The annual social gathering of parishioners of the Winchester district was held in the local parish room on Tuesday evening last, 26th. Despite the inclemency of the weather, there was a very fair and representative gathering of parishioners, over fifty being present. The formal business of the evening was preceded by a short musical entertainment, provided by a Temuka contingent of friends, commencing with the quintette, “ The Bluebells of Scotland.” Mr E. Whitehead sang “ The Little Hero,” Miss Lee “ Strangers yet,” Mr McOaskill “ Home, Boys, Home,” Miss E. Pilbi’ow “ Who can tell 1” the Rev. T. A. Hamilton “ True till Death.” “ Auld Lang Syne” was sung as a finale, and “ Home, i Sweet Home,” in response to a vociferous encore. Miss Wethey very kindly played all the accompaniments with great taste and care. The meeting then resolved itself into the annual meeting of parishioners. Prayer being offered up, the usual routine was followed by a short address from the , incumbent. Before calling upon the churchwardens to present their annual report, etc., Mr Hamilton reminded his audience that he was presiding for the last time in his official capacity, for at the Bishop’s earnest desire he had accepted the charge of a new missionary cure attached to Pleasant Point, having been also nominated by the Te Ngawai parish. In making this announcement he felt most deeply the severance of ties which had bound them so closely together as pastor and people for over nine years, and he took this opportunity of expressing his deepest gratitude for the loving sympathy and hearty co-operation which had at all times been accorded to him in all work for the Church of Christ, and also the kindly feelings which existed towards himself and Mrs Hamilton. It would be a severe wrench, parting from such kindness and love, but regarding the Bishop’s offer as a call to fresh work, and believing that a change would be beneficial for the parish as a whole, he had therefore accepted the nomination to the parish of ' Te Ngawai.. His new sphere of labor would extend, roughly speaking, from Pleasant Point to Mount Cook, and if they wished to call upon him at any time they would find him at Pleasant Point or elsewhere, but chiefly “elsewhere.” In a short retrospect <>f the affairs of the Church in Winchester during his nine years’ incumbency, the Incumbent referred to the work of the “ Ladies’ Guild,” in placing chandelier, altar cloth, cushions, and kneeling boards in the church; the building of the room in which they were assembled, the kind benefaction of Mr H. J. Gladstone ; the enlargement of the church, the chancel being built for the vestry by Mr Gladstone and the porch by the Hon. Spencer Lyttelton ; the belfry, given by Mr Gladstone ; the stable and other improvements : adding that all these improvements represented a sum of nearly £SOO in value. In addition to this there were gifts of land—viz., three-quarters of an acre for the school (the gift of Mr Gladstone) and quarter of an acre as glebe (the gift of Mr D. L. Inwood). The services of the Church were always well attended, and he had to thank most heartily the lay-readers—and especially Mr Gladstone —for the efficient help rendered, which he believed to be entirely to the satisfaction of the congregation. He also desired to thank all Church-workers for their kind help and co-operation as teachers, or the choir, or other branches of Church work. He could not tell who his successor would be, as the appointment rested with the Board of Nominators, but in anticipation he commended him to their kind sympathy and loyal support. The Church must not die, and strict adhesion to Church principles would keep them true to their Church, even though the “ new broom ” might not be so easily handled as the “ old,” but he hoped to visit them from time to time, and prayed that they might prosper in body and soul, and that God would bless them in their homes now and in the Eternal Home hereafter.

The Church wardens’ report was then read and the balance-sheet submitted follows: — “ Your Church Officers have to report upon the work of the past year as follows : There have been the usual services carried on by the incumbent and lay readers, with one visit from His Lordship the Bishop on December 6 sh, 1891, when four were confirmed. There has been one visiting clergyman, the Rev. S. Hamilton. There have been. 95 services held on Sundays, with an attendance of 5188 in all, making an . average of 54J for each service held, the highest attendance being 129. There were also 10 preparatory services for Confirmation candidates, held on Thursdays. The number of Communion services held last year was 10, the average number of communicants being 16. The largest attendance of communicants was 33. The total collections for the year are General offertories £36 19s 9d, and special offertories (Melanesian Mission, Church Mission Fund, and Maori Mission) £3 7s 4d. The tea given at the last annual meeting gave a balance of £1 12s, and the gift auction that was got up in May for the purpose of paying of outstanding liabilities realised a balance of £lB ss. This was mostly expended in paying for thV" organ, Ac. There has been very little work done in the way of material improvement. It is the earnest desire of your officers that the matter of seating should be attended to at once, as the extra forms now in use are required by the Sunday School, New carpeting and ■ cushions are also required for the chancel. This we should be very pleased to see the ladies of the congregation take in hand this winter, and we feel sure that ere next spring our chancel will look springlike in its new splendour. We feel that the work of the Church has been very satisfactory, the average attendance having increased from 50 last year to 54 and the offertories have increased by Is 7§d per service, being £8 4s lOd more than last year. We have to express sincere thanks to Mr Hamilton for earnest and able manner in which he has conducted, the services in our church for the past year; also for his kindly visits and sympathy for all in trouble, and we arc sure that every person in this district feels deep regret at the thought that one who has been our guide and friend foy

so long should bo leaving us very shortly, and we would wish in some way to show some small appreciation of those faithful services so long and faithfully given. We have also to express our regret that Miss Gimson, who has been our organiste for so long, is compelled to give up her place on account of living so far away, and also at losing one of our officers who has done a good deal for the Church in many ways, viz., Mr C. W. Gimson. The thanks of the Church are also due to Mr Gladstone for the manner in which he has conducted the services as lay reader, he having held 51 services during the past year, and we are all thankful to see him again amongst us in health and strength, and we trust he may be spared for a long time to work in the , Master’s ,'ice. We also beg to thank the choir, Sunday School teachers, and all others that have assisted in the services of the Church. C W. Gimson 1 Churdhwardenß » “Robert Smith ) The balance sheet showed the total receipts to be £6olls Id. Of this £3619s 9d was contributed in the general offertories and £3 7s 4d to the special offertories for missions etc., the remainder accruing from a tea meeting and a gift auction. The expenditure left a credit balance of £lO 4s 2d. The amount collected for the stipend fund was £SO, which was not included in the balance-sheet, being transmitted periodically to the Temuka Churchwardens. Mr J. A. Young moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet as read, being seconded by Mr W. Deßenzy. The resolution was carried unanimously. A hearty vote of thanks to the church-wardens for the satisfactory result of their labours was carried by acclamation (as were also votes of thanks to the Lay Readers, organist, choir, Sunday School teachers, and other workers later on.) The following were elected church officers for the ensuing year : —R. Smith, Clergyman’s Churchwarden; H. E. Smith, Parishioners’ Churchwarden; and Messrs H. J. Gladstone, Inwood, Do Eenzy, Pepperill, T. Harte, J. Twigg, J. A. Young, W. Stewart, F. Shallard, and C. Taylor. The Sunday School Superintendent, Mr R. Smith, submitted the following report : “As Superintendent of the Sunday School I have to report that the number on the roll on March 31st was 93, and the average attendance was 86. We have had to make two new classes, making eleven classes. Three of last year’s pupils have become teachers. We have .now eleven teachers, leaving me free take the class of any teacher that may be absent. The Dicoesan Standards are now being used for the first time in the school, and the children are doing fairly well. The Sunday School Library is well patronised at the moderate charge of £d per volume; but I am sorry that some few of the children do not take the care of the books that they should do, and I would draw the attention of parents to the matter, and ask them to see that the books are not mutilated or destroyed. I have to thank the teachers for their regular attendance for the past year and kind co-operation, “Robert Smith, “Superintendent.” The formal business being concluded, capital refreshments were liberally dispensed, though (owing doubtless to a “ meeting in the poultry yard”) the expectations of some hungry epicures were scarcely realised; but possibly the ladies are reserving themselves for a supreme effort in the tea line later on, when the insubordination referred to has been quelled. A most enjoyable and happy evening was afterwards spent. We must not omit to add that notwithstanding their “ shortcomings ” the ladies received a very hearty and enthusiastic vote of thanks for their kindness, as did also the visitors from Temuka.