ST. LUKES' CHURCH, GREYTOWN.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4479, 25 July 1893, Page 3

ST. LUKES' CHURCH, GREYTOWN.

Vestry Report for Year Ending June 30th, 1893. Your Vestry has but little to report in connection with Church matters for the year ending June 80tli, 1893. The work of the Church has, they consider, progressed very satisfactorily. The congregations have increased and matters has been well sustained. By the recent death of the late Mr W, Skeet, tbe church has lont one of its most zealous and earnest workers. He was for many years a member of the vestry and his place will be hard to fill. The satisfactory position and working of the Sunday School calls for epeoiat congratulations, the commodious building erected last year sow stands free of debt and owing to a special effort made by the ladies, in organising a children's bazaar and entertainment, funds are now in hand for the purchase of an organ and also for matoh-lining the inside of the school building. Over 100 scholars are now on the roll, which two years ago numbered only about '2O. Mr Flux, the Superintendent, now stands badly in need oi more teachers and will he glad to rccoivc the names of those willing to assist in this important work. By reference to the Treasurer's statement you will notice that the receipts from offertories thiß year were General, £7114s Id; special £1417s 8d; being ut total of £B6 lis 9d, aB against £7O 8s 6tl received last year, showing an increase of £l6 lis 4d, The special offortories this include tho sum of £5 0s Bd, given in aid of the sufferers by the disastrous firent St John's, Newfoundland. ■ Yourveslry regret having to report that while tho offertories showed so satisfactory and substantial an increase, tho subicriptions to the stipend fund show a considerable decrease. An analysis for the past three years shows as followslß9o- - subscriptions £l2B,79suhscribers; 1891-92,*" subscriptions £lO7, GO subscribers; 1892-93, subscriptions £lO5, 5G subscribers. This falling off is tho more especially to be regretted as Inßt year the assessment for Greytown, on account ofiitipend, waa raised from £llO i&tl2o, The district still receives assistance from tho General Church Fund to the amount of £ls, but it is probable that this will soon be withdrawn, as the Synod consider the money is more urgently required by the eight new Parochial districts now being formed in the Diocese. For many years tbis district has received a grant of £55. Thiß was last year reduced by £2O, £lO being . added to the Greytown, and £lO tt> the Featherston and Maryborough assessments. The incoming Church Officers and Vestry will therefore find it incumbent on them to make a special effort to add to the number of subscribers. Your Vestry believo are several settlers here who are members of tho Church of England, and who would willingly /subscribe if asked, • It is satisfactory to note that the total liability on the Church properties is being gradually reduced, and is now standing at only £loßlos Bd, The (ugc'fflt on mortgage is £l5O, but againstthifl there are shares taken up in the P.I. and Loan Association, to provide a sinking fund, the present value being £4l 9s 4d, It will be remembered that only a very few years ago the liability stood at over £SOO. During the year a new bell of powerful tone has been presented to tho Church by Mr T. Price, of Dnle» field; a new lamp and arch frame over the entrance gates, by Meoarß II Bright and C, J. Beard; curtains and brass rods for the chancel and windowfl, by the vestry; and a large Bible by some of the young ladies of thecongregation, aodeuitable markers &Jiß Knell and Miss Braithwaite; sAtttr ' \

whilst tho lady members of the congregition have assisted raising funds to pay off the bulanci) duo on tho Sunday-sohool building. The Churchwardens and Ve«tn : desire to sincerely thank the following for services tendered, vii.:--MrG, Wyett,the Treasurer; Mrs Dr Spratt, for her services as collector; Mr Flux, Church Organist and Superintendant of the Sunday School; the Sunday School teaoheis; (he Choir; and Messrs J. G. Filies and F.'H. Wood, the Lay Readers. The Vestry feel that they cannot close thiß report without giving expression to thoir full appreciation of the untiring, sincere and ernom efforts of the Curate, the Rev.. T. H MoLean, to proinoto the interests ol tho Church aud tho spread o: Christianity. Signed on behalf of the Vestry, f!'iflVooD Ichuiohwordeng,