S. ANDREW'S CHURCH, CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1330, 8 January 1881, Page 2

S. ANDREW'S CHURCH, CAMBRIDGE.

The annual vestry meeting of the parishioners of S. Andrew's, Cambridge, was held on Tuesday evening, the 4th instant, 'at 8 o'clock, in the church. O*ving to the unsettled state of the weather, the attendance was not so numerous as could have been desired, yet on the whole theie was a fair average attendance of " representative men." The Rpv. Wm. N. De L. Willis took the chair, and having made a few brief prefatory remarks, tho meeting was opened with prayer. Mr Douglas MacTavish acted aa secretary. The minutes of the last annual meeting were read and confirmed, also tho minutes of a in ectins; which was held on December 13lh (ultimo), at the residence of Major Wilson, and which was presided over by the Bishop of Auckland, were read and confirmed. The chairman then read the report of the last year's proceedings : —

EEPORT OF THE VESTRY OP S. ANDBKW's CinjRCII, CAMBBIDGE. "The work of the church in this district during the past year cannot be fairly reviewed without showing much cause for thankfulness to Almighty God. All the progress that could be desired has not indeed been made ; but that there has been progress may be judged of from the fact that the number of persons attending Divine Service has increased some 20 per cent., the average attendance during the past year having been in the morning, 130; and in the evening, 7-i. That there has not been a much greater increase is no doubt largely due to the want of room in the present building, provision having been made in it for 120 persons only, which testifies to the increasing necessity for the new church to be built at once. The lusual morning and evening services have been held regularly by the clergyman with the assistance of the Liy readers Colonel Lyon, Mr Chitty, and Mr MacTavibh. The church in the district owes a largo debt of gratitude to Colonel Lyon. He has been mo.it legular and efficient in the discharge of this most important work during his residence in Waikato, and when he recently discontinued to act in the capacity of lay reader at Cambridge, he did so only through the enforced removal of his family to another part of the district, where he now does the same work. The Holy Communion has been administered during the past year on thirteen occasions. Tho attendance has but very little increased, and is lamentably small. There were 39 baptisms during the year, one marriage, and four burials. The rite of Confirmation was received by four members of the Church. In May last Mrs Chitty resigned the post of organist, after having filled it very efficiently for a period of fifteen months. Notwithstanding that she lived at a distance and often had to come alone, she was most regular in attending the services both morning and evening, and tho practices of the choir regardless of weather, and often at some risk to health. Mr J. A. Beale has since that time held the offices of organist and choirmaster, and has taken a great deal of trouble in mak'ng the choir efficient, not only for the church services, but also for the concerts which were given on behalf of the New Church Building Fund. The work of the Sunday-school has not yet taken the turn which the minister of the district has for a long time desired to see. An effort was made to effect some improvement about the month of June last, but owing to the very serious and painful accident which befel Mr Bright, who was tiien the superintendent, the work could not receive the attention which he whi&hed to bostow upon it. Mr Wells has lately taken charge of the school, and provided he receivps'a fair support in the work from the parents, in preparing their children, and causing them to attend regularly and in good time ; from such members of the church or congregation as have the ability to teach, in mmisteiing in this important direction; and from others who cannot help in this way. in contributing with their substance to the cost of carrying on the school — provided he is thus supported the clergyman has good gr*mds for believing that the end of the present year will show a very different result. The revenue of the past year, although it compares unfavourably with that of 1579, in the matter of ordinary snbsonptions, ap Dears to be satisfactory on the whole. The offertories have been much larger (increasing in about the same ratio hs the congregations), and a much larger sum has been collected towards the now chinch than was collected in 1879. 80-ides this, as stated in tho last icport, some of the subscriptions received in that year should properly l>o credited to 1878. As Miggcted in tt.e last repoit, the Parsonage kitchen was lined before tho cold of winter set in, but the outside painting 1 required w.w deferred for want of funds. For this work, however, provision should now be made without delay, lest the timber of the buildings s\ffer through neglect. The erpction of the new church is tho subject which the district will now 10quiie to turn its chipf attention to. For nearly two years the matter has been under consideration in one form or another, but as yet no start has been made with the building. The undertaking ha 1 , however, been now brought to the very point of proceeding with the erection The plans have been decided upon for more thim a year past; a fund has been accumulating 1 slowly, but nevertheless surely ; the extra land required to complete the Hte has been successfully negotiated for ; tenders have been invited, for the carrying out of the work ; and, lastly, the call has been responded to by various competent contractors. The tendeis, it is true, are considerably in excels of the estimate originally made, and for this reason the meeting:, which was held last month duiiug the Bishop's visit, did not see its way to come to any immediate decision, but thought well to refer the matter back to the vestiy, to see whether, after conference with the architect and tenderers, any considerable reduction could be made. As the result of this conference, a proposal has been Bubmitted, which would reduce the cost of the building by £100, without any material alteration in its character, and that proposal will be laid before this meeting. The amexded proposal is for a building to cost £1570. Other expenditure, on land and fencing, furniture, architect's commission, and inside painting, will no doubt increase this amount to something like £2000; but some of these items may stand over for a while, if necessary. Towards the £1900 which would require to be expended this year, there has already been collected £204, nearly £600 more baa been promised, and a loan can be negotiated for £700, so that a sum of about £400 more ifl all that is urgently needed for present requirements. The vestry think the obtaining of that further sum ought not to be a difficult matter, and they now throw upon this meeting the responsibility of saying whether the present tender shall not, therefore, be accepted, and the building of the church be proceeded with at once." The following abstract of the balancesheet was read by Thomas Wells Esq.: Receipts : To balance in hand, Jan. 1, 1880, £3 ss; subscriptions to church fund, £124 13s; offertories (general), £124 19s lid ; offertories, (special), £28 Us Id; Hantapu, £3 7s Id j concert, Jan.,l, mQ, %l\ 5* Mi loan building rfund. £,\§ 2s, 7di total, £310 3s lid. Estimated liabilities, Dec. 31, 1880, £45852 d; do. assets in hand, $1 & 3d/j subsprip-

. J. , / , — tions due, £38/4s lid. Expenditure: Building MM I ,' £9 12s 2d; clergyman organist and verger's stipend, £214 68 8d; parish contributions, £31 10s sd; repairs to parsonage, £13 7s 5d ; insurance ditto, church, €4 Is; contribution to expense of clergyman attending synod, 1879 and 1880, £6 ; collectors commission, £3 9s ; concert expenses, £5 2s, jG& j sundries, £18 8s 10c! ; cash in hihd, £4 6s: total, £310 3s lid. Proposed by Mr Hea'ney "That the report and balance-sheet be adopted." Seconded by Mr Wells. " ' The Chairman nominated Mr Thomas Wells as the clergyman's churchwarden. Mr Heany proposed Mr Francis Hicks as people's warden,- seconded by Mr Wells. -, The number of the vestry was fixed at ten members, and the following gentlemen were elected : — Messrs. James Young, Chitty, Saunders, James Stewart, Heany, Edward Allen, junr., J. Bates, J. A. Beale, Alfred Hughes. Messrs. Bright and Scott were elected auditors. Votes of thanks were accorded to the outgoing churchwardens, also to the organist and choir. Votes of thanks were also accorded to the Sunday-school teachers, with especial reference to Miss Bright, Mr Fredrick Saunders, and Mr Thomas Peek. Votes of thanks were also accorded to the lay readers, The meeting then proceeded to discuss the business relating to the proposed new church. The utmost unanimity prevailed on this subject. On the motion of Mr Heaney seconded by Mr Wells, it was unanimously resolved "That Mr Con*Holly's amended tender be accepted. Ths chairman fully explained the nature of the alteration in the plans, by which the amount of the former tender had been reduced. The meeting then closed with the Ben* ediction.