ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, TE AWAMUTU.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3043, 16 January 1892, Page 2

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, TE AWAMUTU.

annual Meeting of parishioners. The usual annual meeting was held in the Church, on Wednesday, 13th instant. In the absence of a clergyman, the chair was occupied by Mi- Churchwarden Cox. The minutes of the last annual rceetinp of 30th January, 1801, were read and confirmed and signed by the chairman. The report of the vestry for the year ending 31st December, 1891, was reail and is as follows :— "To the parishioners, dear friends and fellow churchmen,—Tho year j-ist ended has been one of many mercies, although in regard to your Church's funds it has not been more favoured that some of its predecessors. The monthly services (by clergymen) have been maintained without intermission) but have been little butter attended than the lay services. Under these circumstances your vestry have not felt justified in 'making an attempt to obtain a resident clergyman. The Vestry would feel gratified by seeing other helpers come forward to take greater interest in tho work and also to make suggestions for better management so as to secure a larger attendance upon tho ordinances of religion. The Sunday School has been conducted under the same snperintendency as heretofore and in addition thereto a children's service is now held on the first Sunday in every month, commencing at 3 p.m. At the request of the vestry, His Lordship the Bishop has been pleased to appoint Mr James Lloyd Mandeno as lay reader. It is a matter of congratulation to the vestry that tho services of both the lay readers (Mr Thomas Hunt and Mr Mandeno) continue to be so freely given. At a meeting of the vestrv, held on the 7th inst., it was decided to vote to Miss Maud Mandeno the sum of £2 2s as a slight recognition of her voluntaiy services as organist for the past two years. Your vestry have every reason to believe that their action in this- matter will meet with tho approbation of the parishioners. For the vestry, (signed) Eowakd Cox, churchwarden. To Awamutu, 13th January, 1802." The report and balance-sheet (as audited) of the treasurer (Mr Gresham) were then read. These show a credit balance at the bank of £3 Ss 9d, instead of the debit on the 31st December, 1890. In addition to this all current accounts have been liquidated, and the Church now possesses a communion sorvice, value £0. Proposed by Mr Andrew, seconded by Dr. Rowley, and carried, that the report and balancesheet, as read, be adopted. A special rapoit as to the necessity for repairing the blocks of the church building and the painting of the church and steeple, etc., was then eubmitted to the meeting and discussed, and it was decided to make a general appeal for funds with which to effect these repairs. Also, that on the occasion of the next service by visiting clergyman the subject should be dealt with from the pulpit. It was noted that people of the various denominations and from a widely surrounding district had now for some years past availed themselves of the churchyard for the burial of their deceased relatives, and it is anticipated that regardless of sect, very many of those neighbours who do not actually attend worship in St, John's would, if requested, bo very willing to assist in defraying the cost of the repairs. Mr Edward Cox was again unanimously elected churchwarden, and the following gentlemen were elected vestrymen, viziMessrs Burgess, Gresham, Long, Mandeno, Ahier, Dr. Rowley and Mr T. Wilkinson. The usual votes of thanks to the lay-readers (Mr Thomas Hunt and Mr J. L. Mandeno) were then passed as were also those to the churchwi.rden, outgoing vestry and other officer bearers.