August 1943

We must all be very happy at the success which has crowned the first phase of our campaign, launched by a special meeting of parishioners, held just a year ago, to raise funds for rebuilding. Week by week donations have come in throughout the year, and with promises, well over £5000 were raised.

Now we face the second phase. Your Vestry at its last meeting considered the whole position. They faced in realistic fashion what must be done, and they thought out a comprehensive plan for the future. It is hoped to have details settled very shortly and then, at the right moment, launch the second and final phase of our campaign.

Obviously a tremendous task still lies ahead of us. A very large sum of money has to be raised, for while, I think, it is right and proper to borrow some of the money needed so that we may have our buildings at the earliest possible moment, yet there is a limit to the debt that the parish can stand.

However, the position is such that if every member of the Church of England will give, on the average, what some have already done, then we shall reach our objective. That will involve sacrifice by our people, but the reward will be gloriously worth while.

Before long the active campaign to raise funds by direct giving will be launched. I believe you will not fail, and every donation that comes in now will lighten our task and encourage us to go forward, in good heart, to the second and final phase.

Your sincere friend and Vicar,

E. J. RICH.

SOCIAL AFTERNOON

Lady parishioners will be glad to know that the Ladies Guild is holding a Social Afternoon in the Y.M.C.A. Hall, Church Street, on Thursday, 19th August, at 2.30 p.m. There will be an attractive programme, afternoon tea will be served, and it is hoped to have as special speaker Lieutenant Keith Robertson, interpreter at a P.O.W. camp, who spent some years in Japan, and has a great story to tell of conditions in that country. This is an opportunity that should not be missed. Come and bring your friends. Incidentally by your presence you will be helping the Guild’s work.

IN MEMORIAM

Mrs Parsons, during her period of trying sickness, showed splendid patience and cheerfulness. She was deeply appreciative of all that was done for her, and her fine character endeared her to all who came in contact with her. The services of her Church meant much to her and very beautiful was the service at the hospital early one morning when she received the Sacrament. She leaves behind her the memory of a gentle unselfish Christian whose life centred round her home and her faith in God.

Mr A. G. Swinn had known ill-health for some years, but he was able to get about and was an active member of St Matthew’s. His sudden passing when on a visit to South Wairarapa came as a great shock to his relatives and friends. We shall miss him and his interest in our work.

The sympathy of us all goes out to the relatives of both these Christians. That God’s comfort and strength may be theirs now and in the coming days is the prayer of us all.

PARISH NOTES

Parishioners are very grateful for the help given by Chaplain C. L. Hults. He preached at Matins on Sunday, 18th July, and will preach again at Evensong on Sunday, 1st August.

Relatives of that fine Christian gentleman, the late Mr F. H. Dunderdale, have decided to give a memorial pew. Everyone will be happy that his memory is to be perpetuated in this way.

Parents and friends and other parishioners interested in St Matthew’s Scouts and Cubs are cordially invited to be present at the annual meeting of the Group which will be held in the Common Room on Thursday, 5th August, at 7.30 p.m.

REBUILDING FUND

Each month sees an increase in this fund on which we depend for the erection of our new Church. The fund now amounts to £4968 15s. in cash, Government stock, bonds, etc. In addition to that we have promises, including a legacy of £100, which amount to a further £310.

This fine total of donations which represents the amount given by the first anniversary of the special meeting of parishioners which launched the campaign, is a splendid achievement. It could not have been obtained without real sacrifice. Thus one parishioner, by no means wealthy, besides giving a donation of £100, has in addition, for a full twelve months, never given less than 10s each week out of wages. Indeed, the story behind many of the donations given is one of love for God and His Church built by such people will be a blessing to the whole community.

True, much, terribly much, remains to be done. Nevertheless we can thank God for what has been achieved. As far as personal and family donations is concerned, the position is roughly this: There has been one donation of £300, one of £200, one of £187 10s., one of £130, eight of £100, one of £70, seven of £50, one of £43 15s., one of £30, two of £25, six of £20, two of £17 10s, one of £15 15s., one of £11 11s., seven of £10 10s, thirty-six of £10, one of £7, one of £6, fifty-six of £5 and about 120 below that sum. In many cases these donations are just first or second instalments.

We want every member of the parish to have a direct, personal share in the rebuilding. A tremendous sum still remains to be raised, but if all will help according to their ability, our goal will be reached. Donations may be sent to Archdeacon Rich, the Vicarage, Masterton.

WET SUNDAYS

It is a long time since we have had such a run of wet and cold Sundays as we have had during June and July. That, added to the fact that it has not been possible to heat the Parish Hall, had an effect on the congregations, especially at 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. Still, we have had some great services and we may look forward now to warmer and better weather. Let us all, Sunday by Sunday, be found in our places in Church, making our worship just as worthy as we can.

CONFIRMATION

A fine band of young people are attending the junior Confirmation classes. They are keen and interested. Any adults who for any reason missed being confirmed when they were young should seize the opportunity of the annual confirmation and be confirmed this year. Special classes will be held for adults and any interested are invited to let the Vicar know.

MAGAZINE DONATIONS

Mesdames J. Whiteman, A. Wyeth, H. Fairchild, Miss Colquhoun, 5/- each; Mrs M. Cleghorn, 7/6; Misses Morrison 10/-; Mrs A. T. Jackson, 4/6; Mesdames Polson, Smith, J. E. Broad, Whitton, 2/6 each; Mrs Ashworth, 5/-.

“Church and People” : Mesdames Broad, Cleghorn, 2/6 each.

CHRISTIAN ORDER

In connection with the Campaign for Christian Order the Dean of Christchurch is attending a conference of church leaders in America, and on his return will make a tour of New Zealand, giving public addresses.

Then in October of this year the churches of New Zealand are invited to join in a period of simultaneous preaching, thereby bringing the work of the campaign to a head in every area and proclaiming to the world the substantial unity of the Churches’ Message.

It is good to hear of these proposed activities, but let us never forget that the Christian Order depends, under God, on the faith and witness of men and women in every walk of life. As we deepen our spiritual life, as we show day by day our faithfulness to the Christian ideal, so do we influence others and begin to make it possible for the Christian way to become the basis of our national life.

C.E.M.S.

The study book dealing with the Ten Commandments in the 20th Century is proving most interesting. The matters dealt with touch in a practical way the sort of problems which meet us every day. Last month the subject was introduced by Mr N. Blatchford, and a great discussion followed. This month, on Monday, 2nd August, at 7.45 p.m, Mr W. A. Clarke will introduce the subject which deals with worship and service. All men interested are invited to be present.

OUR DISTRIBUTORS

This little paper would not come to you regularly each month, telling you what is going on in the parish, but for the splendid, quiet work of a fine band of people. Several hundred copies are posted but well over a thousand copies are delivered by willing helpers. Here are the names of the distributors, with their streets:

Mrs C. W. Walker
The Terrace,
King Edward St.
Queen Alexander Street

Miss Henderson
Roberts Rd., etc

Miss Hale
Te Ore Ore Rd

Mrs J. Aikman
rest of Lansdowne

Mrs McWhinnie
Lincoln Rd., north, etc

Mrs S. Taylor
Lincoln Rd., north, etc

Miss Selby Jean,
Elizabeth and Hacker Sts.,

Mrs Beban
Cole St

Mrs Braggins
Dixon and Queen Sts centre

Mrs Pawson
Dixon and Queen Sts north

Mrs Bannister
Cornwall St.

Misses Robins
Perry St

Mrs V Burridge
Renall St east

Miss McEwen
Renall St west, etc

Mrs Engstrom
Colombo Rd

Mrs Lee
Worksop Rd

Mrs Hatch
Bannister St

J. Rich
Church St

Miss Vincent
Chapel and Hope Sts

Miss K Robins
Pownall St, north

Mrs Mabson
Pownall St, south

Mrs Rutherford
Tararua and Wright Sts

Mrs Woodley
Herbert St

Miss King
Casel St, Hogg Crescent and Dixon St south

Mrs Yates
McKenna, Bunny, Sussex Sts

Mrs J Grey
Cambridge Terrace

Mrs Tildesley
Essex St

Mrs R Gray
Wrigley, Albert, Victoria Sts

Mrs Friend
Bentley St

Miss Booth
Kirton, Macara, Hessey, Miriam Sts

Kuripuni and Government houses distribution

L. Nichols

B Barnes

G Bradley

T. Brett

C Heath

R Macalister

D Adams

P Davies

T Coley

A Henson

T Judd

It is plain that parishioners value and welcome this magazine. It is good to be able here to say, “Thank you” to the helpers who alone make its wide distribution possible.

KURIPUNI NOTES

The annual meeting of the Epiphany Ladies’ Guild will be held at the residence of Mrs Whitton, 11 Cornwall Street, on Thursday, 5th August, at 2.30 p.m. All members are asked to be present to plan the Guild’s activities. New members will find the Guild a very happy body and they, too, will be welcome.

There was only a small attendance at the annual meeting of Kuripuni parishioners, but it proved a very happy meeting and a good committee was again appointed.

YOUTH WORK

The new arrangements for the main Sunday Schools are working well, and the three divisions under Mr S. F. Taylor, Mrs K. Chapman and Miss E. Thomas, report better attendances and real interest. Our superintendents and their helpers at all our parish Sunday Schools are doing great work. the best token of appreciation would be a perfect attendance every Sunday.

We are being hard put to it sometimes to accommodate all who are attending our Bible Classes. However, that is the kind of difficulty one does not worry about. Our members are keen and faithful in their attendance. May their numbers increase yet more! We shall not mind.

BAPTISMS

June

30 Margaret Joan Skeet

July

21 Patricia Martin Reid

22 Desmond Allan Morris

MARRIAGES

July

2 Edward Baden Watts and Mafalda Doris Meren

8 Douglas Le Roy Terry and Catherine Tremaine Maunsell

17 Eric Richard Kjestrup and Margaret Ruth French

17 Jesse Wyatt Creech and Ellanora Sophia Beetham

17 Frank Hubbird Bain and Dorothy Court Finlayson

21 Douglas Richard Charles Bond and Yolande Ruby

24 Lewis Stephen Harrap and Edna Mabel Brown

24 James Wallace Cooper and Miriam Parsons

BURIALS

July

15 Catherine Selina Parsons

20 Albert George Swinn

21 Henrietta McIntosh

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