The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-04-19 00:00:00

EASTER VESTRIES,

S COURBRIDGE.—At the vestry meeting at Old-
swinford on Tuesday, the Rev. A, B. Timbrell was
in the chair, and he read a note from the Rector
(the Rev. C. S. Wordsworth), in which that gentle-
mam stated that he left the choice of his warden to
the meeting. Mr. G. Harward was nominated
rector's warden by the Chairman, and Mr. R.
Willcock was elected people's warden. A vote
of thanks was passed to the retiring wardens. Sides-
men were appointed. A resolution was passed
asking the new wardens to make arrangements for
the cleansing and internal decoration of the church,
and also for carrying out such repairs as were
necessary,—The Vicar (the Rev. Sherrard) pre-
sided at St. Thomas's vestry meeting held on Tues-
day, and nominated Mr. P. Walker as his warden
for the ensuing year. Mr. Charles Dallow was
chosen as people's warden. Ten sidesmen were
elected. The churchwarden's accounts, which
showed an adverse balance of .220 were passed.
Votes of thanks to the retiring wardens and to the
choir, which is a voluntary one, closed the proceed-
ings.—The Rev. L. B. Penley (the Vicar) presided
at St. John's vestry meeting on Tuesday, Messrs.
Frank Griffiths (vicar's warden) and J. M. Gething
(people's warden) were re-appointed. A suggestion
was thrown out as to the making of a new road to
the church, but nothing definit was done.
DUDLEY.—On Tuesday the annual vestry meet-
ing was held at the parish church, the Rev. C. W.
Nash presiding. The Vicar (Rev. Dr. Cosens),
who wrote stating that the necessity for rest and
change hid induced him to leave for a holiday,
nominated Mr. Septimus Bagott as his- warden for
the ensuing year. Mr. T. U. Goodwin was ap-
pointed people's warden, and in acknowledging the
compliment he congratulated the meeting on the
renovation of the church, which was now in a
better stite of repair than it had been for many
years. They had not yet paid off the offetery debt,
and why he accepted office for another year was
that he was anxious this should be done. Mr. Ten-
dell called attention to the Church Army, and said
it required the moral and pecuniary support of the
officers of the Charch. The captain of the Army
also appealed for help, and alluded to the import-
ant Church work which had been accomplished.
The Chairman submitted that no greater move-
ment had ever been started of getting hold of the
poorer classes of the town. On the return of the
vicar a Church Council meeting might be called,
' and something definite be done in aid of the Church
Army. Mr. Goodwin afterwards referred to the
"seandaleus and unmanly attacks" recently made
upon the vicar, and said his friends were ready to
defend him for personalities, come from whom and
from whatever source they might. It was decided
to ex,imine and pass the accounts at an adjourned
meeting.—St. Edmund's: Vicar's warden, Mr. E.
Poole ; people's warden, Mr. J. B. Bourne.—St.
Luke's: Vicar's ward-n, Mr. T. Oakes ; people's
warden, Mr. F. Knight. —St. James's: Vicar's
warden. Mr. John Hughes; people's warden, Mr. G.
J. C. Broom,
Hai.EsoweN.—The annual vestry meeting of the
Parish Church, for the passing of recounts and the
election of churchwardens, was held on ruesday
morning, in the National Schools, the Rector (the
Rev. C. C. Nation) presiding. The sch eds were
denseley crowded with parishioners.—The Chair-
man said that before the business was commenced
he desired to thank the parishion rs for the hearty
welcome they had given him upon his corning
amongst them as the rector of the parish, and ex-
pressed a hope that the work of the Church would
continue to be beneficent in the future, as he felt
sure it must have been in the past, during the
time Archdeacon Hone and the Hon. and Rev.
Canon Pelham occupied the position he then held.
He earnestly hoped that he should have the assist-
ance and support of the inhabitants of the parish.
—Mr. Trewolla (the parish warden) said he should
like to state that during the two years the lion.
and Rev, Canon Pelbain was rector of the parish an
additional wing had been erected on the south side
of the church, and also new roofs on the north and
south sides of the chancel, in memory of the late
Archdeacon Hone, at a cost of £3.533, and he was
proud to s‘y that through the generosity of the
parishioners and friends, the whole work had been
paid for, and further, that t e treasure' had a
balance of .261 19s. 10d. in hand—(applause). It
was proposed to expend this money in the re-hang-
ing of the b,lls—(hear, hear). The wardens had
received a tender to do the work amounting to
.288 95., and it had been decided to have the work
executed as speedily as possible. During the past
twelve years upwards of £12,000 had been expended
in. restoring the °hutch, and also of placing stained
windows in the chancel and in the body of the
church. He thought this fact showed that the
people took a great interest in their parish church
—(applause).—The Chairman said it afforded him
great pleasure te nominate Mr. W. Somers as his
warden for the ensuing year. He believed the ap
pointment would meet with the approval of the
whole of the members of the congregation—(hear,
hear).—lr. Somers thanked the rector for the
honour he hadsonferred upon him, and also the
parishioners for receiving the appointment with
marks of approval. He thought the thanks of . the
parishioners were due to LordLyttelton, the patron
of the living, for the trouble and interest lie had
taken in appointing good men as rector of the
parish.—Mr. 3urr proposed, and Mr. Lawton secon-
ded, that Mr Trewolla be re-elected parish warden.
Mr. Edward Gem moved as an amendment that Mr.
J. G. Rosy be elected. He a lid he thought it
would be in the interests of the Church that there
should be a change, on the ground that he did not
think it desirable or advisable that one gentleman
should hold the office for a number of years. It
was also important that the parish warden should
be a good financier, and if Mr. Reay .vas elected he
felt sure he would manage the accounts in the
most satisfactory manner possible—(hear, hear).—
Mr Clifford Bloomer sec mded the amendment,
which, upon being put to the meeting, was declared
to be lost. Mr. Trewolla was afterwards unani-

mously elected. -The following gentlemen were
afterwards elected sidesmen :—Dr. Ker and Mes.irs.
G. B. Hingley, A. Burr, C. Bloomer, J. Grove, J.
Green, S. Goodman, T. Hodgetts, A. Hominy, W.
Rose, J. G. Reay, J. Smart, and E. Thompson.
Mt.sers. A. Burr and E. Ball were elected auditors.
—The churchwardens' accounts were afterwards
presented, and considered to be satisfactory.—Mr.
Williams said he was of opinion that the charity
accounts should have been placed before the meet-
ing,—Mr. Trewolla said he was glad to say the
whole of the charities were now placed on a
proper basiq, and they were not now likely to los-:
„ny of them. Had Mr. Williams given him notice
he would have produced the accounts he had re-
ferred to.—A vote of thanks to the Chairman
terminated the proceedings.