The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-03-28 00:00:00

TESTIMONIAL TO A CLERGYMAN.

A MOST gratifying addre,s has been lately presented to
the Rev. G. F. Gregne, of Knotty Ash, by his congregation,
under the following circumstances. The late incumbent
having got leave of non-residence, Mr. Greene was selected
by the former Bishop of Chester, now the Archbishop of
Canterbury, to take charge of the church and. district; and
the manner hi which he continued to discharge the sacred.
and onerous duties of the cure from that time, for nearly
thirteen years, sufficiently evinced the wisdom of his grace's-
selection. The living at length fell vacant, and after a
considerable interval, by which the nomination lapsed to
the present bishop, a new incumbent was appointed with-
out reference to the wishes of the congregation, or the long
and faithful services of their much- esteemed pastor. Under
these circumstances the congregation, desirous of express-
ing their great disappointment, and the high sense they
entertained of Mr. Greene's ministrations, presented him
with the following address, accompanied with other valu-
able tokens of their regard :

" TO THE REV. GEORGE FE.EDERICH GREENE.
" We, the unlersigned churchwardens, pew and scat
holders, of the c' rch of St. John the Evangelist, Knotty
Ash, beg to ex1.1.,.:5s to you our deep sorrow that the con-
nexion which has so long and so satisfactorily existed
between us, as pastor and congregation, should have been
so unexpectedly and abruptly broken off.
"We feel conscious that not only will the church lose a •
most indefatigable minister, who upon all occasions has
preached the gospel with great faithfulness and with power,
to our comfort and consolation, but that the poor of the
district will be deprived of a valued friend and benefactor-
" It is impossible that this separation should take place,
without our evincing to you our sympathy and regard ; and
we beg to present to you the accompanying piece of plate,
as a token of our approbation of your conduct in the church
for nearly thirteen years.
"R. W. PRESTON, Z Churchwardens."

ROBT. HIGGIN, 5

To this were annexed 211 signatures. mostly heads of
families, the whole engrossed on two skins of parchment,
done up in the form of an album, and bound in morocco
richly gilt, u-ith massive silver clasps, forming a most
unique • and beautiful volume for the drawing-room,
modestly concealing its contents, and yet by its exceeding
taste inviting further inspection. The plate, furnished by
Messrs. Jones and Son, Castle-street, consisted of a mas-
sive silver salver and cake basket, with richly chased edges-
and a circular scroll engrossed pattern, with a handsome
silver pocket communion service, enclosed in a morocco
case ; the salver bearing the following inscription :
" Presented by the congregation of St. John the Evange-
list, Knotty Ash, to the Rev. G. F. Greene, as a parting
memorial of affectionate regard, after twelve years of faith-
ful ministry, 1853." There was also added a set of very
handsome robes, of the richest silk, completing the muni-
ficence of the testimonial.
We have much pleasure in recording such instances as
this of the devotedness of a congregation towards a beloved
pastor, removed unwillingly from them, as it shows us if,
in the disposal of church patronage; circumstances do arise
tending to wound, and perhaps alienate, the feelings of the
laity, there is still a certainty of a faithful ministry meet-
ing with the cordial response of a grateful and affectionate
people.