The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-04-01 00:00:00

WALTON ANNUAL VESTRY MEETING

On Tuesday last, (being Easter Tuesday,) the annual ves-
t. v of the inhabitants of the extensive parish of Walton-on-
the-[sill was held in the parish-church, according to ancient
custom, for the purpose of auditing and passing the then
churchwarden's accounts, making a rate for the necessary
repairs of the church, and transacting the general business
of the parish. About a hundred of the ratepayers were pre-
sent, including. Messrs. Henderion, M`Gregor, Squires
(sidestnan), M. Ashcroft, Gandy, Harvey, Sharpies, Alcock,
Harrison, Woods, Knowles, Booth, Hall, Chubb, Davies,
and other respectable parishioners.
The Rev. T. Moss; the vicar, occupied the chair; and the
notice calling the meeting having been read,
Mr. T. BIRKETT, churchwarden for the past year, read a
summary of the accounts, on which he furnished satisfactory
explanations. The bazaar at the Walton Nursery, last year,
had produced about £BOO ; and a further sum had been re-
ceived in donations towards the new organ and other objects.
Mr. Birkett also stated that be had been blamed for permit-
ting the body of the church to be spoiled; but that had been
the work of Mr. Broadbent, the architect. He had now
served the parish officially for three years, and had given his
best and most anxious attention to its interests ; and he
trusted that the meeting would consent to such a rate as
would enable his successor to carry out to completion the
improvements in the building which had already so far ad-
vanced.

Several gentlemen requested Mr. Birkett to permit him-
self to he again put in nomination ; but he respectfully de-
clined, as having already devoted much of his time and ser-
vices to the parish.
Mr. HALL inquired whether the churchwarden and other
officers had acted under the authority of the ratepayers in
pulling down the chancel and re-roofing it; and being an-
swered in the negative, he remarked that he thought that in
that case they ought to have paid the cost out of the funds
raised at the bazaar. He complained of the gra* cost en-
tailed on the ratepayers, and particularly the poorer portion
of them, for building and rebuilding, altering and beautify-
ing the church year after year, after an understanding had
been come to at the last vestry meeting that the rate of 2d.
in the pound then laid to meet that expenditure was to be
final.
Mr. DOVER said it was a parish church, and should be
made fit and proper for the worship of God. Besides, the
rate that would be proposed would not press heavily on the
poor. If the rate were opposed, lte should demand a poll
upon it, and had no doubt of success.
Mr. 111`GnEcon. said that the new roof of the chancel was
not paid for out of the parish funds, but out of the pockets
of private individuals.
Mr. DOVER and others, in reference to Mr. Hall, remark-
ed that that gentleman had, on a previouS occasion, (two
years ago,) proposed a rate of 2d. for church repairs; but
that he had afterwards turned his back on his own proposi-
tion, and had absented himself from the meeting which was
to carry it out.
Mr. HALL said that he had then concurred in the addi-
tional rate—the rate for the general expenditure being only
Id.—under the impression that it would be final, and put an
end to the existing disputes on the subject that disturbed the
parish ; and he would have attended the meeting, but was
prevented by an attack of gout.
Mr. HENDERSON proposed that the accounts read be
passed, which was seconded by Mr. GANDY. The former
gentleman highly complimented Mr. Birkett for his zeal and
exertions on behalf of the parishioners, and who, though he
might meet with the opposition of some, had earned the gra-
titude of many more. Seats for the poor had also been re-
served. The support given to the bazaar by the poor as well
as the rich showed that there was a general feeling for the
proper repair and completion of the building ; and even the
mass of the dissenters could not but be pleased to see the
mother church beautified and rendered comfortable.
Mr. BIRK ETT said that the cost of the new tower, and the
rebuilding of the church had, in consequence of the liberal
contributions, not cost the ratepayers more than £4,000;
and if they were now valued they would be estimated as
worth £B,OOO. In building the chancel, the best specimens
of Gothic architecture had been procured, and the roof woula
be no loss to the parish. There was also a considerable sum
of arrears to be collected. The expenditure last year had
been £B5O, and £350 of new work, including the new organ
gallery, new seats, and a new stove.
Mr. AsuchoFT said that he found the church in about as
unfinished a state as at the last Easter meeting, and com-
plained that the vicar and churchwarden should go on pulling
down and building up, and making call after call upon the
parishioners. The accounts, too, had been read in so rapid
a manner that the items could not be scrutinized.
Mr. HALL concurred in the last remark.

Mr. BIUKETT said-that vouchers for every item were on
the table for examination ; and suggested a committee, in-
cluding Mr. Ashcroft and Mr. Hall, to look into them.

This was, however, declined, these gentlemen expressing
their confidence in Mr. Birkett's accuracy, as he was him-
self an accountant.

After some further desultory conversation, there being no
amendment proposed, the motion that the accounts do pass
was put and carried without opposition.
Mr. BIRKETT then read an application be had received
from the churchwardens of Knotty Ash, and a similar one
from the churchwardens of St. Mary's, Kirkdale, calling
upon them to supply these places of worship with sacramental
wine.
In reply to Mr. Hall, it was stated that no rate was laid on
the pew owners of these places of worship for this purpose.
Mr. DOVER stated, in reference to St. Mary's, that they
had had the opinion of several legal authorities, who consi-
dered that they had a right to claim the wine from the parish
church.
Mr. HENDERSON said the parish had a right to provide
the wine ; but whether out of the parish funds or otherwise,
he was not aware. The matter should, he thought, be left
to the discretion of the churchwardens.
Mr. DOVER said that the law gave them a claim, and as
they paid rates, it should be put into execution.
The matter was left to the churchwarden.
Mr. Roskell was stated, by the CHAIRMAN, to be the
churchwarden for the ensuing year, in the place of Mr. Bir-
kett. The appointment rested with the rector.
The meeting then proceeded to the election of a sidesman.
Mr. Thomas Harrison was proposed, as an old parishioner,
and a fit representative of the farmers, who were the princi-
pal ratepayers, and the motion was seconded.
Mr. Chubb, who resides close to the church, was then pro-
posed, seconded, and recommended as one from whom much
improvement was to be anticipated in the choir.
Mr. HALL wished to know the duties required from the
sidesman. It appeared to him that he had nothing to do.
Mr. GANDY also thought sidesmen of no manner of use.
The sidemen were always put aside by the churchwarden,
and could say nothing and do nothing.
Mr. ROSKELL said whoever was elected a sidesman in be-
half of the parish, him he would consult with on every occa-
sion.

Mr. M`GREGOR supported Mr. Chubb, and said that the
establishment of a juvenile choir would be of great advantage
to the parish, and at little or no expense.
Mr. HARDY supported Mr. Harrison—Mr. MYERS, Mr.
Chubb.

A show of hands was taken, and about two-thirds were
held up in favour of Mr. Harrison.
Mr. ARTHUR HENDERSON demanded a poll, but fixing of
the time was postponed till the next question was disposed of
—the laying of the rate for the finishing of the church.
Mr. BIRKETT produced an estimate of the cost of the in-
tended new work, which amounted to, as we understood him,
£767, which a rate of lid. would cover ' • but with other
matters, he recommended that it should be 2d.
Mr. ROSKELL, after referring to the work to be done,
hoped a rate of lid at least would be granted.
Mr. HENDERSON and others were of opinion that a rate
of 2d. would be required to complete the repairs in a proper
manner, and that this, he would say, would be a final rate for
that purpose.
Mr. ROSKELL said that a rate of 2d. would clear all.
Mr. HARDY complained that a rate of 2d. was successively
imposed, but said he would not oppose it if he were assured
it would be final ; and the demand for a poll as between Mr.
Harrison and Mr. Chubb was persisted in.
A long debate ensued, and Mr. ROSKELL moved that the
rate be 2d., pledging himself to the utmost economy. This
was seconded by Mr. M'GREGoa.' and on the understanding
that the chancel should be completed by private contribu-
tions, and that the money should be appropriated to the
raising of the roof of the body of the church, to plaster work,
and the renewing of the rotten parish seats in the centre;
and, above all, that it should be a final extraordinary rate. It
was put to a show of hands, and unanimously carried.
111 On the motion of Mr. `GREGOR, 1,1 vote of thanks was

passed to Mr. Churchwarden Birkett, for the great zeal, ex-
ertion, and integrity that had marked his conduct throughout.
Some merriment was occasioned by Mr. Gandy proposing
that a monument or inscription, more durable than the
record of such a vote, should be fixed in the chancel or some
other part of the church commemorative of Mr. Birkett's
services,—and which was considered as a proposition to
" bury " Mr. Birkett rather prematurely, he being yet hale
and hearty. . . . .

A conversation ensued relative to an alteration in a church
foot-path through the fields, on the south of the building,—
of which Mr. Henderson and Mr. Dover vehemently com-
plained. Others were of opinion that the alteration was a
great improvement; and as the subject was not relevant to
the meeting it was dropped without any final determination.
Mr. Alderman Moox proposed a vote of thanks to the
Rev. Chairman for his amiable and accommodating conduct
in the chair, which was seconded by Mr. Gandy, and carried
by acclamation. The meeting then broke up.
A number of the parties afterwards sat down to a
sumptuous dinner, at the Bay Horse, and passed a most
agreeable evening.

Lord Rolle lies in a dangerous state at his country resi-
dence in Devonshire. His death is hourly expected. The
noble earl is in his 93rd year.

COLONIAL BISHOPRICKS FUND.—The collections made
on Palm Sunday, in compliance with the Bishop of London's
pastoral letter, as far as returns had been made up to this
day (March 28), amount to £6,400 ; and returns have still
to be made from more than 200 places. Among the offerings
made at Portman Chapel was a very beautiful diamond
brooch, valued at about £l5O. It was given anonymously,
but with the text Exodus xxxv. 21, 22. A few more such
noble offerings would secure the early accomplishment of the
great object in view—tbat of providing for the endowment of
a bishoprick in each of the other colonies of the British
Crown.