Parochial Tea at Conisbrough

February 1900

Mexborough Times, February 16.

Parochial Tea at Conisbrough.
Annual Gathering last Night.
Statement by the Vicar.

The wretchedly bad weather experience last evening interfere considerably with attendance at the Conisbrough Paris Church annual parochial gathering. Heavy snow, half melted as it fell, lay in sudden, sloppy, masses on the ground, and the old winding streets of the historic township were very difficult to traverse. Still, there were about150 persons present, a large proportion being children.

The parochial tea at Conisbrough, usually more than a mere annual social gathering. The event is used as a means of raising funds for church purposes, as well as to provide an opportunity of social intercourse and enjoyment. As a rule, the money realised is devoted to some specific object. Last year the principal idea was to secure money where with to purchase crockery and other requisites necessary for team meetings so as to avoid the necessity of having to borrow such articles. That object has been accomplished. This year a portion of the forms is to be sent to the Lord Mayor of London’s fund for the relief of distress caused by the South African war. The number of those church people who subscribed and helped to make the gathering a success was about 50.

The vicar, the reverent W.A.Strawbridge, M.A., made his customary annual statement, in the course of which he dwelt on the several aspects of Church work in the parish, and also gave a very interesting financial statement, which showed that during the last 12 months no less a sum than £717 has been raised in connection with the various organisations which the Church is the centre.

A lengthy problem of vocal and instrumental music had been drawn up, Mr Reeve, the church organist, been the accompanist. Some friends from a distance I promise to attend, and give their services in this direction, but the weather was against them, and the items had to be omitted. Mr Reeve opened entertainment with a pianoforte solo, entitled, “Nightingale and Zephyr,” after which the Vicar delivered a short address.

The reverent W.A.Strawbridge said that in the first place, he thought they were all agreed that the parochial teas were very helpful with regard to their social character, and so far as they brought the members of the congregation and residents of the parish together. That was one purpose, and then there was the entertainment that follow; and besides, there was the object of raising money. As a new in Conisbrough there was plenty of money, and he thought in one sense, the Church was always in command of their sympathy and support. There was always some public, or it might be a lodger, for which contributions were asked. Last year the money was divided equally between the Church Curate´s fund and the purchase of materials for the holding of teas. This year they had not a second clergyman in the parish, went to the reverent, J.Crawfords promotion. They are all very much regretted Mr Crawford’s absence. In the absence of a licenced curate it was useless for him and altogether beside the mark to use for a contribution towards that fund, and he thought there could be no better object for which to ask for a portion of the money raised than the Lord Mayor of London’s war fund and devote the remainder to musical purposes. They were aware that they would like to have a new piano in the school. That’s perhaps seemed a very trivial matter to mention, but it was one of their defects that they had no piano, and they had to remedy those defects by degrees. He was quite sure it would be well to have a substantial annual school piano for parochial purposes. That was his original intention, but with their acquiescence and consent. He suggested they should transfer the money to the organ fund. He would give his reasons very shortly. A committee of the church people met the other night, and in the face of some large expenses than they had anticipated in connection with the renovation of the old organ, the provision of a new one, they thought it best to go into one thing at a time and spend their money freely and generously upon perhaps the most prominent object in the church musically.

With regard to the parish generally, apart from the Civic Council and their endeavours to procure urban powers and secure a better supply water, and better paved roads and pathways, he thought the religious life of the various denominations was always the most interesting feature of a village like Conisbrough will stop. They welcomed all classes to their church meeting and to the Parish Church, which was the Church of the people.and to that extent they welcomed all. If the Vicar of a parish was on friendly terms with the Nonconformist ministers and there was a healthy and pleasant feeling amongst all Christian denominations it was something at least, for which to be thankful.

He thought in Conisbrough whatever its past and be – and he thought to be a happy past – he was thankful to say that their relations with Nonconformist brethren were not only amicable and charitable, but hearty and cooperative in things that my concern the general welfare (here, here)

after eluding to the genders is added services in the church and expressing the hope that there will be an improvement in the number of communications, the Vicar proceeded to give some figures relative the financial position of the Church. He had compiled the figures on his own responsibly.

He found that for the 12 months of last year the offertories of Parish Church, ordinary and special and amounted to £134 4s 7d. Nearly half of this sum had been given to charitable and outside purposes. In connection with the churchyard scheme they had raised £133 10s. After paying expenses on the organ fund they had raised £250 6s.

For the curate’s fund, in addition to the offertories from the parish tea last year, they had collected £103 6s. The parish tea last year realised£22 13 10d; the poolr´s fund £17 10s; Sunday school subscriptions£11 7s; tableau entertainment £9 10s ; quiet subscriptions £2 10s; various religious societies for public and evangelistic missionary purposes £31; making a total of £717.

That had all been raised entirely amongst themselves, given by members of the church, or indirectly race of the bizarre, in which they were generously helped by friends outside the parish. That was very gratifying, but at the same time there was much to be done. There were many things in the church that required attention, and anyone who had an eye for beauty, the safety of the fabric, would see that a great deal of attention and care was required.

The Vicar dwelt at some length on the improvements that were asked already been affected, and that those that are still necessary. You showed our progress will be made with regard to getting out specifications for the renovation of the old organ, which had been in the church, 52 years and which originally cost £130. He intimated that expert opinion was to be obtained as to whether or not the old organ could be effectively renovated, and said that if it was found that such was not the case they proposed to purchase an entirely new instrument. In conclusion, the Vicar spoke earnestly of the spiritual work of the church.

The entertainment included the following items:

Song, “Queen of the Earth,” Ms Crowcroft;

Song, “I fear no foe,” Mr O.H.Frampton;

Violin and piano, “the Cuckoo,” Messrs D.Tomlinson and Reeve;

Song, “the flight of ages,” Miss Popplewell;

Duet” the wind and the heart,” Mrs Allport and Miss Cole;

Glee, “softly falls the shades of evening”;

Instrumental band, Messrs. Laughton, Marshall, Reeve, Tomlinson and Wilson;

Piano, “Norwegian Wedding March,” Miss Cole;

Song, “the Sexton,” Mr F Hill;

Cornet and piano, Mr Wilson and Mr Reeve;

Song, “Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond,” miss Harrison;

Song, “Margarita,” miss A Cole;

Song, “Whisper and I shall hear,” miss Crowcroft

Glee, “Oh night, lovely night

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