The Vicarage,
1st March, 1927.

My Dear Friends,

As usual we had not a very large gathering at the Annual Church Meeting on February 16th. It was a pity that more of the electors did not come. However, we had a useful and pleasant meeting, and the business was carried through in a very satisfactory way. So those of you who did not turn up will say, "Oh, you could do very well without us." But wee could have done even better with you, and please come next year.

Mr. S. D. Hollands gave a short account of the doings of the Council in the past year and stated that we have now 158 names on the Roll of Electors. Colonel R.G.E. Locke presented the accounts of the Council with a full explanation of them. It was resolved that from the balance in hand (£42/19/10), £10 should be transferred to the Organ and Choir Fund, and £20 to a "Church Fabric Fund." We all agreed with the Treasurer that we ought to build up a fund on which to draw when any exceptional repairs are necessary which cannot be met out of annual income. The working balance four 1927 is, therefore, only £12/19/10. A very satisfactory feature in these accounts is the increase in the offertories which points to larger congregations or more liberal giving by those attending the services. A hearty vote of thanks was given to Colonel Locke for his carefully prepared statement and for all his work as Treasurer. Other accounts were presented. A printed copy will be found in each Magazine, and I hope you will look carefully through it. The following officers for the year were elected. To the Diocesan Conference, Colonel Locke. To the R.D. Conference, Mr. S D, Hollands, Mr. W. Miles, and Miss Faussett Osborne. On the Church Council, Messrs. W. S. Stevens, W. A. Miles, R. C. J. Southgate, L. Hales, W. G. Kitchingham, J. W. Harriss, G. Harriss, E. T. Friar, L. J. Baxter, W. H. Flack, F. Musselwhite, and F. G. Saunders, Mrs. Creaton, Miss Faussett-Osborne, Mrs. L. Hales, Mrs. Rainey, Mrs. S. A. Friar, Mrs. Mills, and Mrs. Baxter, with the Vicar and Churchwardens ex officio. As Sidesmen, Messrs. W. S. Stevens,

L. Hales, J. W. Harriss, G. Harriss, E. T. Friarn, F. Musselwhite, W. H. Flack, F. G. Saunders, and P. H. Harriss.

All those who organised the Whist Drive and Dance which was held in the Schoolroom on February 4th, are to be congratulated on it, both as an enjoyable social function, and as amoney-raising concern. Mr. Savage has produced a detailed balance sheet showing £4/10/6 to be handed over to the Piano Fund.

It was a disappointment to me that I was not able to be at the Choir and Band Concert on February 28th, but I heard great things about it. I feel sure that those who were present at it enjoyed the excellent programme of music, and agreed that it was a good village effort. For it we are indebted to the painstaking work of the Band Mistress, Choirmaster, and the Organist, so well backed up by the members of the Band and Choir. The proceeds (£4/18/4) are to be divided between the two organisations for the purchase of music, etc.

I mentioned last month that our preacher at the Special Lent Services this year is to be the Rev. N. L. Lycett, Rector of Chartham. The services will be on Wednesdays, March 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th, and April 6th, at 7.30 p.m., and we look forward to large congregations.

Mr. Lycett gives as his subject, "Five simple Gospel Addresses." We could not ask far a better, and I am sure he will give us much to think about. Will you try to follow the addresses through?

On the Sunday evenings in Lent. I propose to preach on "Some well-known hymns," giving a little about the story of the writer of each hymn and trying to draw out the meaning of words with which we are familiar so that the hymns may be even more to us in the future than they have been in the past. On the Fridays in Lent there will be a shortservice with a devotional reading in the Lady Chapel at 3 p.m.

I remain,

Your sincere Friend and Vicar,
D. H. CREATON.