The Parish Magazine for Berkeley, Dursley, Stinchcombe, and Uley

KING-STANLEY.

The Morning Offertory and Evening Collection for Alms and Church Expenses on Sunday, 6th of April, amounted to £2. 14s. 8d.

Good congregations, both morning and evening, on Good Friday, gave proof of the advance made in the Parish in its regard for that Holy Day-the fruit, it is hoped, of earnest use of the Lenten Season: as the worshippers, at the Wednesday Evening Service of Penitence during Lent, were many and very constant. This gave reality to the Services of Joy on Easter Day. The choir never sang with greater brightness, to aid the worship of very full congregations; a most goodly sight and the true ornament of God's House. The number of Communicants at the two Celebrations of the Holy Communion was 65.

On Easter Day, 13th of April, at afternoon school the Rector distributed the Prizes and Rewards given by himself and Mrs. Gibson to the Sunday School children. The Rector spoke of the Greatness of the Day on which had fallen this event. He expressed his pleasure at having to speak favourably of the improvement in the Boys' Classes which had recently given some trouble to their Teachers. He very seriously exhorted the elder scholars not to be content with mere attendance at school and the saying of their lessons; but to take a more earnest and active interest in Religious Knowledge; remembering how soon the work of life would come upon them and interfere with its progress; he bade them not to confine their interest as the choice of books from the Reading Library too much shewed, to story books only; but courageously to enter upon more serious reading and to make more use of the many manuals of religious instruction, abundantly mixed with those of a brighter kind, in the Prizes and Rewards they received.

Many of the Parishioners will join with the Rector and his wife in expressing their regret that Mr. Higgs is about to leave his position as Curate of the Parish, after seven years' work amongst us. His kind attention to the sick and poor will be long remembered. His service in guiding his Class of Boys was evidenced by the number of them who presented themselves on Easter Day at the Early Altar Service. This is one of the most difficult and often least successful of "the Works of the Ministry." Many parents will experience the same joy with the Rector, at this reward of earnest and persevering zeal. Mr. Higgs soon sails in one of the P. and O. Steamers, for South Australia: where he has accepted an invitation from the Bishop of Adelaide, to undertake some work in his Diocese. All will unite with the Rector in prayers and good wishes for his safe conduct across the seas, and that the blessing of God may attend and prosper him.

On his arrival in the middle of May, the Rector will nominate to the Bishop, as Curate of the Parish, the Rev. Frederick William Cory, late Curate of Warrington, in Lancashire.

Miss Susan Cross has passed her Examination for Certficate, and is consequently in a position to take charge of a larger school with increased stipend, but she has consented to continue here, as Mistress of the Infant School, for two years at her present stipend.

Miss Jane Mann has completed her apprenticeship with so much credit, that on the recommendation of H.M. Inspector, she has been placed on the List of Provisionally Certificated Mistresses. She has been appointed Mistress of the Infant Class at Stanley St. Leonard.

Henry Harrison has passed his Examination, and been recognised as a Candidate on Probation, for the vacant Pupil Teachership This is a regulation of the New Code

CHURCH REGISTER.

BAPTISMS.

April 13-Easter Day-Rose Fanny, daughter of David and Catherine Matilda Gardner, Stanley House.

-Worthy John, son of Henry and Ruth R. Harris,

Woodside.

MARRIAGE.

April 26-Henry A. Carter, to Frances F. M. Gwinnell, both of

King-Stanley.

BURIAL.

April 24-Ann Wood, aged 18 years, The Union House, Stroud.

STINCHCOMBE.

Having had several seasons of late more or less unfavourable, probably some at least amongst us are tempted to over-anxious fears as to the summer before us. It is well therefore that we should be reminded that the Church has of old set apart the three days immediately before Ascension Day, not only as a season of preparation for that Great Festival, but also as Rogation Days-Days of Prayer--and of prayer especially for God's blessing on the fruits of the earth now growing up. Those days this year will fall on the 19th, 20th, and 21st of May. There will be prayer in those days, as in other days, in the room now used as a Prayer Room in the old Parsonage, in which the Clergy hope to be joined by some of those amongst the Parishioners who believe that it is God, Who gives us the fruits of the earth in their due season.

The Tuesday in that week is the day that has been observed in this Parish for some years, in obedience to the authority of the Bishops of the Reformed Church, as a day of Intercession for Foreign Missions; but on account of the state of the work at the Church it appears necessary to postpone the observance of it to a later period of the year. We hope to have the use of the Church on Ascension Day, as well as on the Sundays, but beyond that one day it does not seem well to hinder the progress of the repairs.

Classes of Instruction are being held in the Library at the Old Parsonage on Thursday evening, which will continue for about three weeks more, for the benefit of those who have been recently confirmed, and for Communicants, who may desire further teaching on the doctrine of the Holy Communion and of the proper preparation for it.

CHURCH REGISTER.

BAPTISMS.

April 13-Sarah Jane, daughter of William and Sarah Nelmes, Berkeley Road.

-Mary Ann, daughter of Joseph and Julia Attwood. 20-Francis, son of Alfred and Ann Woodward.

BURIALS.

April 6-Lettie Hill, Stinchcombe, aged 6 months. 13-Annette Sarah Prevost, Abbey Grange, Street, Somerset, aged 18 years.

ULEY-cum-OWLPEN.

At the Confirmation at Dursley, on Easter Eve, the Candidates from Uley and Owlpen were seven males and twelve females. Two males had already been confirmed at Stroud on the 29th. Of these several we are glad to say increased the number of Communicants on Easter Day, who amounted at both Churches to one hundred. This was a considerable increase on former years, and, as several of our larger houses were empty, shows we may hope, that the effects of the Mission are felt in a lasting way among us. The flowers at Owlpen were most beautiful, and the dignity of the Services were enhanced by Mrs. Stoughton's gift of Surplices, which were used for the first time by the new Choir of men and boys. These are with one or two exceptions inhabitants of Owlpen Parish, and have shown by the pains they have taken with their music, that they are indeed glad to offer what they can for the Service and Glory of God.

Rogation Tuesday, May 20th, will be observed as the Day of Intercession for Foreign Missions as in former years. There will be a Celebration of Holy Communion at Uley Church at eight o'clock, a.m., and a Special Service of Intercession at eleven, a.m. At the latter there will be no Offertory, but any help will be gratefully received for the Missionary Studentship for this Archdeaconry, which is helping to support two Candidates at St. Augustine's, Canterbury.

On Ascension Day the Services will be at Uley Church at a quarter-past eleven a.m. with Holy Communion, and at half-past seven o'clock in the Evening. At Owlpen Church the Service will be at three o'clock in the Afternoon. The Offertory will be given to the House of Mercy at Bussage, which deserves the help both of Prayers and of Alms in the quiet work it has now been carrying on for thirty years.

The Offertories for warming and lighting the Church on March 9th, amounted together to about £4 10s.; those for Church Expenses on Palm Sunday and Easter Day to about £6. A considerable Donation had to be added to enable the Bills for cleaning, repairs, &c, which were presented at the Easter Tuesday Vestry Meeting to be defrayed.

The Uley and the Owlpen Choirs are to attend the Choir Festival at Berkeley, in June.

The Coal Club has begun again and is as popular as ever. The Clothing Club is considerably larger than it was last year. CHURCH REGISTER.

ULEY-BAPTISM.

April 27-Frederick Charles, son of Mark and Catherine

Bloodworth.

OWLPEN-BURIAL.

Feb. 13-William Hill, aged 81 years.

WHITMORE, STEAM PRINTER, STAMP OFFICE, DURSLEY.

THE

PARISH

MAGAZINE

FOR

Berkeley, Coaley, Dursley, King-Stanley, Stinchcombe,

AND

Uley-cum-Owlpen.

Price Twopence.

DURSLEY:

J. WHITMORE, STEAM PRINTER, STAMP OFFICE.

JUNE, 1884.

BERKELEY.

The Rev. J. C. Norman, Vicar of Highworth, and formerly Curate-in-Charge of Berkeley, has been appointed to the Vicarage of Berkeley, vacant by the death of the Rev. J. Seton Karr. Owing to the absence of the Curate-in-Charge the Account of the 8 a.m. Offertory at St. Mary's must be postponed.

The Associates and Members of the Young Men's Friendly Society met at Tea in the Chantry Garden on Wednesday, the 20th ult. About fifty were present and enjoyed the beautiful summer evening in various games, till at dusk the bells summoned the members to a Special Service in Church, when an address was given by the President of the Branch, the Rev. J. L. Stackhouse.

We have not yet received the Report of Her Majesty's Inspector, but the duplicate schedules show that the Fitzhardinge Schools passed a far higher per centage of scholars this year than last. The Schools were inspected in Religious Knowledge by the Rev. Charles Taylor on the 19th and 20th ult.

The St. Mary's Sunday School Treat will take place at the latter end of the month.

Arrangements will be made for a Flower Service as soon as possible.

A Choral Festival will take place in the Parish Church next month. Due notice will be given of the hour of Service, and of the Preacher. A large number of voices will take part in the Service, as several Choirs are coming from the Forest side of the Severn.

CHURCH REGISTER.

BAPTISMS.

April 16-Allan Lancelot, son of Oliver George and Mary Marling, Sharpness.