There is a principle of public finance which we hear about daily from Nicola Willis: the Micawber Principle that was
first unveiled by Charles Dickens.
Its simple and says “If income is one pound and expenditure 19 shillings and sixpence the result is happiness. If income is one pound and expenditure one pound and six pence the inevitable result is misery.”
Alternatively, everybody must learn to cut their cloth. Unfortunately it’s not just governments and households that this law applies to but includes the church – especially the small rural dioceses that have buildings to maintain and the minister’s stipend to pay.
Given the geriatric demographic which makes up most church congregations these days one answer could be for all these loyal servants to take out a “reverse mortgage” – currently flavour of the month from banks keen to ensnare the elderly and infirm.
However, most of these folk are more interested in having sufficient income in their dotage to put weet-bix on the table. Another solution is needed.
First Church has four properties to administer – the church itself, the adjacent hall, the manse at 63 Jellicoe Street, and Burnside. After some soul-searching the best answer until proven impracticable is to sell the hall and alter the church. This would involve an extension of the vestry, incorporating kitchen facilities, toilets, some storage and a meeting room/space. All to be sensitively designed to preserve the 150 years of history embodied in First Church. (Bye-the-bye, Burnside celebrates its own 150 years on 11 May this year.)
Two local architects – Chris Cochran and Russell Murray, both thoroughly experienced in the alteration of historical buildings – have very decently agreed to undertake the design. We’ll then know whether the overall cost is feasible. With luck the congregation can still expect to get the pre-service cup of tea they’ve become accustomed to.
For the last few weeks Jim Veitch exchanged the pulpit for a well-deserved holiday down south. His position was ably filled by Robert Alan to whom we give our thanks – his guitar accompaniment to the hymns more or less kept us in line. And thanks to Shari Burgoyne for stepping up to take the last service.
Dates to remember in March
Every Sunday: Church Services at 9:45 a.m. for tea or coffee; service starts at 10:00 a.m.
Saturday 29 March: Book and Bric-a-Brac sales in the Church Hall, Weld St, 1:30 p.m. till 5:00 p.m.
Friday 29 August: Event to note in your Calendar: Our very special Spring Fling event is being held earlier this year. More details to follow but please put in your calendar so you don’t miss out.
