Annual Report
The Independent Church, Twickenham
Presented to the Annual Meeting of the congregation, 24th January 1859
Minister: Rev. George S. Ingram
Committee: Henry Wright; Charles Allison;
Andrew Bowring; Archibald Brown; Francis Kemp, Secretary and
Treasurer
Auditors: Eldred Sayers, John Treherne
Sunday School: William Cole, Supt;
Charles Allison, Sec.; William Steven, Librarian
THE TREASURER'S STATEMENT IS AS FOLLOWS
Quarterly
Subscriptions Account |
Subscriptions received during the year
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149.5.0 |
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Paid Rev. G.S.Ingram |
158.1.9 |
One-half Anniversary collection |
£5.16.9 |
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Collected in box in vestibule |
£3.0.0 |
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£158.1.9 |
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Incidental
Expenses Account |
Balance in hand 1 January 1858 |
1.18.4½ |
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Sunday School Collection |
7.10.0 |
Collection Lady-day Quarter |
6.8.4 |
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Chapel-keeper, Wages |
6.0.0 |
Do. Midsummer do. |
7.13.8 |
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Supplies for Pulpit |
13.3.0 |
Do. Michaelmas do. |
6.15.1 |
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Harmonium Expenses |
6.11.3 |
Do. Christmas do. |
7.6.6 |
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Cleaning, Painting, &tc |
14.10.2 |
Do. 24th October (Special) |
8.8.7½ |
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Sundry Repairs |
6.6.9 |
Do. for Sunday School |
7.10.0 |
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New Pews, Window Blinds &tc |
22.16.0 |
One-half Anniversary Collection |
5.16.9 |
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Gas |
6.2.9 |
Surplus proceeds of Social Meetings, 25th
March and 29th September |
3.8.8 |
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Printing |
3.2.0 |
*Balance due to Treasurer |
30.15.11 |
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The above Accounts Audited and found Correct, Eldred Sayers, John S.
Treherne.
* It having been felt desirable to liquidate this Balance at once a
Subscription List has been opened and about £10 contributed, additions to
which any Member of the Committee will be glad to receive.
The Collections for the Poor at the Monthly
Communion Services have amounted to |
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£17.4.3 |
Of which there has been disbursed |
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£17.2.6 |
Leaving in the hands of Rev. G.S.Ingram, the
Treasurer of this Fund |
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£0.1.9 |
The increase in payment to our esteemed minister (say £50) has been
obtained not more from new subscriptions than through a few fixed augmentations
of former subscriptions begun in the second and third quarters of the year. It
is suggested that if the example of those few individuals should lead to but
slightly increased liberality on the part of the other seat-holders, the amount
would be raised to £200 per annum. This sum the Committee are most
desirous of reaching as a fixed minimum.
The increased expenditure on incidental expenses account has arisen mainly
from the enlarged pew accommodation supplied, the cleaning of the interior of
the Chapel, and the discharge of sundry outstanding accounts omitted to be paid
previously.
The weekly contributions received in the box, in the vestibule of the
Chapel, have been quadrupled during the past year. The amount so collected,
however, is susceptible of considerably further increase, without producing any
strain on our resources. The attention of occasional worshippers, not
seat-holders, is respectfully invited to this opportunity of aiding the
Congregation.
MEMBERS' ROLL
During the year there have been fourteen admissions to the Church
Membership, of which six were of people from other Churches. The only erasure
from the Roll has been the name of Mrs Ingram, who, after much suffering
endured with true Christian heroism, died on June 27th - In her death the
Congregation are not only bereaved in their Minister's bereavement, but all
fell that a beloved personal friend has passed from amongst us, for, (as wrote
a friend from a distance) "her lowliness and dignity, her truthfulness and
courage, her kindness and gentleness, and the loveliness of her cheerful and
childlike piety, won the esteem and affection of all who knew her". Our
mournful sense of loss could only be lightened by the remembrance of her
removal having been to a happier sphere, where followers of her faith and
patience may hope to rejoin her. A tablet to her memory has been placed in the
Chapel by the Church and Congregation.
The total membership is now forty, exclusive of twenty persons who are
regular communicants, although remaining members of other denominations. About
fifty sittings have been allocated to new comers in the course of the year. The
attendance of casual worshippers has been large, especially on the evening
services.
PUBLIC SERVICES
The principal subjects of Sabbath morning discourse, have been thirteen
Lectures on the Gospel of John (concluding a course of one hundred and
thirty-one); and the first twenty-eight of a course of Lectures on the book of
the Acts of the Apostles, now being delivered. The subjects of evening Sermon
have in general been miscellaneously selected from both Testaments. As special
Services there may be mentioned the anniversary Sermon on the second of June,
by the Rev. Newman Hall, from the words "Despise not the day of small
things" (Zech. IV. v.10); and that on the fourth of July, by the Rev.
David Russell, of Glasgow, from the text "Cast thy burden upon the
Lord" (Psalm LV, v.22), the latter a deeply interesting and impressive
discourse, preached with particular reference to the then recent death of Mrs
Ingram.
The Wednesday evening Prayer Meeting has been better attended since held
monthly, but it would be gratifying were there yet more generally embraced, an
opportunity for social worship, the appreciation of which must bear closely on
our spiritual prosperity.
The conduct of the public service of song has continued to improve. The
choir would be glad of the assistance of their fellow members of the
Congregation in the discharge of this important and agreeable duty. They meet
for practice every Saturday evening at half-past eight o'clock. Mention may
here be made of the classes for music, which have been held in the school-room
during the last and present winter, under the direction of Mr Evans of London.
These classes, although not in formal connexion with the Chapel, were promoted
with a view to the improvement of its music, and have doubtless contributed
thereto.
SUNDAY SCHOOL
The Sunday School has prospered greatly during the year. The average weekly
attendance of scholars has been one hundred and thirty, (or fifty percent about
last year's) and of teachers eleven. The Library has recently been re-arranged,
and now contains two hundred volumes, which are well-read by the scholars.
There have been one hundred and sixty-eight small hymn books, and thirty-one
bibles sold in the school during the year. The children, with teachers, and
friends to the number of one hundred and fifty, made a pleasant excursion to
Virginia Water, in August. The social meetings of the parents and friends of
the scholars, held at the close of each year, have been of a most interesting
character, and have had a manifest tendency to the success of the school. At
the meeting recently held, one hundred and twenty parents, with about fifty
other friends and visitors were present.
The teachers are inconvenienced by a deficiency of school accommodation,
although three of the classes meet apart from the others. There could scarcely
be a better application of the liberal zeal of a christian community than the
extension of so hopeful a field of labor.
The teachers acknowledge the help received from the week Evening School for
working lads, held in our school twice weekly during winter, which although
unsectarian in its constitution and management, yet contributes materially to
the extent and preparedness of the ground operated on by the Sunday School. It
is noticeable that the teachers, five in number, are all in connexion with this
Congregation. The attendance at the week Evening School is forty-five.
- - -
While this brief review of our past year is not without its sadness, it yet
presents ample occasion for gratitude and encouragement. Trials may be sharp
but if sanctified to our detachment from earth and advancement heavenwards, let
heart and lip extol the sender. In our spiritual teacher, and in our various
comfortable and happy circumstances we are singularly blessed as a christian
society. And, further, we would be most humbly thankful, that with the entire
harmony and mutual good will which reign among us, as well as in the vitality
and progress marking our different institutions, there are not wanting external
indications of a real growth in christian sentiment and principle. By deeper
humility, enlarged love, and fruits of both more abundant, may it in future
appear that the Lord our God is more and more exalting, His glorious name in
the midst of us.
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