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On motion by the Rev. B. Judd-Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to take into consideration the state of the Church in this Diocese, and to prepare a report for insertion in the Journal of this Convention.

The parochial reports were then called for, were presented to the Bishop, and read by the Secretary.

Christ Church, Norwich.

No. Families 83; Baptisms, infants 18, adults 9-27; Communicants 68, New do. 5, 73; Sunday School Scholars 70; Marriages 3; Funerals 4.

This Society is about erecting a new stone church, 66 feet by 52. Contribution, &c. 39 68. Of the above, the Gentlemen's Society, auxiliary to the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge, paid $18 01, Ladies do. $12 55, Congregational collection $9 09.

S. B. PADDOCK, Rector.

Report of the Rev. Henry M. Mason, Minister of St. Peter's Church, Cheshire.

In consequence of an invitation received from this parish, I assumed the pastoral charge of it in the month of February last. During the period of my connexion with the congregation, I have experienced much to excite, and little to discourage exertion, in the prospect of their improvement, and my own usefulness. The connection between what we are obligated to believe, and commanded to practice, is inseparable; and I have therefore endeavored to inculcate among my people sound and catholic principles, as the best means of exciting them to evangelical practice. My labors have, I trust, been attended with the divine blessing. The zeal of many is commendable for being accompanied with knowledge, and their piety the more attractive for being unostentatious. Occasionally I have performed divine service on Sunday night in private houses; but always with strict regard to the Canon, enforcing the use of the book of Common Prayer. Extempore lectures have also, under the same restrictions, been delivered in the Episcopal Academy once, and sometimes oftener, during the week. A Bible Class has been formed, which meet every Thursday evening, and whose progress and attention have afforded me much satisfaction. A flourishing Sunday School, in connection with the Union, of more than seventy scholars, and nineteen teachers, affords some evidence of the spirit which exists among the younger part of the congregation, who are laudably engaged in the business of instruction. A library for the school, is now being established; and the books, employed in the course of instruction, are those issued by the Society, under the patronage of the Church. The number of families now attached to the parish, equals if it does not exceed 78, and that of the communicants is in the ratio of one to every family. Nine infants have been baptized, and I have recently admitted 7 persons as recipients of the Lord's Supper.

Families 78: New Communicants 7; Total Comm. 78; Marriages 3; Sunday Scholars 76; Baptisms, infants 9; Funerals 5.

HENRY MASON, Pastor of St. Peter's Church, Cheshire.

Parish of Middle-Haddam.

In this parish, it was stated in the last report, that efforts were making to repair the house of worship which was decayed; and also to obtain the services of a resident minister.

Through the timely assistance of the "Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge," and through the benevolent aid and exertions of one or more individuals in New York, we are now happy to state, that the former of these objects has been accomplished. The house is neatly repaired, and is now ready for consecration. The assistance received from the "Christian Knowledge Society" and others, had the effect, under the divine blessing, to call forth the most strenuous efforts from the members of the congregation; and these efforts have, in this respect, been crowned with success.

As to the other and more important object, that of obtaining the concentrated exertions of a resident minister, it has thus far been effected; but, in this respect, the resources of the parish enable them to make only a partial and temporary arrangement.

What has been done, however, is the cause of many grateful acknowledgements on their part. And we may add, that one more of the waste places of our Zion, has in a measure been built up; and we hope and trust that here the interests of pure and undefiled religion have been promoted, and that some at least have been edified by the truth as it is in Jesus.

Number of families connected with the parish 42; Number of new Communicants 5, former 30, removed 1, died 1, remaining 33; Baptisms 21 adult, and one child; Marriages 3; Burials 3.

The Sunday School has been connected with the General P. E. Sunday School Union, and has 9 Teachers and about 50 Scholars ; for whom exertions are making to obtain a Sunday School Library.

ASHBEL STEELE, Officiating Minister.

St. James' Church, Derby, and Union Church, Humphreysville. Rev. S. Jewett, Rector. June 4. 1828.

Burials 18; Marriages 5; Baptisms, infants 14, adults 7-21, of whom one was a colored man; Confirmed June 1st, 63, two of whom belong to Mr. Lewis' Church at Ripton; Sunday School, auxiliary to Gen. Pro. Epis. S. S. Union, 12 Teachers.

State of my parishes, improving.

The manufacturing establishments in this vicinity, give rise to such a fluctuation in the population, that I am not able to state at any time the exact number of families, or of communicants. Some families have been added to my parish during the last year. And from the number of communicants already added, and of those expected to be

received at the next administration of the holy sacrament, I anticipate an increase in 13 months, from June last, of more than 40.

The ladies of the parish of Union Church, organized (some years since) a society, in aid of their church from which considerable benefit has accrued.

Last winter the ladies also of St. James' Church, with a pious and truly commendable zeal, formed themselves into a society which meets semi-monthly. At each meeting, after prayers are offered, they devote three hours to labor, in sewing and other needle work, one of them being engaged in the mean time, in reading some approved religious book. The avails of their good work, are to be applied to the general interests of the parish, in supplying, if necessary, deficiences in my salary, which is here raised entirely by voluntary subscription, in aid of our Sunday School, and in other contributions for the general welfare of our church.

From the result of their operations thus far, we have great reason to trust that they will prove themselves to be "in deed and in truth nursing mothers" to our church.

Our S. School in both Parishes is now in successful operation.

Our churches in both Parishes have been put in good repair and painted.

We have had much to do; but a small sum will be paid in aid of the "Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge" ;-From Derby $1 50; Humphreysville $125; $2 75.

S. JEWETT.

Parochial Report of St. John's Church, Salisbury. Rev. Stephen Beach, Rector. June 4th, 1828.

No. of Families belonging to the Parish, 67; New Communicants, 2; Total of Communicants, 26; Marriages, 5; Sunday Scholars, 37; Baptisms, Adults 8, Infants 7-15; Funerals, 8; Persons Confirmed,

9.

A Female Sunday School Society belongs to the Congregation, which is in union with the General E. Sunday School Union-has a Sunday School Library containing 90 volumes.

St. Paul's Church Norwalk.

Church members something over 600; added to the Church the last year, by baptims, 19 infants, 3 adults-in all 22; Marriages, 3; Funerals, 23-of which 4 were from the city of N. York, and 4 were of other denominations; new Communicants, 10; Communicants lost

by death and removal, 6; whole number about 160; Catechumens, about 80.

As one great object of our meeting in annual Convention is, to gain correct knowledge of the state of the Church, an object to be obtained only by a more full and particular account of our respective Parishes, than have heretofore been given-the undersigned would state, for the information of his brethren, that since the year 1816, the time when he came to the charge of this Church, the Parish has had the services of a clergyman the whole time, a privilege it had never before enjoyed, as the services of his predecessors were divided between this and other Parishes.

During this period, of almost twelve years, the people of this Parish have generally manifested a very commendable degree of zeal and liberality to their Church, as well as of kindness and indulgence to their Rector.

As evidence of this, the following facts may be stated.-By a voluntary subscription, commenced soon after he came to the Parish, in which all did well, and some few beyond all praise, a permanent fund was raised, the interest of which is adequate to the support of the Rector.

During this time they have also, at a considerable expense, new roofed and painted their Church inside and out, and moreover have repaired, considerably enlarged, and painted their Parsonage.

In addition to this, they have erected and on their own ground, a large and commodious Academy, in which is now in successful operation a flourishing male and female Seminary.

Speaking of this School, the undersigned would remark, as well to attract to it the notice of his brethren,as to encourage them to like undertakings, that it is decidedly a Church School, raised and conducted under the influence of the Church.

And although, for reasons not necessary now to mention, its friends have not been able to carry into execution, in all respects, their original plan, yet they have persevered, and after struggling with many difficulties, and encountering much opposition, have at length succeeded in planting and raising, to some degree of respectability, an Episcopal School, in Fairfield county.

age

The number of scholars, in both departments of this Seminary, is sixty, who are under the immediate care and instruction of two teachers, a gentleman and lady, who for their faithfulness and ability, deserve the respect and gratitude of their employers-and the patronof the Church. This School, it is true, makes no ostentatious pretensions. There is litttle in it that is mechanical, and nothing designed merely for effect; nor yet is it known by any high sounding epithets. It is simply a School of "higher order," wherein young ladies may acquire a thorough and accomplished education, and where young gentlemen may be fitted for College, the counting house and other useful stations in society; and if it be the legitimate object of

such a school to train its pupils to study-to discipline the mind, in a word, to learn them to think, nothing is hazarded, it is thought, in saying it is second to no other.

And when it is remembered, how powerful is the influence of Schools, and also how important it is that Churchmen should take in some manner, into their own hands, the education of their children, it is hoped this, though humble example, may not be without its effect on other Parishes.

In relation to the temporalities then, or the monied matters of the Parish, it may be stated, that besides smaller sums, for different purposes, and in which, it is hoped, this people have evinced a considerable degree of liberality; and exclusive of the salary of their clergyman, they have within the last eleven years, devoted to the Church of their substance, a sum amounting to between 14 and 15,000 dollars. That a correct judgment may be formed of the spiritual concerns of the Parish, the following statement is submitted.

The present Rector since his connection with the Parish, has baptized about 420 persons, 34 of whom were adults, about 60 of them, however, belonged to neighboring Parishes, destitute of a clergyman, leaving 360, who have been added to this Church within the last twelve years, or an annual average number of 30.

198

Next to Baptism comes confirmation, at the first administration of which, by Bishop Hobart, 103 persons received this holy rite; and at 14 subsequent administrations by Bishop Brownell, 125 have been confirmed, making in all 228, who have here received confirmation within the last twelve years. About 30 of these new members were of other Parishes, leaving 198 for this Parish, or an average number of 16 per year-a little more than half the number baptized, and of these persons confirmed, about one half have come to the communion. The subject next in order will respect the Communicants.-When the present Rector came to the charge of the Parish, there was, according to the best information that could be obtained, about 100 communicants; of these, 30 have died and 12 removed, leaving about 60 alive, who were communicants under his predecessors. Within the last twelve years, 133 have been added; of these, 14 have died and 18 removed, which leaves remaining of the new communicants 101, and which, added to the 60 old communicants, makes the present number about 160. From this statement it will appear, that within the last twelve years, something more than the whole number of communicants at the commencement of this period, have been added to the communion. It will also appear, that while the annual average addition has been about 11, the annual average increase, by reason of deaths and removals, has not been more the

These

160 communicants constitute, it is supposed, about one fourth of the whole number of the congregation, and will average, it is believed, about one and an half to every family-a larger proportion, it is thought, than will be found in most congregations.

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