Second Annual Report of the Kensington Church Of England District Visiting Society (1846)

At the Second Annual Meeting of the Members and Friends of the above Institution, held at the National School, on Tuesday the 3rd of February, 1846,

The Venerable Archdeacon Sinclair, President,
In the Chair,

A Report of the Society’s proceedings during the year 1845 having been read, it was proposed by Sir Henry Willock, seconded by the Rev. J. H. Howlett, and

Resolved unanimously—

I. That the Report now read be approved by this Meeting, and that it be printed and circulated under the direction of the Board of Management; and that their recommendation respecting the Seventh General Rule be carried into effect.


It was proposed by the Rev. Dr. Hessey, seconded by Mr. Weigall, and

Resolved unanimously—

II. That the System of District Visiting through the intervention of the Laity, based as it is upon the highest Christian principles, is a function of the Church, the due exercise of which is full of promise of the greatest advantage, both in things temporal and spiritual; and that the results of the operations of this Society afford a most satisfactory exemplification of the assertion.


p. 5It was proposed by Dr. Waddilove, seconded by the Rev. H. W. Jermyn, and

Resolved unanimously—

III. That the establishment of Provident Funds, whose tendency is to give a powerful impulse to the promotion of habits of providence, frugality, and self-reliance, at the same time that they confer immediate benefit on the poor, is a most important auxiliary to the operations of this Society, and contributes in a high degree to the effecting of that moral and religious improvement which is the great end and object of all its endeavours.


It was moved by Mr. Merriman, seconded by Mr. Warner, and

Carried unanimously—

IV. That the best thanks of the Society be given to the Treasurer, for his constant regard to the advancement of the Society and its objects, and for his valuable labours in the more immediate execution of the office he holds; and that he be requested to continue his kind services.


It was moved by the Rev. J. W. Sheringham, seconded by Mr. Pickering, and

Carried unanimously—

V. That the thanks of the Meeting be given to the Board of Management, and the Auditors, for their careful attention to the objects of the Society, in endeavouring to provide for the welfare of the poor; and that they be respectively re-elected, with the substitution of the names of Mr. Cooke and Mr. James N. Merriman in the room of those of the Rev. H. Penny and Mr. Murray, who have vacated the office of Members of the Board.


It was moved by the Rev. T. R. Branfoot, seconded by Mr. Merriman, and

Carried unanimously—

VI. That the most cordial thanks of the Society and of the Parishioners, are due to the Visitors for their valuable endeavours to ameliorate the temporal and spiritual condition of the poor.


p. 6It was moved by the Rev. J. H. Howlett, seconded by Mr. Hay, and

Carried unanimously—

VII. That the cordial thanks of this Meeting be offered to the Secretaries, the Rev. C. A. Stevens and Mr. Clarke, for their most efficient discharge of the important and laborious duties of their office; and that they be re-elected; and that the Rev. T. R. Branfoot be elected joint Clerical Secretary.


It was moved by Mr. Shephard, seconded by the Rev. Dr. Hessey, and

Carried unanimously—

VIII. That the thanks of the Meeting be given to the Venerable the President, for the interest he has evinced, and the superintendence he has exerted, in the management of the operations of the Society; and also for his kindness in presiding over the present Meeting, and his able and obliging conduct in the Chair.


*** Ladies or Gentlemen who may be desirous of taking charge of Districts as Visitors, are requested to communicate with the Secretaries, who, in the event of vacancies occurring, will inform them thereof.

*** Forms used by the Society, will be supplied on application by Mr. Birch, High Street.