Society was founded in January, 1857, with a capital of £850. Its first property was purchased in March, and in October it paid a dividend of 6 per cent. The same rate of dividend was afterwards paid half-yearly, and at this time it possessed 70 small freehold properties in different parts of the town and its paid-up capital of £5,600 was divided into 56 shares of £100 each.
Rocket Apparatus
The first practice with the rocket apparatus for saving life at sea took place on the Marine parade on the 25th of April, by commissioned boatman Robert Surrey and Mr. Bulley, under the direction of Capt. Gough
Wesleyan Affairs
The sum of £10 was added to the Trust Fund of the Wesley Chapel by the anniversary services of Good Friday and Easter Monday.
A Wesleyan Bazaar, beneath the Music Hall on the 6th and 7th of September realised over £50, making with other moneys promised £200.
A new Wesleyan Chapel was opened with services at Little Common, Bexhill on Sunday, Sept. 23rd. It was capable of seating 100 persons and was built of bricks, thus taking the place of one that had been built with turf and lasted 22 years.
For the Wesleyan Missions, meetings were held on the 16th and 17th of October, and realised about £12. The Hastings Circuit had contributed over £112 during the past year.
Church Collections
The British Orphan Asylum was benefitted by £18 10s. collected on June 13th, after sermons at St. Clements and All Saints.
For the Hibernian Society, sermons were preached at All Saints and £11 13s. 4d. collected on Sunday, July 10th
For the Irish Church Missions £32 was collected at St Mary's in the Castle. Also at St. Leonards for the Colonial Church School.
At the Fishermen's Church the sum of £3 14s. was collected on July 9th for the Naval and Military Bible Society.
For the Bible Society, sermons were preached at St. Mary's by the Rev. T. Vores, and £42 15s. collected, and at the meeting on Tuesday, the same amount, less only one shilling - £43 14s.
For expenses of divine service, the sum of £23 was collected, after sermons at St. Clements, on Sunday Sept. 25th.
For the Halton Schools, nearly £20 was collected, after sermons on the 16th of October, by the Hon. and Canon Waldegrave.
For the National Schools, on Oct 23rd, a sermon by Canon Waldegrave at All Saints realised £11 6s. 9d.; and at St. Clements, by the Rev. T. Nightingale, £20 2s. 3d. The afternoon services were deferred in consequence of a snowstorm.
