HC Deb 10 June 1858 vol 150 cc1855-6
LORD ADOLPHUS VANE-TEMPEST

said, he wished to ask the hon. Member for East Kent (Mr. Deedes), whether a meeting of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners was held this day, or is in contemplation, for the purpose of considering the scheme of appropriating a portion of the Church patronage situated in the See of Durham or in the gift of the Bishop of that Diocese, for the purpose of transferring it to other sees; and whether it is the intention of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners to act on this principle, without taking the opinion of this House on the justice of such a course?

MR. DEEDES

said, that at a meeting of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners that day by a memorandum respecting the rearrangement of the patronage of the Episcopal Sees in the province of York was submitted to the Board, and referred by them for further consideration to a Committee which was named for the purpose at the same time until that Committee had made their report of course he was not in a position to answer the second part of the noble Lord's question.

MR. LIDDELL

said, he wished to know whether the memorandum did or did not involve the separation of eighteen livings from the Diocese of Durham?

MR. DEEDES

said, he could not exactly state the number of livings which were contemplated by the memorandum to be removed from the Diocese of Durham or any other Diocese. It certainly did involve an alteration in very many instances, and in consequence of its importance it had been referred to a Committee of lay Members of the Commission for further consideration, with a view to the thorough investigation of the subject before the Commissioners themselves came to a determination respecting it.

LORD ADOLPHUS VANE-TEMPEST

said, he wished to know whether it was the intention of the Commissioners, after considering the question to act upon this principle without reference to the House of Commons on the justice of taking such a course?

MR. DEEDES

Sir, when I tell the noble Lord that the Act of Parliament requires the Commissioners to undertake this distribution of patronage, I think he will at once see that, until there is some direct scheme determined on by them, it would be premature to announce any intentions that they may have.