PARLETHORPE CHAPELRY. (Hansard, 6 May 1836)

§ Mr. Granville Vernon
moved the second reading of the Parlethorpe Chapelry Bill.

Colonel Sibthorpe
opposed the Bill. He designated this as an attempt to smuggle a private Bill through that House, which would have the effect of wresting from the rector, the Dean of Lincoln, without the sanction or colour of law, under the specious pretext of an endowment, the right t which he possessed in the chapelry, which 631 would devolve on Earl Manvers, who previously had obtained the sanction of his relative, the Archbishop of York, for so doing. It was an infringement on the right of Church property of the most dangerous description—that of converting it to private purposes; an infringement which he called on the House not to sanction, and on that ground he claimed their support in the amendment which he would propose, that the Bill be read a second time that day six months.

§ Mr. Granville Vernon
said, that it would be much more agreeable to him to abstain from introducing any personal allusions in supporting this measure, but the hon. Member for Lincoln had rendered it necessary that he (Mr. Vernon) should go into some of the details in vindication of the character of the noble Lord (Manvers) who had proposed to effect this endowment. The noble Lord did not seek for any benefit to himself, nor to divest the Vicar of Edwinstowe of any of his present or contingent income, which he was entitled to by law. He was desirous of promoting the efficiency of the Church, by securing weekly services in a chapel in which, by law, there was only provision for alternate duty. He (Mr. Vernon) was grieved to learn that the opposition to this splendid proposal should proceed from a dignitary of the Church, he alluded to the Dean of Lincoln, the patron; the incumbent, who is his son, having in the first instance acquiesced in the duty being performed by Lord Manvers's chaplain. Therefore, no scruples could have existed in that quarter as to parting with the cure of souls of one hundred persons out of the 2,000 with whose charge he was originally intrusted. He (Mr. Vernon) believed that the apprehension which the Dean entertained was this, that if a new benefice was created, the time might arrive when persons would inquire how it happened that the tithes of that township had gotten into the pocket of the Dean of Lincoln and the vicar of another benefice; and as there was a disposition, on the part of the real friends of the Church to apply the surplus incomes of chapters to promote religious services in the districts from which the revenues were derived, he might fear that something would spring up to prevent the appropriation of those funds. The hon. Member for Lincoln had stated that this Bill was in contravention of an Act of Parliament, in which he was mistaken. He (Mr. Vernon) contended that the patron and incumbent would be benefited by 632 this measure; for it exonerated the latter from the alternate duty in that chapel, which was one of three chapelries attached to a decayed church, and from which there had proceeded many memorials to the Archbishop, complaining of the inefficient discharge of divine service. It was impossible for one incumbent to do justice to all the duties. The delay of bringing forward this question arose from a disinclination to drag before the public circumstances so discreditable to the Church; and a hope was entertained that, through the intervention of friends, the Dean would have conceded the point; and, moreover, it was held out that he would endow the chapelry out of the chapter funds. He (Mr. Vernon) should have approved of this so much, that he would not have proceeded with a private Bill in contravention of such an object; but in that he was disappointed, and no other alternative was left. The Archbishop—who was acting on the commission for extending more widely the services of the Church—accepted the proposal of Lord Manvers, and earnestly recommended it to the consent of the incumbent, who had referred himself in his answer to the pleasure of his patron. With all these facts before him, he would not shrink from facing the Gallant Officer's amendment.

Mr. Evelyn Deniso
confirmed the statement of the hon. Member who spoke last. According to his (Mr. Denison's) notion, the Gallant Officer, the Member for Lincoln, had not sufficiently informed himself of the facts of the case to enable him to make a clear or satisfactory statement, in which he had signally failed. He would support the second reading.

§ Mr. Hume
was much surprised that that which was a public question should be brought forward in the nature of a private Bill. It appeared strange to him to hear of individuals being so liberal, and of hon. Gentlemen now coming forward to prop the Church. It was also rather strange to see the noble Lord (Manvers) and the Archbishop of York opposing the views of the vicar and incumbent. He (Mr. Hume) was of opinion that the opposition of the gallant Officer to this Bill was well founded; for if the noble Lord succeeded in the endowment, there was nothing to prevent him from coming forward hereafter and claiming compensation. Why not the Commissioners come forward and report to that House what ought to be done? He hoped the Bill would not proceed further.

§ Mr. Thomas Duncombe
considered the Bill as calculated to form a new district, and consequently the Church should defray the expenses. He trusted the Bill would he thrown out.

§ Mr. Galley Knight
supported the motion, and defended the generous proposition of the noble Earl (Manvers), by whose liberality in the cause of religion the Church would be a gainer of 100l a year. He would cordially support the Bill.

Colonel Sibthorpe
only discharged what he deemed to be his duty in the part he took in opposing this measure, but he disclaimed all want of proper feeling towards the noble Lord.