HC Deb 02 February 1849 vol 102 cc153-4
MR. HORSMAN

reminded the House that he had yesterday given notice of a question to the noble Lord respecting the future distribution of the temporalities of the rectory of Bishopwearmouth. As that rectory was in the patronage of the Bishop of Durham, and as the intended arrangements were exciting great interest in the neighbourhood of the parish, it might be convenient that the noble Lord should have some further communication with the right rev. Prelate before he answered the question. With that view, he (Mr. Horsman) would postpone the question till this day week. He now begged to ask the noble Lord what measures of ecclesiastical reform were intended to be introduced by Her Majesty's Government in the course of this Session, to what subjects they referred, and when they might be expected to be brought forward?

LORD J. RUSSELL

said, that with regard to the first subject referred to by the hon. Gentleman, he had had some correspondence with the Bishop of Durham, and the right rev. Prelate had informed him that be believed the district was satisfied with the arrangements he had made. What those arrangements were, he was not at present able to state. Whatever they might be—though he should be happy to give all the information in his power—he bad no means of altering or modifying them. With reference to the other question, he could only state that he had thought it necessary, as a preliminary measure, to advise the Crown to appoint a Commission to inquire whether the property of the Church might not be made more available for instruction, without trenching upon the reasonable claims of lessees, and to ascertain the income of the Church which should be available for the further extension of religion. That Commission had been only lately appointed; and until some progress had been made, it was impossible for him to state cither what measures would be prepared, or when he should bring them forward.

MR. HUME

asked if there were any objection to instruct the Commissioners to inquire to what churches, and in what places, large incomes or allowances were attached, though they had little or no congregations. For instance, in the city of London there were seventy or eighty churches with congregations of no more than eight or ten persons. Was it not desirable to ascertain whether the incomes of those churches should not be applied to places where the population was greater?

LORD J. RUSSELL

said, this question might be a fit subject for consideration in some other way; but as it had nothing to do with the duties assigned to the Commissioners, he did not see how they could deal with it.

COLONEL SIBTHORP

inquired whether the Commissioners were to be paid?

LORD J. RUSSELL

It will be an unpaid Commission; but the secretary of course will be paid.

MR. HORSMAN

said, the Commission was appointed upon certain subjects totally independent of the measures which were promised to be brought forward. He would call the attention of the noble Lord to those measures on Monday, for the purpose of asking whether any of them were intended to be brought forward this Session.

LORD J. RUSSELL

said, he might as well say at once that Her Majesty's Government did not mean to introduce a number of measures which there was no prospect of carrying. The notices already given upon the part of Members of the Government, would occupy the attention of the House for a very considerable time.