§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ MR. FREWENsaid, in moving the Second Reading of the Bill, he had been induced to bring forward the measure because it appeared from a Return made on the subject that there were several parishes in the kingdom where at present there were no churches. Even that Return was an imperfect one, for he knew of a great number of parishes without churches that were not included in it. Towards the close of the last Session he proposed to insert, in a measure which then occupied the attention of the House, a clause to remedy the present want of accommodation in many parts of the country. The majority of the House voted in favour of its insertion; but, in consequence of a misunderstanding on the part of the late Government, the clause was afterwards withdrawn. By returns to which he had previously alluded, it appeared that there were about 150 districts in England, in which, owing to the want of churches, no divine service was performed, although these districts were endowed with church livings. He was acquainted with a parish in Kent, the clergyman of which regularly received his income of 150l. a year, but, after appearing in the parish, and performing the service of reading himself in on the ruins of the old church, he never went near the parish afterwards. He begged also to call the attention of the House to another parish, where the population, according to the last census, amounted to about 450 persons. The necessity for a school in the village had become very pressing, and after full consideration it was considered the most desirable and equitable plan to build a large and substantial school house, in which the Church service could be read every Sunday. The plan, however, had not been carried into effect, in consequence of some disappointment about obtaining the site. The first clause of the Bill provided in certain cases, therein specified, 961 for the building of churches and chapels where divine service should be performed. It seemed to him a monstrous thing that while a clergyman was paid, there should be no service performed in a parish, in consequence of the church, through neglect, having been allowed to go into ruins. There was a case in Northumberland, where, in a parish containing 1,921 persons, there was no church; and another in Carnarvonshire, where, with an income of 170l. a year, and a population of 1,400 persons, there was no church. One of the grossest cases in connexion with this subject was that in which the Dean and Chapter of Christ Church at Oxford had received, for at least 100 years, about 150l., the income of a parish in which no divine service was performed: this was at Market Harborough. The church was in a substantial state of repair, but the windows, he believed, were effectually stopped up. He was informed that no incumbent had been appointed to that living for several years. The population of the district had increased, and he desired to know if the Government had not the power to fill up that living, instead of permitting the income to go where it had gone for a number of years, to Christ Church, Oxford. There was also an endowment for keeping the church in repair, but it was only used as a cemetery chapel, and a great many of the people who had been living in Market Harborough were interred in the burial ground about it. The second clause provided for the erection of private chapels, and it seemed to him to be a monstrous thing that, if an individual resident in the country wished to suit his own convenience by having a private chapel attached to his house, he should be prevented from having it. However, if there was any objection on the part of a majority of the Members of the House to such a provision, he would not wish to insist upon it, but should be content to take the part of the Bill to which the House would accede. The third clause was introduced to correct a clause which had been introduced into the Act of 1850 in another place. The Act of 1st and 2nd Victoria, c. 106, authorised the union or consolidation of livings or benefices which did not in the aggregate amount exceed 500l a year; but by the Act of 1850, the union or consolidation of parishes was permitted without reference to the amount of the income. He thought that arrangement should be altered, because he could not understand how it could 962 be of advantage to religion to unite two livings of considerable value, though it might be of advantage to some person's pocket. The fourth clause related to the alteration of the existing law in reference to the cases of masters of endowed public schools, who do not reside on the benefices held by them. One of those individuals possessed a living in Sussex of the value of 1,200l a year, with a large population in the parish; and he submitted that the clergyman hereafter appointed to that living should be compelled to reside upon it, because the object of the law should be to make clergymen reside as much as possible on their livings. He hoped the House would consent to the second reading, and on a future occasion the details of the measure could be fully considered in Committee.
§ MR. SPEAKERI beg to call the hon. Gentleman's attention to the fact that the second clause of this Bill, relating to private chapels, is not within the title of the Bill.
§ MR. FREWENIt appears to me that a clause of a similar nature has been introduced into the 1st and 2nd Victoria.
§ MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Gentleman may, on the report, or on the third reading, bring up such a clause, and it may then be inserted; but the hon. Member cannot introduce a Bill containing such a clause as that to which I have called his attention.
§ MR. GLADSTONEI shall take the liberty, Sir, of calling your attention to another clause of the Bill. If you direct your eye to the fourth clause, you will see that it is also beyond the title of the Bill. It is a clause with respect to non-residence. With regard to the second clause, the hon. Member (Mr. Frewen) should have moved for a preliminary Committee. It is a clause relating to religion, altering the Act of Uniformity, and requires a preliminary Committee by the rules of this House.
§ MR. SPEAKERCertainly this other clause of the Bill is equally beyond its title.
§ Order for Second Reading discharged; Bill withdrawn.