HC Deb 30 July 1867 vol 189 c474
MR. EYKYN

said, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether old and distinguished Officers of Her Majesty's Service who may be Roman Catholics, Presbyterians, or Dissenters, are eligible to be chosen and appointed Military Knights of Windsor; and, if so, whether they will be compelled to attend the service in St. George's Chapel according to the rites of the Church of England?

MR. GATHORNE HARDY

said, that the question had arisen in 1865, whether a Roman Catholic knight could be appointed, and the Opinion of the Law Officers was taken. It was clear, upon this Opinion, that a Roman Catholic could be appointed a Knight of Windsor, and, he presumed, that Dissenters also might be appointed, Really, the only thing required of them was the regular attendance upon the ordinances of the Church, and, so far as the statutes went, that was imperative. He believed, however, that the Queen could dispense with this attendance.