§ MR. WADDYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether it is a fact that the Vicar of Tet-bury, Wilts, lately refused to read the Service of the Church of England at the burial of a child who had been baptized by a Primitive Methodist Minister unless the Bishop of the Diocese granted him a Dispensation; whether, on being informed of the illegality of his act, he replied that "he has made the Prayer Book his guide;" whether such conduct is not a violation of the Law; and, whether he will take any steps to check the repetition of such proceedings?
MR. ASSHETON CROSSIt is true that the Vicar of Tetbury refused to read the Church Service in the case alluded to and upon the grounds mentioned by the hon. and learned Member. This refusal was, in my opinion, illegal. The father reported the circumstances to the Bishop, and his Lordship, in a reply which has been made public in the newspapers, has expressed his deep regret at the occurrence. The Vicar of Tetbury has written to me as follows:—
Having seen by the public papers that I was under condemnation by the Bishop, his Lordship having given it as his pronounced opinion that the child had a full right to be buried in the churchyard, which latter was never disputed, it seemed incumbent on me to write to the representatives of the Primitive Methodist Connexion to say that, if I had exceeded my authority and had deprived individuals of privileges which the law of the land entitled them to, I was very sorry for it.923 With regard to the last part of the Question I can only say that the Secretary of State has no authority whatever in the matter, and I can only express my unfeigned regret that it should ever have occurred.