HC Deb 25 June 1896 vol 42 cc56-7
MR. CARVELL WILLIAMS (Notts, Mansfield)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that at the recent burial of a Wesleyan local preacher, with a Nonconformist service, in Hunwick Churchyard, in the county of Durham, the gates of the usual entrance to the churchyard were locked, and the funeral procession had to enter by a bye-way used only for carting purposes; and whether he will inquire into the facts, and take steps to prevent a repetition of such an occurrence?

*THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY,) Lancashire, Blackpool

I am informed by the Vicar of Hunwick, of whom I have made inquiries, that there are two entrances by which the present burial ground may be reached, one which is away from the burial ground but, being the entrance to the Church, is used when, as is generally the case, a service is first held in the Church; the other, which leads directly to the ground, and was the nearest for the funeral on the occasion in question. Both entrances, he informs me, are used equally for carting purposes; and the entrance used on this occasion was used for the only previous funeral under the Act of 1880 since he came to the parish, and no complaints have reached him from anyone concerned. The matter is not one in which I have any power to interfere.

MR. CARVELL WILLIAMS

asked the right hon. Gentleman whether he was aware that the gates were looked by order of the Vicar?

*SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY

said he was not. He was not aware of any circumstances beyond those given to him in the letter of the Vicar.

MR. W. PERKS (Lincolnshire, Louth)

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman would inquire whether there was a case for prosecuting the persons referred to under Clause 7 of the Act of 1880 for obstructing funerals?

*MR. SPEAKER

Order, order!

MR. CARVELL WILLIAMS

Will the right hon. Gentleman let me see a copy of the Vicar's letter?

*SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY

said he should be ready to give the hon. Member all the details of the matter in his possession, and if the hon. Member gave him any further information to justify it, he should be quite ready to make further inquiries. ["Hear, hear!"]