§ MR. CHANNING (Northampton, E.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether £292 is now being paid from the Army Votes for the maintenance of the chapel at the Small Arms Factory at Enfield; whether he is aware that the services in the chapel, as conducted by Mr. Carter, include several matters and ceremonies which have been condemned as illegal by the judicial Committee of the Privy Council, and under other judgments of ecclesiastical courts; whether Her Majesty's Government, in providing out of public money for a church service for the workmen, guarantee to those workmen that they shall have the service of the Church of England, as determined by the Prayer Book and the courts; and whether the Secretary of State will either take steps to ensure that the service at this chapel shall be conducted according to law, or discontinue this chapel altogether, in view of the local facilities for attendance at religions services at other churches and places of worship.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe annual amount paid from Army votes for the chapel at the Small Arms Factory is about £197. As I stated in reply to a question on the 12th of this month, the chapel was built at Enfield because there were no other churches within a reasonable distance; and the responsibility for the service rests with the vicar of the parish, who provides a curate. No complaint has been received as to the character of the services, and the Secretary of State does not propose to interfere.
§ MR. CHANNINGWill the hon. Gentleman answer the third paragraph of the question?
§ MR. WYNDHAMI do not know whether the hon. Gentleman quite sees the distinction between the Enfield and other chapels. At Enfield we merely contribute as any other employer of labour might.
§ MR. WEIRWill the hon. Gentleman consider the desirability of abolishing payment for ritualistic services?
(No answer was given.)