§ LORD EDMUND FITZMAURICE (Wiltshire, Cricklade)To ask the President of the Local Government Board if Holy Rood Roman Catholic Church. Swindon, was, prior to 1903, certified for worship and the registration of marriages; and if, on the sale of this church in 1903, Holy Rood temporary church was similarly certified and the usual fees paid; if it is the case that a new church has now been completed on what is substantially the same site for the congregation of Holy Rood Church, Swindon, and that the Registrar - General has thereupon decided that a fresh certification of the church is necessary for the purposes of worship and to licensing of marriages; and what are the reasons for this decision; and what is the total amount in fees which will have been paid in respect of the original church, the temporary church, and the new church of the Holy Rood, Swindon.
(Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) I have communicated with the Registrar-General on this subject, and I understand that the circumstances are as stated in 469 the Question. The Registrar - General informs me "that his decision is based on the fact that, although the new Holy Rood Church is built on the same property as the temporary church, there is no internal communication between them. The two churches cannot, therefore, be held to be one and the same building, the only ground on which the statutory fees could be remitted. This ruling is in accordance with Section 19 of 6 and 7 William 4, c. 85, and with precedent, and it is necessary, therefore, that the new church should be certified for worship and registered for marriages, if it is desired that marriages should be legally celebrated therein. The fees that have been paid and are payable are—
| £ | s. | d. | |
| Original church. | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| Temporary church | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| New church | 3 | 2 | 6." |