§ MR. MONTGOMERY (Somersetshire, Bridgwater)To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that to some workhouses boards of guardians have appointed paid Anglican chaplains, to others paid Nonconformist chaplains, and to others unpaid Nonconformist chaplains; and whether workhouse chaplains must be paid, and from what denominations paid or, if allowed, unpaid chaplains must be selected.
(Answered by Mr. John Bums.) A person holding the office of chaplain to a workhouse must be a clergyman of the Church of England, and he usually receives a salary, but in some instances this is not the case. It is also competent for the guardians, if the circumstances render it expedient, to appoint and pay a religious instructor of any denomination for the purpose of giving religious assistance and instruction to the inmates. No inmate, however, can be required to attend any service which may be celebrated in a mode contrary to his religious principles.