HC Deb 16 July 1908 vol 192 cc1079-81
MR. C. E. PRICE (Edinburgh, Central)

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether any of the churches attached to the military stations in India which have been consecrated to the Episcopalian form, of worship have at any time been used by any other denomination for any other form of service; and, if so, where and when.

THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. BUCHANAN, ) Perthshire, E.

If the hon. Member will refer to the Memorandum prefixed to the Papers recently presented to Parliament (Cd. 4022), he will see that consecrated churches at military stations in India have frequently, with the consent of the Bishops, been used for Presbyterian and Wesleyan services, except for the celebration of the Communion.

DR. RUTHERFORD (Middlesex, Brentford)

At whose cost were those churches built? At the cost of the Anglicans or the Indians?

MR. BUCHANAN

For the most part the cost came out of the Indian Exchequer.

DR. RUTHERFORD

That is, the Indian taxpayer?

MR. BUCHANAN

Yes.

MR. C. E. PRICE

asked whether it would not be possible to use those churches now as had been done in the past, so that Scottish regiments could be moved about in India as the military authorities desired.

MR. BUCHANAN

said he could not accept the statement that the movements of the Scottish regiments in India were impeded by anything the Government did at the present time.

MR. EUGENE WASON (Clackmannan and Kinross)

asked whether it was not the fact that there was increased opposition on the part of the Anglican Church to giving Presbyterians the right to the use of those churches built by the State in India.

MR. BUCHANAN

said the Memorandum contained the whole history of the question. He did not think it could be fairly said that since 1899 there had been any alteration or exacerbation of the attitude of the Anglican Church towards Nonconformists.

*MR. SMEATON (Stirlingshire)

Will the hon. Gentleman bring influence to bear on the metropolitan to induce the bishops to consent to the extended use of these churches by Presbyterians?

MR. BUCHANAN

If the hon. Member will refer to the Papers he will see that the Government have done everything they can to induce the metropolitan and other bishops to adopt the attitude which my hon. friend desires in regard to the use of these ehurches for the celebration of the most sacred rites of our religion.

MR. WATT (Glasgow, College)

Has consent ever been given by Anglican authorities for the use of these churches for Presbyterian services?

MR. BUCHANAN

I have said so.