§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREasked who would summon the Representative Body to be established by the Established Church (Wales) Bill; who would form that body; whether it would include laymen; and whether it would have power to lay down and alter the doctrine, discipline, rules, and articles of the Church in Wales?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. McKenna)The Representative Body consists of persons appointed by the bishops, clergy, and laity to represent them and hold property, and, of course, before it is incorporated by charter, it will have provided proper officers to carry on all its business. This body will be constituted for the purpose of holding property and of managing the same. It may include laymen. The body which will have power to lay down and alter the doctrine, discipline, rules and articles of the Church in Wales will be the Synod, which may be held under Clause 13 (1). The precedent of the Irish Church Act has been followed in this respect, and there does not appear to have been any difficulty in its operation.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREAre we to understand that there will be two bodies—one to look after the property, a Representative Body, and the Synod, to look after doctrine? And are we to understand that all parishioners in Wales will be entitled to form part of the Representative Body?
§ Mr. McKENNAOh, no. The body will represent laymen as well as other bodies concerned.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREWhat does the right hon. Gentleman mean by laymen in Wales?
§ Mr. McKENNAIf the hon. Gentleman will refer to the precedent of the Irish Church Act he will see exactly how the principle has been worked there.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREIs there any definition as to what is a member of the Church in Wales in any way parallel to what there was in regard to the Church in Ireland? There is no parallel at all.
§ Mr. McKENNAYes.
§ Viscount WOLMERWhat part of the Welsh Church Bill provides for the appointment by the bishops, as explained in the first part of the right hon. Gentleman's answer?
§ Mr. McKENNAIf the Noble Lord will read my answer he will see what I said.
§ Viscount WOLMERThe right hon. tleman said that the bishops in the first instance would appoint.
§ Mr. McKENNANo; the bishops, clergy, and laity.
§ Viscount WOLMERWill the right hon. Gentleman explain how that is to be done in the first instance?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe Noble Lord is asking me to debate the subject. That can be better done in the Committee stage.