§ 64. Sir HENRY CRAIKasked the hon. Member for the Doncaster Division, as 1672 representing the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, whether the Commissioners claim the right to alter at any time the relations between two parishes, as fixed by Statute for two centuries, without reference to Parliament or to the representatives of the parishes interested, or whether they claim the right only when one of the incumbencies is vacant and upon the application of the incumbent who is to benefit by the alteration?
§ Sir CHARLES NICHOLSONThe Ecclesiastical Commissioners are authorised by Statute to submit to His Majesty in Council schemes for the apportionment of incomes between benefices in the same patronage without application from any incumbent, but so that the interests of an existing incumbent be not prejudiced.