HC Deb 24 March 1914 vol 60 cc185-6
39. Viscount VALENTIA

asked the hon. Member for the Doncaster Division, as representing the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, whether he is aware that the Oxford trustees are arranging a scheme whereby the livings of St. Peter-le-Bailey and St. Ebbes, Oxford, should be held in plurality; whether he is aware that the income of each of these livings is upwards of £200, and that the aggregate population of the two parishes is over 1,500; whether he has considered Section 14 of the Pluralities Act, 1885, and Section 8 of the Pluralities Act, 1850, in this connection, and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter; whether he is aware of the opposition of the congregation of St. Peter-le-Bailey to the scheme; whether all the correspondence that has taken place between all the parties concerned may be laid upon the Table of the House; and whether the Simeon trustees have admitted the illegality of a similar scheme affecting the churches of St. Aldate's and Holy Trinity, in Oxford?

Sir CHARLES NICHOLSON

The Ecclesiastical Commissioners are cognisant to the proposed arrangements. The income of each of the livings at present exceeds £200, but each is giving up something (the amount not being yet settled) for the endowment of a newly formed district of St. Matthew Grandpont, and after that surrender the income of one, and possibly of both, will not exceed —200; the aggregate population exceeds 1,500. The action of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners is limited to the formation of the new district of St. Matthew Grandpont, and the arrangements necessary for effecting the apportionment of the incomes of the other cures to afford an endowment for the new district, and consequently they have not been concerned to consider in this connection the Sections of the Acts to which the Noble Lord refers. The latter of the two Sections, however, relates only to permanent Unions of Benefices, and the conditions there mentioned do not govern the holdings of livings in plurality. The Commissioners have received representations that there are objections to the proposed arrangements on the part of members of the congregation of St. Peter le Bailey and have considered them, but they are not prepared to refrain from carrying the arrangements into effect so far as action on their part is concerned. The correspondence between all the parties is not in the possession of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, and they are therefore not in a position to cause a complete record to be laid on the Table of the House. The Commissioners have no knowledge of the alleged admission by the Simeon Trustees.

Viscount VALENTIA

Am I to gather that this does not collie within the jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners?

Sir C. NICHOLSON

This question does not come within our jurisdiction.

Viscount VALENTIA

Does it come under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Canterbury?

Sir C. NICHOLSON

That is so.

Viscount VALENTIA

Could not the question be dealt with so as to save the parishioners from other legal expenses?

Sir C. NICHOLSON

I think application should be made direct to the Archbishop's secretary.