BISHOPRIC OF BLACKBURN MEASURE, 1923. (Hansard, 27 May 1924)

§ Mr. MASTERMAN

I beg to move, That, in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act, 1919, this House do direct that the Bishopric of Blackburn Measure, 1923, be presented to His Majesty for Royal Assent. This is a Motion which is made under the Enabling Act of 1919 and I do not think I need detain the House very long in explaining it for I believe it is entirely non-controversial. I am glad to see it is supported by the hon. Member for Carlisle (Mr. Middleton), representing the Labour party, and I know it is also supported by all the Manchester Members, including my hon. and gallant colleague and Member for Hulme (Sir J. Nall). It is a motion made on the initiation of the Church Assembly in the accustomed form and on the unanimous recommendation of the Ecclesiastical Committee. The Measure is for the division of the Diocese of Manchester into two parts. The Diocese contains nearly three million inhabitants, and over 600 parishes. It has enormously increased in population, and 368 all parties in the church are united in desiring the creation of a new diocese for the northern part of the area which now constitutes the diocese of Manchester. I am justified in saying that no opposition of any sort comes from any other religious body in the district. In the Manchester district, at least, all the religious bodies live together in the utmost harmony and friendliness. In view of the fact that the Measure is unanimously recommended and that it comes entirely under the terms of the Enabling Act, I ask the House to be good enough to accept it.