EPISCOPAL ENDOWMENTS AND STIPENDS MEASURE (Hansard, 27 January 1943)

§ Mr. Denman
I beg to move, That the Episcopal Endowments and Stipends Measure, passed by the National Assembly of the Church of England, be presented to His Majesty for His Royal Assent in the form in which the said Measure was laid before Parliament. I think I may say that this Measure is very much overdue. The State has not dealt with equal wisdom with its lay leaders and its Church leaders. In the case of Ministers, the State has provided that if a Minister is given a house he shall also normally have that house looked after, at the public expense. It keeps up the house for him, and I believe it even furnishes it. The Bishop, on the other hand, is liable to be saddled with an exceedingly costly and antique house, which is not only expensive to maintain but which requires in these days a small fortune to furnish. Moreover, the State provides a Minister with an adequate staff to carry on his work, but the Bishop has to find his own staff. The Bishop has to pay out of his own funds for such staff as he needs for the administration of his diocese. It has long been obvious that the charges on Bishops' incomes are apt to be excessive, and that it is frequently impossible for the Bishop to maintain these ancient buildings. This Measure permits a scheme to be made with the assent of the Bishop, whereby the palace is taken over by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. Stipends and other official expenses become payable by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners and a reduced stipend is paid to the Bishop.

§ Mr. Stephen (Glasgow, Camlachie)
Will there be any charge on the Treasury?

§ Mr. Denman
None whatever. No public funds are involved. It is merely a domestic rearrangement of Church funds.

§ Sir Smedley Crooke
I beg to second the Motion.