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Motion made, and Question proposed:
That the Benefices (Suspension of Presentation) 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." —[King's consent signified.]
§ 12.3 a.m.
§ Mr. Burden (Second Church Estates Commissioner):I know the House would not desire me to speak on this Motion at 1839 any great length. The Measure is desired in order to enable a difficult situation which arose owing to the war to be properly and adequately dealt with. I need hardly remark that there is today a shortage of clergymen and many parishes are now in areas which need to be re-planned. The object of the Measure is to avoid filling up the benefices which ought to be and could be served by a neighbouring vicar in the meantime.
The Measure is limited in its operation to ten years but it will enable a bishop, with the consent of the diocesan committee advising him whether an existing committee or a committee specially set up for the purpose by the diocesan conference, to declare that a vacant benefice should not be filled for a period of five years. This declaration by a bishop is not not to be made until he has consulted the church council of the parish, and it also requires the consent of the patron, unless the patronage has already lapsed.
A private patron's right to presentation ordinarily lapses to the bishop if not exercised in six months, and from the bishop six months later to the archbishop, and from him, in another six months, to the Crown as patron paramount. The making of a declaration in this way debars the patron from presenting to the benefice during the suspension period, but the period of suspension does not count for less, so that in the end the patron gets compensated by the making of the declaration. The bishop's power is limited. It has to be exercised within seven months; that is either where, owing to the shortage of clergy, benefices have been kept vacant during the war, within seven months of the passing of the Measure, or, in the case of any future vacancy, within 1840 seven months from the benefice becoming vacant. The House will notice that the total of the suspension periods in any one instance must not exceed seven years. If any benefice is kept vacant, the bishop must appoint sequestrators to look after the property and emoluments, one at least of whom must be specially qualified. I need only add that the Measure has received the approval of the Church Assembly and of the Ecclesiastical Committee.
§ Commander Agnew (Camborne):I beg to second the Motion.
Question put, and agreed to.
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Resolved:
That the Benefices (Suspension of Presentation) 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.
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Resolved:
That the Ecclesiastical Commissioners (Curate Grants) 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.
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Resolved:
That the Clergy Pensions (Supplementary Pensions) 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." —[Mr. Burden.]