HC Deb 25 June 1953 vol 516 cc2205-6

9.30 p.m.

Sir John Crowder (Second Church Estates Commissioner)

I beg to move, That the Archdeaconries (Augmentation) Measure, 1953, passed by the National Assembly of the Church of England, be presented to Her Majesty for Her Royal Assent in the form in which the said Measure was laid before Parliament. This is quite a simple and uncontroyersial Measure, and its primary object is to enable the Church Commissioners, at their discretion, to make grants for archdeacons up to a maximum of £400 per annum each. At present, the Commissioners' help for an archdeacon is limited to £300 per annum by a Measure passed in 1926. Archdeacons, as such, have no other form of remuneration. They hold their offices with some benefice or other preferment, and the Commissioners' assistance is, in effect, merely a contribution towards the expenses, often heavy, incurred in the carrying out of their functions as archdeacons. This extra £100, which we are asking the House to give the Commissioners leave to give them as an increase, will only just cover the expenses which have risen so much since 1926.

The secondary object of this Measure is, by repeal of existing statutory provisions, to get rid of certain restrictions, which have worked out unfairly in the administration of this scheme of grants, and to do away with certain antiquated methods of providing for archdeacons which have long since fallen into disuse. I will not trouble the House with the technicalities of the law which it is proposed to repeal, but perhaps need only say that, in one diocese, the technicalities resulted in one archdeacon receiving full augmentation while the other was debarred from receiving anything at all. This Measure will remove these disabilities.

I trust, therefore, that the House will find this Measure acceptable. It passed the Church Assembly without a division at any stage, and, when passed into law, will set up a uniform method of augmentation of archdeacons' stipends, numbering about 100 in all throughout the country, which will be capable of simple, flexible and equitable administration.

Mr. Richard Wood (Bridlington)

I beg to second the Motion.

Question put, and agreed to.