§ 26. Mr. Harry Greenwayasked the hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, how many ordained clergy were in possession of a parson's freehold on 1 January 1987; how many were priests in charge of churches; how many were in charge of churches in another capacity; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AlisonSix thousand, nine hundred and eight. In addition, 731 clergy were priests or curates in charge of churches and 568 were team vicars.
§ Mr. GreenwayI, too, congratulate my right hon. Friend on his elevation to higher things. Do not the figures that he has given show a discernible movement away from vicars and rectors being granted parsons' freeholds? Does that not mean a weakening of tenure for vicars and rectors?
§ Mr. AlisonIn statistical terms there is a marginal change. The figure last year was 6,968, so there has been a change of only 60. My hon. Friend can rest assured that the granting of benefices and incumbencies continues apace and sustains the traditional pattern of the Church of England without any grave threat of a fundamental change.