§ Lord Godolphinhaving presented a petition from the city of Norwich in favour of the Church Notices Bill,
The Bishop of Londonsaid, that the evil alluded to in this petition from Norwich prevailed to a very great extent in the metropolis, and some remedy should be applied to it. Meetings of the vestries were often held in the body of the church, and scenes of violence and indecency often occurred. By this means damage was often done to churches. These meetings were not confined to vestries, but other public meetings were often held in churches. He would not allude to the meetings respecting Church-rates, but he would mention one which just occurred to him. He recollected that an election of an alderman for a ward in the city of London took place in the parish church, and scenes of outrage and violence occurred there, and persons addressed the assembly from the pulpit and reading-desk. He could also mention some recent political meetings that had been held in churches in the metropolis. He trusted that something would be done in the Legislature of this Christian ountry to put a stop to such scenes. He hoped that the noble Lord would not object to the introduction of a clause into his Bill prohibiting the holding of such meetings in the parish church.
Lord Broughamsaid, that the difficulty would be removed if their Lordships would support the Church-rate measure proposed 865 by Government, as the meetings respecting Church-rates were the causes of these disturbances.
The Earl of Malmesburylooked with anxiety for some arrangement which would get rid of such disturbances as had been referred to by the right rev. Prelate. He thought proper places should be provided for vestry meetings in large towns. In rural parishes it might be necessary to hold vestry meetings in the Church; but in such places the indecent scenes which had been described by the right rev. Prelate did not occur. In large towns there would be no great difficulty in providing buildings for their meetings.
§ Petition laid on the Table.