PARISH OF LEEDS. (Hansard, 18 June 1844)

§ The Earl of Ripon

said, that being officially connected with this parish, and a he could not be present at the future 1088 stages of the Bill, he wished to make a few observations, in order to quiet some apprehensions that were felt with respect to the nature of this measure. The Bill originated in a petition from the Vicar of Leeds, which had been laid on their Lordships' Table. That petition having been referred to the proper authorities, they had reported that the proposition was one that ought to be entertained; and they recommended that their Lordships should agree to the prayer of the petition, and pass a measure for the division of the parish of Leeds into several parishes and vicarages. What was now sought to be done was entirely conformable to the ancient practice of the Church. The want of some such measure as that which was now before them, had long been felt. So long back as the year 1676, a proposition was made for dividing this parish, although the population did not amount to more than one-eighth of the present number. Dr. Hook, knowing to how great an extent spiritual destitution prevailed in this extensive parish, had taken advantage of the Act of last Session, which had for its object the providing of spiritual instruction for districts where the population was numerous and the means of instruction scanty. By that Act the Queen in Council was empowered to form new districts, which, as soon as a Church was erected, were to become parishes for spiritual purposes. The Ecclesiastical Commissioners were empowered to grant endowments to the Churches so erected, under certain conditions —amongst which were, that the nave of the Church should be free, and that a house should be provided in each district for the Minister. The Bill now before their Lordships, in conformity with this Act, proposed to empower the Ecclesiastical Commissioners to constitute the existing Churches in Leeds parish Churches, and by the 18th Section of the Bill, the nave or body of the Church, was to be free, and placed under the control of the ordinary and churchwardens, in conformity with the Ecclesiastical Law of the realm; a house of residence for the incumbent of each Church was to be provided; the incumbents of the several Churches would become vicars, and the districts annexed to the respective Churches, parishes, for spiritual purposes only. Dr. Hook, in proposing this alteration, had foregone power, patronage, and emolument—he was perfectly satisfied 1089 to make this great sacrifice, if he could only procure so desirable a boon for his parishioners—such disinterested conduct, he was sure, deserved, and would obtain, the highest praise and approbation. This division of the parish of Leeds involved a sacrifice, on the part of Dr. Hook of from 500l. to 600l. per annum, being almost one-half of his income, and the patronage often Churches. The poor would, under this Bill, have free access to the new Churches; and, as it was proposed that the parishes to be created, should correspond, as to population, with the accommodation provided in the respective Churches, no confusion or inconvenience could possibly arise. Some rights of property would inevitably be extinguished; but those of occupancy, as being subordinate to the superior title of the churchwardens, would, in the case of parishioners, be almost invariably retained. He had thus given a very brief outline of the measure; but he hoped it would satisfy their Lordships that the proposition was entirely in accordance with the ancient practice of the Church. The measure was, he conceived, eminently calculated to promote spiritual instruction amongst the poor, and to penetrate that dense mass of vice and infidelity which unfortunately was found in this very populous district. It would also, he hoped, have the effect of removing that difference of feeling between the higher and the lower orders which circumstances had too much occasioned in these quarters.