HL Deb 04 May 1874 vol 218 cc1577-9

THE BISHOP OF BATH AND WELLS moved an Address praying Her Majesty to refuse Her assent to the scheme of the Endowed Schools Commissioners for the management of the school founded by John do Combe, in the year 1499, at Crewkerne, in the county of Somerset. The right rev. Prelate said, that after what had just occurred, lie need not trespass on their Lordships' attention beyond a very few moments. The Crewkerne Grammar School was a very excellent and admirable institution, which was doing a great deal of good in the town where it was situated, and it was and always had been a Church school. The scheme of the Endowed School Commissioners would have the effect of taking away the Church character of the School, although there was no grievance of any kind, no breach of trust, no waste of the funds; while there was a conscience clause tinder which the education was open to persons of all denominations, and the feelings subsisting between Churchmen and Dissenters in the place were very amicable. Moved that an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying Her Majesty to refuse her assent to the scheme of the Endowed Schools Commissioners for the management of the school founded by John de Combo in the year 1199, at Crewkerne in the comity of Somerset.—(The Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells.)

LORD LYTTELTON

contended that the Commissioners were bound by the Act to treat the school as one not connected with the Church of England. He was not aware that any of the Trustees or inhabitants objected to the scheme.

THE DUKE OF RICHMOND

supported the Motion, on the ground that the scheme would convert the School, which had from time immemorial been in connection with the Church of England, into one which need not have such connection. It was true that the original trust deed had been lost, so that there was no absolute legal evidence of its connection with the Church; but the records which remained showed that the children had been taught the Church catechism. The management of the School had been so satisfactory, as reported by the Assistant Commissioners a few years ago, that the Commissioners need not have meddled with it, and he believed that had they dealt with it at a later period they would have inserted in this, as in another scheme, a Proviso that the religious instruction should be in accordance with the teaching of the Church of England. With such an Amendment He should be quite satisfied.

THE MARQUESS OF RIPON

held that the Commissioners could not legally have treated the School as one coming under the 19th section of the Act. Even the Amendments proposed by Mr. Hardy in the Bill of last Session—Amendments which the noble Marquess (the Marquess of Salisbury) announced would govern his consideration of any schemes this Session—would not have placed this School in a different category. While protesting against the precedent about to be created, he trusted to the fairness of the noble Puke, the Lord President, not to bind himself by that precedent, feeling sure that he would give a dispassionate attention to the circumstances of the various endowments which came before him.

Motion agreed to.