HL Deb 26 April 1875 vol 223 cc1620-1
LORD HAMPTON

asked the Lord Steward, Whether the Return ordered by this House last Session of the number of churches built or restored at a cost exceeding £500 since 1840 is likely soon to be presented; and asked, further, whether there is in the Home Office or other Government offices any system by which reasonable assistance may be afforded to those persons whose duty it may be to furnish such Returns as are from time to time ordered by either House of Parliament; if not, whether it is not desirable that arrangements should be made for affording such facilities?

EARL BEAUCHAMP

, in reply, said, it must be borne in mind that the Re-turns to which the noble Lord referred were voluntary Returns, and that therefore the Government could not exercise much pressure in obtaining them. When moving for them the noble Lord had not asked that the Government should make any special arrangements for procuring them. The course taken was this—the Home Office had communicated with the Archbishops, and he believed that in such cases the usual course was for the two most rev. Prelates to communicate with their Suffragans. The Bishops communicated with the Archdeacons, these with the Rural Deans, and the latter with the clergy. Returns had been received from 13 dioceses in the Province of Canterbury, and he believed that progress was being made in the Province of York. As to the latter part of his noble Friend's Question, as he did not understand the meaning his noble Friend attached to the word "facilities" he was unable to give an answer.

THE ARCHBISHOP OF YORK

said, that in the case of many churches consecrated by him, those by whom they were built had frequently desired that the full extent of their munificence should not be known, and it might turn out that the information desired by his noble Friend could not be furnished. He and his clergy would endeavour to make the Returns as complete as possible; but it was a matter for consideration whether, looking at the value of the Returns and the great expense incurred, the House should not make such an Order as should guide the clergy in making better Returns, if the present Order was not precise enough.