LORD HOUGHTONasked, Whether the Lord Bishop of London has issued any Commission, to report on the union of parishes in the City of London which involve the destruction of any of the City churches? In consequence of the diminution of the resident population within the City, those churches were not now so frequented as they had been; while, on the other hand, those who most frequented the City, came there on the week days only, and had their residences in the West End or in the Suburbs. Therefore, it had been thought advisable that some arrangements should be made by which certain parishes in the City might be united in such a way as to require fewer places of worship than there were at present. He did not deny the expediency of new Ecclesiastical arrangements to meet the altered state of things; but, as there were natural apprehensions that they might, perhaps, lead to the destruction of churches that were cherished for their architectural merits or historic associations, he wished for information upon the subject.
THE BISHOP of LONDONsaid, that he had pleasure in giving the information. There were in existence five Commissions with reference to the union of parishes within the City, which had been issued by the Bishop of London under the Union of Benefices Act; four had reported, and one had done its work. The details of those which were stiill pending were as follows:—For the union of the rectory of St. Vedast, Foster Lane, with St. Michael-le-Querne; and for the union of the rectory of St. Matthew, Friday Street, with St. Peter, Cheap. The scheme would involve the removal of the church of St. Matthew, Friday Street. For the union of the rectory of St. Benet, Paul's Wharf, with St. Peter, Paul's Wharf; and the rectory of St. Nicholas, Cole Abbey, with St. Nicholas Olave; and St. Mary, Somerset, with St. Mary, Mounthaw. This scheme did not involve the removal of any church. But the disused church of St. Benet would be given over to the Committee of the Welsh Congregation in London for Divine Service in the Welsh language according to the use of the Church of 1088 England. For the union of the rectory of St. Margaret Pattens with St. Gabriel, Fenchurch; the rectory of St. Mary-at-Hill with St. Andrew, Hubbard; and the rectory of St. George, Botolph Lane with St. Botolph, Billingsgate. This scheme involved the removal of the churches of St. George, Botolph Lane, and St. Margaret Pattens. There was no prospect of this being carried out, as the patron had not consented. For the union of the rectory of St. Helen, Bishops-gate, with St. Martin Outwich, and the rectory of St. Ethelburga, no Report had yet been made under this Commission. For the union of the rectory of St. James, Garlickhithe, and St. Michael, Queenhithe, with Holy Trinity the Less, and the rectory of St. Mildred, Bread Street, with St. Margaret Moses. This union scheme would involve the removal of the church of St. Mildred, Bread Street. This scheme was recommended, but the course was prevented by the objection of a patron, who presented every fourth turn.
§ House adjourned at half past Six o'clock, till To-morrow, Twelve o'clock.