HL Deb 07 May 1883 vol 279 c17

Order of the Day for the House to be put into Committee read.

THE EARL OF CARNARVON

asked for some explanation of the necessity for the Bill.

THE BISHOP OF EXETER

said, that experience had shown that change was necessary in many cases. It was found that there were benefices which it was unquestionably better should be held in plurality, but which could not be so held under the present Acts. These Acts included churches within three miles of each other, the value of one of the benefices not exceeding £100. The Bill proposed to extend the distance to five miles, and to allow one of the benefices to be of the annual value of £200. As things now stood, benefices were frequently vacant for years, because no one could be got to take them. Another reason for this Bill was the impossibility of getting curates at £80 per year, as in former times.

House in Committee (according to order); an amendment made; the Report thereof to be received To-morrow.

House adjourned at a quarter past Six o'clock, till To-morrow, a quarter past Ten o'clock.