UNION OF BENEFICES ACT, 1860, AMENDMENT BILL [H.L.] (Hansard, 19 May 1903)

THE LORD ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY

My Lords, I need not detain your Lordships for more than a few moments in moving the Second Reading of this Bill, first, because it is already familiar to your Lordships, and secondly, because it really deals with a large number of details which, if they are to be considered at all, would have to be considered in Committee, and not, I think, on Second Reading. The point of the Bill is simply this. The Act of 1860 makes provision, under certain stringent conditions, for contiguous benefices in the Metropolis being united, but the provisions of the Act do not extend beyond the Metropolis. The object of this Bill is to extend to other parts of England powers which have been found to work beneficially and happily within the Meropolitan area. The Bill is practically the same as the measure which was introduced into and carried through your Lordships' House by the late Archbishop of Canterbury in 1890, with the exception of one additional provision which deals with the power of selling a consecrated chapel of case which has become useless—and is sometimes an actual encumbrance. The facilities which the Bill enacts are safeguarded at every turn from the possibility of being used to the unfair disadvantage either of an individual or of a parish. Indeed my only fear in the matter is that the safeguards are so numerous and so potent as to hamper the usefulness of the measure; but that is a fault on the right side. The whole matter was fully explained to the House by the late Archbishop of Canterbury and I need not go over the ground again unless any of your Lordships wish me to do so. I believe the Bill will effect a real and salutary reform, and I hope your Lordships will give it a Second Reading.