§ Order of the day for the Second Reading read.
THE LORD BISHOP OF BRISTOLMy Lords, this Bill is exactly in the form in which your Lordships read it a third time last year. It proposes to bring into the diocese of Bristol, by agreement with the Bishop of Gloucester, twenty-three parishes in the South of Gloucester, and also, by agreement with the Bishop of Bath and Wells, one parish in the diocese of Bath and Wells. That parish already has the populous part of it within the boundary of the City of Bristol, and by general agreement it was thought it ought to come within the diocese of Bristol, especially as I have special means, which the diocese of Bath and Wells does not possess, of dealing with the great population in that district. There is no money to be transferred from either diocese to the diocese of Bristol, although it must be evident to your Lordships that to increase the number of parishes in that diocese by something like one-seventh more than it possesses now must increase the burden on the Bishop. It seems to me a great pity that alterations of boundaries of this kind have to be done by Acts of Parliament. I long for the time when His Majesty's Government will make it possible to effect changes of this kind by Order in Council.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a." (The Lord Bishop of Bristol.)
THE LORD ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURYMy Lords, I think I ought to say that, having looked very carefully into this matter both last year and since, I feel I can support every word the rt. rev. Prelate has said. I think the Bill ought, as soon as possible, to be passed into law.
On Question, Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Thursday next.