§ THE LORD BISHOP OF WINCHESTER moved to resolve, That in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act, 1919, this House do direct that the Southwark Cathedral Measure, 1937, be presented to His Majesty for the Royal Assent. The right reverend Prelate said: My Lords, I need detain the House for a very few minutes only in moving this Resolution, which is quite uncontroversial and which concerns one of our London cathedrals, a cathedral of remarkable beauty, the cathedral of the second most populous diocese in England. The Cathedral Commissioners have full power to frame schemes for parish church cathedrals without appealing to Parliament under the Cathedrals Measure; but when they came to Southwark they found it necessary to order legislation. In the case of most parish church cathedrals there is a clean slate, but here the Commissioners found there was a long, most intricate and confusing story of legislation. I have had to deal with it myself. And the position of the cathedral is doubtful. It was sometimes described as a cathedral church, sometimes as a collegiate church, and sometimes as a parish church. The Cathedral Commissioners have power to frame schemes for ancient cathedrals and also 694 for the newer parish church cathedrals, but Southwark Cathedral did not clearly fall under any category and so they had to draw up a scheme which dealt with the special circumstances of the case.
§ This has been embodied in a Measure which has received the consent of another place and a Resolution concerning which I now move. The Cathedral Church is now definitely described as the Cathedral and Collegiate Church of Saint Saviour and Saint Mary Overie, Southwark. The Lady Chapel, a very beautiful example of English work, is available for parochial purposes and parochial services, but the whole church is regarded as a cathedral. A corporate body has been formed which is sometimes to act as a General Chapter and at other times as an Administrative Chapter. In addition a Cathedral Council, with laity on it, will be formed, and this Council will deal with questions affecting the fabric and so on. There is no opposition to the Measure. The consenting parties have expressed their approval and other interested parties have raised no objection. I therefore beg to move.
§ Moved to resolve, That in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act, 1919, this House do direct that the Southwark Cathedral Measure, 1937, be presented to His Majesty for the Royal Assent.—(The Lord Bishop of Winchester.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.