§ THE LORD ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY moved to resolve, That in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act, 1919, this House do direct that the Guildford Cathedral Measure, 1938, be presented to His Majesty for the Royal Assent. The most reverend Primate said: My Lords, the object of this Measure is to transfer the dignity and status of cathedral church from the church of the Holy Trinity, Guildford, to the new cathedral church of the Holy Spirit. A Measure which divided the diocese of Winchester, in 1923, provided that it should be left to His Majesty, by Order in Council, to determine which should be the cathedral church of the new diocese of Guildford. Accordingly, in 1927, the church of the Holy Trinity, Guildford, was selected, but 676 experience showed that it was too small and in many ways inconvenient. Therefore, after full consideration, it was agreed to build a new cathedral church on a very admirable site called Stag Hill, very generously provided by the Chairman of Committees of your Lordships' House, Lord Onslow.
§ I laid the foundation stone in 1936. It is hoped that the first portion of the new cathedral will be ready for consecration in 1939, but the diocesan authorities have been advised that it will be necessary to obtain legal authority for the transfer of the cathedral status and dignity from Holy Trinity Church, Guildford, to the new church of the Holy Spirit. This Measure endeavours to give that legal authority. Clause 1 effects the transfer. Clause 2 provides that the Cathedral Acts, 1931 and 1934, shall be applicable to the new cathedral, but it is provided that certain conditions specified in Section 4 must be complied with before any scheme can be operative. There again the matter is perfectly simple. The Measure is entirely uncontroversial, it has been recommended by the Ecclesiastical Committee of Parliament, and it was passed in another place. I hope therefore that your Lordships will agree that it should be submitted to His Majesty for Royal Assent. I beg to move.
§ Moved to resolve, That in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act, 1919, this House do direct that the Guildford Cathedral Measure, 1938, be presented to His Majesty for the Royal Assent.—(The Lord Archbishop of Canterbury.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.