§ 3.25 p.m.
§ THE LORD BISHOP OF ST. EDMUNDSBURY AND IPSWICH moved, That in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers) 990 Act, 1919, this House do direct that the Ecclesiastical Dilapidations (Chancel Repairs) Measure, 1940, be presented to His Majesty for the Royal Assent. The right reverend Prelate said: My Lords, this is not exactly a war Measure, although it is a matter of some urgency. Before the Tithe Act was passed there were opportunities for lay impropriators who were liable to keep chancels of churches in repair to enter into an arrangement with the Diocesan Dilapidations Board by which they paid a lump sum down, the interest on which was to be available for the repairs of the chancel from lime to time. But invariably, I think, before that was done the diocesan authorities required that the chancel should be put in repair, and then the sum which was necessary for maintaining it was agreed upon.
§ The Tithe Act made that really compulsory, and the effect of the Tithe Act is to give to every parochial church council—or rather to the Diocesan Dilapidations Board in trust for the parochial church council—such sum as may be necessary to keep in repair the chancel where any lay impropriators are liable to keep it in repair. No distinction, however, was made in the Tithe Act between the sum which it may be desirable to use straight away for repairs which are immediately necessary, and that required for repairs which may be necessary some years hence. All that can be done is to deal with the income arising out of the sum handed over and not with the capital itself. There are certain cases in which immediate repairs are very necessary. The Measure which is the subject of my Motion enables the parochial church council, or the Diocesan Dilapidations Board which holds the fund, to use a certain lump sum for putting chancels into repair straight away, under proper safeguard and with proper consents, on the basis that enough must be left out of the income to maintain the chancels in repair in the future. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers' Act, 1919, this House do direct that the Ecclesiastical Dilapidations (Chancel Repairs) Measure, 1940, be presented to His Majesty for the Royal Assent.—(The Lord Bishop of St. Edmundsbury and Ipswich.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.