§ 6.20 p.m.
§ The LORD BISHOP of COVENTRY rose to move, That this House do direct that in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act 1919, the Cathedrals Measure be presented to Her Majesty for the Royal Assent. The right reverend Prelate said: My Lords, I have been asked to deputise for the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of London because he is ill. I am happy to say he 338 is not seriously ill. It is a rather sudden and long move from biscuits to cathedrals, but I hope to speak briefly to this Measure.
§ Under the Cathedrals Measure 1963, which govern all except one of the cathedrals of this country, a special Commission must be appointed by the General Synod if it is desired to revise the statutes of a cathedral. When that Measure was passed every cathedral administrative body was represented in the then government of the Church, the Church Assembly, but this is not the case with the General Synod which prevails today. Consequently, it is more difficult for cathedrals to move the necessary resolutions in the Synod. Therefore this Measure proposes the establishment of a permanent Commission to which, if and when it is set up, proposals for revision of statutes can be sent direct by cathedrals.
§ In Clause 2 of the Measure there is a modification of procedural sections of the 1963 Measure in certain respects. A draft scheme will he prepared by the Commission in consultation with the cathedral concerned and, in addition to the Bishop and the Church Commissioners, ail other persons who may be affected by the draft scheme will have the right to make representations. If the Bishop and the cathedral authorities consent to the draft scheme, it will be laid before the General Synod, and unless the Synod directs the Synod by general resolution not to make the scheme, it will be made by the Commission.
§ Clause 3 provides for the scheme to be confirmed by Order in Council after persons have made written representations and the Commission have been informed of their right to appeal to Her Majesty in Council. Under the 1963 Measure, the scheme is laid before Parliament. In the last 30 years more than 60 cathedral schemes have gone through this procedure. In no case has there been an appeal, nor has a Resolution been moved in Parliament. Therefore, it is thought that this double procedure is not necessary and that the Privy Council can more easily deal with the issues that might arise. I do not think I need speak about the remaining clauses, except to say that when this Measure came up in General Synod for final approval, 174 members voted in favour and only one against. 339 Therefore I think one can say that it is non-controversial.
§ Finally, I should like to say that the Ecclesiastical Committee is of the opinion that this Measure is expedient. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That this House do direct that in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act 1919, the Cathedrals Measure be presented to Her Majesty for the Royal Assent.—(The Lord Bishop of Coventry.)
Viscount LONGMy Lords, I am sure that we are most grateful to the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Coventry for presenting this Measure to your Lordships on behalf of the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of London. I have always understood that the Dean was the senior person in the cathedral, rather than the Bishop; and now, as I understand it, the Commission are to command the workings of a cathedral church rather than the Dean. I remember the late Bishop Anderson of Sarum treading on the toes of the Dean of Salisbury Cathedral, and the Dean then turning round and saying, "This is my cathedral, and not yours, my Lord Bishop! "I wonder whether we are getting to the point when the poor Dean will have no say in the Church.
I should like to convey the apologies of my noble friend Lord Sandford for not being in his place today. Unfortunately, he has to be away at this time. However, we are most grateful to the right reverend Prelate for having explained so clearly the provisions of this Measure.
§ The Lord Bishop of COVENTRYMy Lords, may I say that, putting it into rather secular language, I have always thought that the relationship between the Bishop and the Dean was similar to that of the chairman and managing director.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.