Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

to your lordships than by an extract from a letter which I received from one of my archdeacons, (Mr. Cambridge, archdeacon of Middlesex, and of a large part of Essex) after having made a parochial visitation of his archdeaconry in the month of October last.

This testimony being not mere matter of opinion, but the result of actual observation on the spot, appeared to me the best and most satisfactory evidence that I could produce to your lordships of the real state of the diocese of London, with respect to the principal objects of the letter which you directed Mr. Fawkener to address to me on the 6th of October last.

Mr. Archdeacon Cambridge's report to me is as follows; "On the important subject of residence, I have the pleasure to say, that your lordship's exertions and constant attention have not been in vain. The strongest marks of an important change in that respect are every where apparent, by the number of parsonage-houses that have been lately either wholly rebuilt, or undergone considerable repairs; and there now remains only one or two parishes under my charge (where the income or house will admit of it) that have not a resident incumbent."

I have the honour to be, my lords, your lordships most faithful and obedient servant,

B. LONDON.

Chichester House, October 19th, 1807. Sir,---I have herewith the honour of transmitting to you a list of clerical defaulters in my diocese, comformably, I apprehend, to the requisitions of the lords of his majesty's privy council.

Though the non-residents are not increased, yet the nonnotifiers are numerous; and this is the more singular, as I know, by either personal inspection or by local information, that there is not one beneficed clergyman to be found among the latter who does not reside on some other benefice of his own, and might, of course, have a legal exemption to plead in bar of the penal' statute.

The actually non-residents, here mentioned, I have repeatedly called to residence; but no regular monition having yet

been issued, my injunction has hitherto, I confess, produced very little effect.

To those clergymen, whose only fault has been (doubtless a reprehensible one) the mere omission to notify their reason of such legal absence, I have contented myself with pointing out the probable consequences of their neglect. A monition is an expensive messenger; and it might be deemed an harsh measure against clergymen, who, though negligent in one instance, had not failed in the primary objects of the act, parochial residence, and the discharge of their spiritual duties.

I am rejoiced to find, that the lords of the privy council are taking the important matter of clerical residence into further consideration, and trust they will adopt effectual means of enforcing it to real, extensive, and permanent good; but, while sinecure offices in cathedrals, and fellowships in colleges, are allowed to be legal excuses for a dereliction of pastoral duties, the act must remain lamentably inefficient.

I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient servant, J. CICEST.

Hartlebury Castle, October 26th, 1807. Sir,---I received the letter of the 6th instant, which you addressed to me by order of the lords of his majesty's privy council, respecting the beneficed clergy of my diocese, who were reported in my last return to their lordships as non-resident without notification, licence, or exemption.

In answer to this letter, I observe, 1st, that the section 30 in the act to which I am referred is permissive only, and not compulsory; 2dly, that the number of non-residents in my last return, without licence or exemption, being increased, is principally owing to licences having expired since my former return, and which would have been renewed had they been applied for. Lastly, that of those non-residents, three-fourths at least are entitled to licences if applied for, many of the benefices being only perpetual curacies, and most of them of very small value; some without houses, and others with houses unfit for the incumbents to reside in.

Upon the whole, it seems to me (if I may have leave to give my own private opinion in this matter) that residence

cannot be enforced more strictly than it is at present, under a favourable construction of the late act, without throwing numbers of the clergy into such a state of uneasiness and discomfort, as must injure, and not serve, the cause of true practical religion. And it is on this ground that I have not thought it necessary or proper to send out those citations or monitions which the act permits me to do.

I am, Sir, your obedient humble servant,
R. WORCESTER.

Sir,--That the residence of the parochial clergy upon their livings is an object of incalculable importance to the nation at large, will admit of no doubt; and that it is the duty of a bishop to promote this residence, by all the means in his power, is equally clear: I therefore request the favour of you to assure the privy council of my serious and respectful attention to the contents of your letter; and also, that it has been, and shall be my constant endeavour to carry into effect the design of the legislature in passing the late act for " enforcing the residence of spiritual persons on their benefices, &c." I must, however, in justice to myself and to my brethren, point out some circumstances, not generally known, and which are, (I believe) peculiar to this diocese. In Norfolk and Suffolk there are between two and three hundred parishes without any parsonage-house, or, what is equivalent, [with] a mere cottage. The livings also are so small, that the same person very frequently holds two, and, in many cases, three. It is in consequence of this smallness in point of value, that the diocesan has the privilege, which no other bishop has, of granting a personal union of benefices. In a diocese thus ciscumstanced, it is obvious, that the clergy will appear, upon the face of the annual return, more culpable than they really are; because many of them have two livings without a glebehouse upon either, and are unable to hire a convenient place of abode in the neighbourhood of their preferment.

of

With respect to the increase in the return of last year spiritual persons not resident upon their livings, I am happy to say, that this apparent neglect of duty arises not from the quantum of residence being less than usual, but from the ig

norance or inattention of the clergy to that clause in the act of parliament, which enjoins them to renew their licences at the expiration of two years, and also to their neglect in sending regular notifications. I will take the best measures I can to remedy the evil you point out, and trust that in the next return the privy council will find no cause for complaint. I am, Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

Norwich, 22d October, 1807.

HENRY NORWICH,

Not a single incumbent is non-resident in my diocese without my being acquainted with the reason of his non-residence; but I am sorry to add, that the smallness of a large proportion of my livings, the entire want of a parsonage-house, or its unfitness for the residence of a clergyman, and the unhealthiness of some parishes, compel me to dispense with residence in a degree very painful to me. The late residence act has certainly been attended with considerable benefit, but much remains to be done before the residence of the parochial clergy can be generally enforced.

G. LINCOLN.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

May 16. Sir John Newport moved, that there be laid before the house copies of the letters sent by the bishops of the several dioceses of England and Wales, in answer to that from the lords of the privy council, dated the 6th of October last, relative to the non-residence of the clergy in their respective dioceses.*

On the 8th of April, the lords of the privy council took into consideration the letters alluded to by Sir John Newport. And the result of the said letters shewing that the appearance of the increase of non-resident clergy, in the several dioceses, is founded in great part on the neglect of the clergy to notify to their diocesans their exemptions respectively, and not from actual non-residence; their lordships thereupon recommended to his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, and his Grace the Archbishop of York, to express to the several bishops within the respective provinces of Canterbury and York, the wish of the lords of the privy council, that, in the future returns from their several dioceses, a distinction should be made in the return of the non-resident clergy between those who are non-resident without

HOUSE Of Lords.

CLANDESTINE MARRIAGES.

On May 9, the Bishop of Exeter presented a bill, the object of which was to render valid, marriages which had been solemnized in certain churches and chapels without a publication of the banns.

On the 19th of the same month, the Right Rev. Prelate moved its second reading.

The Lord Chancellor could not omit this occasion of expressing his regret at the frequent introduction of bills of this description. They seemed now to be considered as that sort of indemnity bills which came annually before the house, and which began to be looked upon as matters of course. He would, however, at present give notice, that they should no longer have his countenance; and, indeed, if the marriage act was to remain in force, and to be attended to as it ought to be, with what propriety could bills of the nature of that now before their lordships, be permitted to pass? He begged the house to observe, that this was the last bill of this nature which should pass without his decided opposition.

Lord Lauderdale considered the bill as of very great importance, inasmuch as it shewed the numerous inconveniences that arose from the marriage act. As the noble and learned lord seemed resolved to turn his attention to these inconveniences, he would perhaps discover how far it might be expedient to repeal the marriage act, or so far to new model its provisions, as to prevent the necessity of such frequent suspensions of it.

Lord Holland concurred in this opinion. He wished even the legislature would take a more wide and liberal view of the marriage act, and some other acts, such as the corporation and tests acts, which proved such hardships to so many large descriptions of his Majesty's subjects. Surely that act could

licence or exemption, and those who are reported as non-resident solely because they have not notified their exemption; and likewise, that some distinction should be made in the future returns of those who are nonresident merely on account of not having a fit house for their residence, but who nevertheless perform the duties of their cure.

« AnteriorContinuar »