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deanery of Bristol, with the diocese of Gloucester, and the transfer of Dorsetshire to the diocese of Salisbury, and of Berkshire and Buckinghamshire to that of Oxford, be carried into effect as soon as possible.

The recommendations, which we have already offered for the creation of new archdeaconries, and for confining the jurisdiction of the several archdeacons in England and Wales within the limits of their respective dioceses, will make it necessary to alter the extent of the existing archdeaconries. The present arch. deacons will not be effected by these changes, except in the surrender of procurations, received upon visiting some parishes, which will then no longer be within their jurisdiction; and as the expense, from which they will thus be liberated, is not now met by the amount of these procurations, we have no hesitation in recommending that a power be granted to your majesty in council, upon the recommendation of the commissioners, forthwith to make the proposed altera

tions.

Adverting, however, to the small portion of territory which will remain within the jurisdiction of the Archdeacon of Rochester, when the proposed alteration of that diocese shall take effect we think than an exception may, in that instance, be made from the general arrangement contemplated with respect to archdeaconries; and that archdeaconal power may, with advantage, be given to the Dean of Rochester within that part of Kent which will remain in the diocese of Rochester. Should this suggestion be adopted, we recommend that a new archdeaconry should be erected at Maidstone, in the diocese of Canterbury, which will, under the new arrangement, be too extensive for the efficient superintendence of one archdeacon; and that the stall in the Cathedral of Rochester which is now annexed to the archdeaconry of Rochester, should be annexed to that of Maidstone.

We also recommend that all the archdeaconries of England and Wales should be in the gift of the bishops of the respective dioceses in which they will be situate. With respect to the competent endowment of these important offices, to which we have already adverted, we reserve for a further report our distinct recommendations.

With regard to episcopal patronage; since any changes, which may be made under this head, will only come into operation as the proposed arrangement of the dioceses shall be carried into effect, and will be in some measure dependent upon the details of that arrangement, we recommend that power should be given to your majesty in council to sanction such alterations as may be recommended in each case, by the commissioners; upon the principle of providing for the relative magnitude and importance of the several sees, and affording an adequate portion of patronage to the Bishops of the new sees.

The various recommendations and suggestions which we have humbly offered to your majesty's consideration being diffused over our several reports-in many cases intervoven with explanatory statements and remarks-and in some instances not expressed with sufficient precision-we deem it expedient to separate from the text such of them as come within the scope of this report, and to present them again to your majesty, in the more convenient form of distinct propositions; accompanied by such other suggestions as appear to us necessary to their being carried fully into execution.

PROPOSITIONS.

1. That commissioners be appointed by Parliament, for the purpose of preparing and laying before your majesty in council, such schemes as shall appear to them to be best adapted for carrying into effect the following recommendations; and that your majesty in council be empowered to make orders, ratifying such schemes, and having the full force of law:

2. That the diocese of Canterbury consist of the county of Kent (except the city and deanery of Rochester, and those parishes which it is proposed to include in the diocese of London), and of the parishes of Croydon and Addington, and the district of Lambeth Palace, in the county of Surrey.

3. That the diocese of London consist of the City of London, and the county of Middlesex, of the parishes of Barking, East Ham, West Ham, Little Ilford, Low Layton, Walthamstow, Wanstead, St. Mary Woodford, and Chingford, in the county of Essex, all in the present diocese of London; of the parishes of Charlton, Lee, Lewisham, Greenwich, Woolwich, Eltham, Plumstead, and St. Nicholas Deptford, in the county of Kent, and St. Paul Deptford, in the

counties of Kent and Surrey, all now in the diocese of Rochester; of the borough of Southwark, and the parishes of Battersea, Bermondsey, Camberwell, Christchurch, Clapham, Lambeth, Rotherhithe, Streatham, Tooting, Graveney, Wandsworth, Merton, Kew, and Richmond, in the county of Surrey, and present diocese of Winchester; and of the parishes of St. Mary Newington, Barnes, Putney, Mortlake, and Wimbledon, in the county of Surrey, and in the peculiar jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Canterbury: together with all the extraparochial places locally within the limits of the parishes above enumerated, except the district of Lambeth Palace.

4. That the diocese of Winchester be diminished, by the transfer of the parish of Addington to the diocese of Canterbury, and of the before-mentioned parishes to the diocese of London.

5. That the whole of the parish of Bedminster be transferred from the diocese of Bath and Wells to the diocese of Gloucester and Bristol.

6. That the city and deanery of Bristol be united to the diocese of Gloucester; and that the southern part of the diocese of Bristol, consisting of the county of Dorset, be transferred to the diocese of Salisbury.

7. That the diocese of Ely be increased by the counties of Huntingdon and Bedford, now in the diocese of Lincoln, by the deaneries of Lynn and Fincham, in the county of Norfolk and diocese of Norwich, and by the archdeaconry of Sudbury, in the county of Suffolk and diocese of Norwich, with the exception of the deaneries of Sudbury, Stow, and Hartismere, and by that part of the county of Cambridge which is now in the diocese of Norwich.

8. That it be declared that the Scilly Islands are within the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Exeter, and of the Archdeacon of Cornwall.

9. That the sees of Gloucester and Bristol be united; and that the diocese consist of the present diocese of Gloucester, of the city and deanery of Bristol, of the deaneries of Cricklade and Malmesbury, in the county of Wilts, and now in the diocese of Salisbury, and of the whole of the parish of Bedminster, now in the diocese of Bath and Wells.

10. That the diocese of Hereford be added to the deanery of Bridgnorth, now locally situate between the dioceses of Hereford and Lichfield; and that those parts of the counties of Worcester and Montgomery which are now in the diocese of Hereford be transferred to the dioceses of Worcester and St. Asaph and Bangor, respectively.

11. That the diocese of Lichfield consist of the counties of Stafford and Derby.

12. That the diocese of Lincoln consist of the counties of Lincoln and Nottingham; and that the latter county, now in the diocese and province of York, be included in the province of Canterbury.

13. That the diocese of Norwich consist of the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, except those parts which it is proposed to transfer to the diocese of Ely.

14. That the diocese of Oxford be increased by the county of Buckingham, now in the diocese of Lincoln, and by the county of Berks, now in the diocese of Salisbury.

15. That the diocese of Peterborough be increased by the county of Leicester, now in the diocese of Lincoln.

16. That the diocese of Rochester consist of the city and deanery of Rochester, in the county of Essex (excepting the parishes which it is proposed to leave in the diocese of London), and of the whole county of Hertford.

17. That to the diocese of Salisbury, reduced according to the foregoing propositions, be added the county of Dorset, now in the diocese of Bristol.

18. That the diocese of Worcester consist of the whole counties of Worcester and Warwick.

19. That the sees of St. Asaph and Bangor be united; and that the diocese consist of the whole of the two existing dioceses (except that part of the dioceses of St. Asaph which is in the county of Salop), and of those parts of the county of Montgomery which are now in the dioceses of St. David and Hereford.

20. That the diocese of Llandaff consist of the whole counties of Glamorgan and Monmouth.

21. That the diocese of St. David's be altered by the transfer of those parts of the counties of Montgomery, Glamorgan, and Moumouth, which it is proposed to include in the respective dioceses of St. Asaph and Bangor and Llandaff.

22. That the diocese of York consist of the county of York, except such parts thereof as it is proposed to include in the new diocese of Ripon.

23. That the diocese of Durham be increased by that part of the county of Northumberland called Hexamshire, which is now in the diocese of York.

24. That the sees of Carlisle and Sodor and Man be united; and that the diocese consist of the present diocese of Carlisle, of those parts of Cumberland and Westmoreland, which are now in the diocese of Chester, of the deanery of Furnes and Cartmel, in the county of Lancaster, of the parish of Aldeston, now in the diocese of Durham, and of the Isle of Man.

25. That the diocese of Chester consist of the counties of Chester and Flint, and of so much of the county of Salop as is not in the diocese of Hereford; and that the whole diocese be included in the province of York.

26. That two new sees be erected in the province of York, one at Manchester, and the other at Ripon.

27. That the diocese of Manchester consist of the whole county of Lancaster, except the deanery of Furnes and Cartmel.

28. That the diocese of Ripon consist of that part of the county of York which is now in the diocese of Chester; of the deanery of Craven, and of such parts of the deaneries of the Ainsty and Poutrefact, in the county and diocese of York, as lie to the westward of the following districts, viz.-the liberty of the Ainsty, and the wapentakes of Barkston Ash, Osgoldcross, and Staincross.

29. That all parishes which are locally situate in one diocese, but under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of another diocese, be made subject to the jurisdiction of the Bishop of the diocese within which they are locally situate.

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30. That such variations be made in the proposed boundaries of the different dioceses as may appear advisable, after more precise information respecting the circumstances of particular parishes or districts.

31. That the Bishops of the two newly-erected sees be made bodies corporate, and be invested with all the same rights and privileges as are now possessed by the other Bishops of England and Wales; and that they be made subject to the metropolitan jurisdiction of the Archbishop of York.

32. That the Collegiate Churches of Manchester and Ripon be made the Cathedrals, and that the chapters thereof be the chapters of the respective sees of Manchester and Ripon, and be invested with all the rights and powers of other cathedral chapters; and that the members of these, and all other cathedral chapters in England, be styled dean and canons.

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33. That the chapter of Carlisle be the chapter of the united see of Carlisle and Man.

34. That the Bishops of the see of St. Asaph and Bangor be elected, alternately, by the dean and chapter of St. Asaph, and by the dean and chapter of Bangor.

35. That the Bishops of the see of Bristol and Gloucester be elected, alternately, by the dean and chapter of Bristol, and by the dean and chapter of Gloucester.

36. That power be given to determine the future mode of confirming such acts of the Bishops, of either of the united sees, as may require confirmation by a dean and chapter.

37. That upon the first avoidance of either of the sees of St. Asaph or Bangor, and of Gloucester or Bristol, the Bishop of the other sees proposed to be united become, ipso facto, Bishop of the two sees, and thereupon become seised and possessed of all the property, advowsons, and patronage, belonging to the see so avoided.

38. That the jurisdiction of the Bishop's court, in each diocese, be coextensive with the limits of the diocese, as newly arranged.

39. That such arrangements be made, with regard to the apportionment of fees payable to the officers of the several diocesan courts, as may be deemed just and equitable, for the purpose of making compensation to those officers who may be prejudiced by the proposed alterations.

40. That such alterations be made in the apportionment or exchange of ecclesiastical patronage, among the several Bishops, as shall be consistent with the relative magnitude and importance of their dioceses, when newly arranged; and as shall afford an adequate quantity of patronage to the Bishops of the new sees. 41. That none of the proposed alterations, affecting the boundaries of jurisdiction of any dioecese, or the patronage of benefices with cure of souls, belonging to any see, the Bishop of which was in possession on the 4th day in March, 1836,

take effect until the next avoidance of the see without the consent of such Bishop.

42 That in order to provide for the augmentation of the incomes of the smaller bishoprics, such fixed annual sums be paid to the commissioners, out of the revenues of the larger sees, respectively,as shall, upon due inquiry and consideration, be determined on; so as to leave as an average annual income, to the Archbishop of Canterbury 15,000l., to the Archbishop of York 10,000, to the Bishop of London 10,000l., to the Bishop of Durham 8,0007., to the Bishop of Winchester 7,000., to the Bishop of Ely 5,500l., to the Bishop of St. Asaph and Bangor 5,2001., and to the Bishops of Worcester, and Bath and Wells, respectively, 5,0002.

43. That out of the fund thus accruing, fixed annual payments be made by the commissioners, in such instances and to such amount, as shall be in like manner determined on, so that the average annual incomes of the other Bishops, respectively, be not less than 4,000l., nor more than 5,000l.

44. That at the expiration of every seven years, reckoning from Jan. 1, 1836, a new return of the revenues of all the bishoprics be made to the commissioners; and that, thereupon, the scale of episcopal payments and receipts be revised so as to preserve, as nearly as may be to each Bishop, an amount of income equivalent to that which shall have been determined, in the first instance, to be suitable to the circumstances of his bishopric, and that such revised scale take effect as to each see, respectively, upon the then next avoidance thereof.

45. That if, in determining the mode of regulating the episcopal incomes, either in the first instance, or on any future revision of them, it shall be deemed expedient to make the alteration required, in any case, by the subtraction or addition of any real estates, such real estates be transferred accordingly.

46. That out of the property of the see of Durham, provision be forthwith made for the completion of those augmentations of poor benefices, which the late Bishop had agreed to grant, but which he left uncompleted at the time of his death.

47. That the Bishop of Durham do, in future, hold the Castle at Durham in trust for the University of Durham, and that all expenses of maintaining and repairing the same be defrayed by the University of Durham.

48. That so soon as the relative values of the several sees, under the new arrangements, shall have been ascertained, apportionment be made of the sums to be thereafter paid by the respective Bishops for first-fruits, so as to leave the aggregate amount payable from all the sees to the Bounty of Queen Anne the same as at present; and that the Bishops who shall, on the present vacancies, succeed to the sees of Durham and Ely, be relieved from the excess, beyond their due proportion, payable for first-fruits; and that the residue of the sums due be paid by the commissioners out of the surplus funds arising from those sees.

49. 'That the tenths to be hereafter payable by the respective Bishops be regulated by the amount of the first-fruits payable under the preceding propositions. 50. That no ecclesiastical dignity, office, or benefice, be in future granted to any Bishop, to be held in commendam; but that such of the endowments of certain prebends in the cathedrals of Lincoln, Lichfield, Exeter, and Salisbury, as now belong to the Bishops of the respective dioceses, continue annexed to the respective sees.

51. That fit residences be provided for the Bishops of Lincoln, Llandaff, Rochester, Manchester, and Ripon; and that, for the purpose of providing the Bishop of any diocese with a more suitable and convenient residence than that which now belongs to his see, sanction be given for purchases or exchanges of house or lands, or for the sale of lands belonging to the respective sees; and also, where it may be necessary, for the borrowing, by any Bishop, of a sum not exceeding two years' income of his see, upon such terms as shall appear to be fit and proper; and that the governors of the Bounty of Queen Anne be empowered to lend money, upon mortgage, to such Bishops.

52. That so much of the sum of 60001., recovered by the late Bishop of Bristol, for damages done to the episcopal residence at Bristol, and of its accumulations, as may remain after deducting proper expenses, together with the money arising from the sale of the site of such residence, if sold, be applied to the purchase or erection of a residence for the Bishop of the see of Bristol and Gloucester.

53. That new archdeaconries of Bristol, Maidstone, Monmouth, Westmoreland, Manchester, Lancaster, and Craven, be created, and that districts be assigned to them; that archdeaconal power be given to the Deau of Rochester within that

part of Kent, which will remain in the diocese of Rochester; and that the limits of the other existing deaneries and archdeaconries he newly arranged, so that every parish and extra-parochial place be within a rural deanery, and every deanery within an archdeaconry; and that no archdeaconry extend beyond the limits of one diccese.

54. That all the archdeaconries of England and Wales be in the gift of the Bishop of the respective dioceses in which they are situate; and that all archdeacons have and exercise full and equal jurisdiction within their respective archdeaconries.

All which we humbly submit to your Majesty's consideration.

May 20, 1836.

(Signed)

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