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We recommend also, with an especial view to the better care of populous parishes, that power should be given to bishops, colleges, and other public bodies, in whom the advowsons of such parishes are vested, on the recommendation of the commissioners, and subject to the approbation of your Majesty in council, to exchange advowsons between themselves: and, generally, we are of opinion, that it would be highly expedient, that similar power should be given, to sanction any arrangement, for the purpose of improving the value, or making a better provision for the spiritual duties of ill-endowed parishes or districts; by altering the exercise of patronage, or, by apportioning the income of two benefices, belonging to the same patron, or that of one benefice having more than one church or chapel, between the incumbents, or ministers, of such benefices, churches, or chapels respectively; these powers not to be exercised, with respect to advowsons in the patronage of laymen, without the consent of the respective patrons; nor in any case without the consent of the bishop of the diocese.

With respect to the ancient hospitals, adverted to in our Second Report, we have not yet received such further information, as to enable us to offer to your Majesty any distinct recommendation upon the subject.

In consequence of the avoidance of some of the preferments, which, if our recommendations should be adopted, will not be filled up, it becomes necessary to determine to whom the custody of the fund, which will arise from the endowments of those preferments, should be entrusted. We recommend, that the commissioners should be empowered to appoint the necessary officers, for performing such duties as may arise out of transactions connected with this fund ;. and that the treasurer of Queen Anne's Bounty should pay over to the proper officer, so appointed, the monies received by him, under the authority of the act passed in the last session of parliament, to which we have referred in our Second Report.

With regard to the application of the resources, arising from the operation of those measures which affect the Cathedral and Collegiate Establishments, we recommend, that, except in cases where we have suggested any specific appropriation, the property and revenues, rendered available by these alterations, should, after a due consideration of the wants and circumstances of the places in which they accrue, be applied to the purpose of making additional provision for the cure of souls, in parishes where such assistance is most required; in such manner as shall be most conducive to the efficiency of the Established Church,

For the reasons stated at the conclusion of our last Report, we present to your Majesty the remainder of our recommendations, in the same form of distinct propositions, which we have already adopted.

FURTHER PROPOSITIONS:

1. That the chapter in each Cathedral Church in England, except at Oxford,— of the Collegiate Church of Westminster,-and of your Majesty's Royal Chapel of Windsor,-consist hereafter of a dean and four canons only.

2. That the chapter of Christchurch, in Oxford, consist hereafter of a dean and six canons only.

3. That until the existing chapters shall be reduced to their proposed future number of members respectively, every canonry or prebend which shall become vacant be suppressed, except in the cases herein specified.

4. That the first canonry of Christchurch which shall become vacant, not being one of the two canonries which are respectively annexed to the Regius Professorships in the University of Oxford, be permanently annexed to the Lady Margaret's Professorship of Divinity in that University; that the two next canonries of Christchurch which shall become vacant, not being either of the three already specified, be suppressed; that the fourth vacancy be filled up; that the two next canonries which shall become vacant, except as aforesaid, be suppressed; and that this rule be acted upon, until the number of canons shall be reduced to six.

5. That upon the Lady Margaret's Professor succeeding to the canonry of

Christchurch, the canonry of Worcester, now annexed to his Professorship, become vacant, and be suppressed.

6. That the rectory of the parish of Saint Margaret, in the city of Westminster, and one of the prebendal houses belonging to the chapter of Westminster, be permanently annexed to the prebend in the Collegiate Church of Westminster, now held by Henry Hart Milman, clerk; and that the said parish, and the rector thereof, be subject to the jurisdiction of the bishop of London, and of the archdeacon of Middlesex, and not to any other ecclesiastical jurisdiction; and that the said rectory be in the patronage of your Majesty.

7. That the share of the revenues of the said chapter, belonging to such prebendary, be subdivided into twelve equal parts; that seven of such parts be paid to the prebendary, and that the other five parts be applied towards building a house of residence for the minister of a district church in the said parish, and for endowing the rector of such church, and the minister of Broadway Chapel, in the said parish; in such proportions as the commissioners, for carrying into effect the former recommendations, shall recommend, and your Majesty in council shall approve.

. 8. That the rectory of the parish of Saint John, in the same city, and one other of the prebendal houses belonging to the said chapter, be permanently annexed to the prebend in the said collegiate church, lately held by George Holcombe, Doctor of Divinity; and that the said parish, and the rector thereof, be subject to the jurisdiction of the Bishop of London, and of the Archdeacon of Middlesex, and not to any other ecclesiastical jurisdiction; and that the said rectory be in the patronage of your Majesty.

9. That the share of the revenues of the said chapter, belonging to the said, prebend, be subdivided, and applied for the spiritual use of the said last-men-, tioned parish, in such proportions, and in such manner, as the said commissioners shall recommend, and your Majesty in council shall approve.

10. That in the Cathedral Churches of Canterbury, Durham, Ely, Exeter, Winchester, and Worcester,-in the Collegiate Church of Westminster, and in your Majesty's Royal Chapel of Windsor,-respectively, the two first canonries, or prebends, which shall become vacant, be, except as herein specified, sup pressed, and that the third vacancy be filled up, and that this rule be acted upon, until there shall be four canons only; that in the Cathedral Church of Canterbury the first appointment, under such rule, be made by your Majesty, the second by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and that thereafter the said Archbishop appoint a canon, upon the occurrence of every fourth vacancy which is to be filled up; that in the Cathedral Church of Durham, Henry Jenkins, Clerk, Professor of Greek in the University of Durham, be appointed to the Canonry designed for him by the late Bishop of Durham, and now held by Richard Prosser, Doctor of Divinity, when it shall become vacant, although one of the two preceding vacancies may have been filled up; and that in the Collegiate Church of Westminster, when either of the prebends attached to the parishes of St. Margaret and St. John, respectively, shall become vacant, a canon be appointed, although one of the two preceding vacancies may have been filled up.

11. That in the Cathedral Churches of Bristol, Chester, Gloucester, Lichfield, Norwich, Peterborough, Rochester, Salisbury, and Wells, the first and every alternate canonry or prebend which shall become vacant, be, except as herein specified, suppressed, and that every other vacancy be filled up, and that this rufe be acted upon, until there shall be four canons only; but that when a, vacancy shall occur in the prebend, in the Cathedral Church of Gloucester, which is attached to the mastership of Pembroke College in Oxford, or in the prebend, in the Cathedral Church of Norwich, which is attached to the mastership of Catherine Hall in Cambridge, or in either of the prebends in the Cathedral Church of Rochester, which are respectively attached to the provostship of Oriel College in Oxford, and to the archdeaconry of Rochester, such vacancy be filled up, although a new canon may have been appointed in the case of the vacancy immediately preceding.

12 That in case any canonry in either of the before-named Cathedral or Colleigate Churches, shall be hereafter permanently annexed to any archdeaconry, or united with any parochial charge, and shall then become vacant before the canonries in such church shall be reduced to the proposed future number, such, vacancy be filled up, notwithstanding the foregoing rules.

13. That in all Cathedral and Collegiate Churches in which the residentiaries

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have heretofore been elected by the chapter, from amongst the existing prebendaries, all the canonries be in future in the direct patronage of the bishops of the respective dioceses; with the exception of the three existing canonries in the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, in London; and that these latter canonries be in the direct patronage of your majesty.

14. That in the said chapter of St. Paul, and in the chapter of Lincoln, respectively, a fourth canonry be founded; and that such new canonries be in the patronage of the respective bishops, and be disposed of by them as herein provided.

15. That the incomes, from whatever source arising, belonging to all suppressed residentiary canonries or prebends, as well those which are now vacant, as those which shall hereafter become vacant, be, except as herein specified, paid to the proper officer to be appointed by the said commissioners.

16. That in the Cathedral Churches of Lichfield and Chester, the incomes of the two suppressed residentiary canonries and prebends, respectively, fall into the divisible revenues of the respective chapters.

17. That the separate estates and other endowments, of whatever kind, distinct from the corporate property of the respective chapters, belonging to deaneries, and residentiary canonries or prebends, as well those which are now vacant, as those which shall hereafter become vacant, be, except as herein specified, vested in the said commissioners.

18. That in the Cathedral Churches of York and Lichfield, such part of the separate endowments of the dean and canons as may be determined upon be vested, as vacancies occur, in the respective chapters, and become part of the corporate property; and that the remainder of such endowments be vested in the said commissioners.

19. That each of the deans, hereafter to be appointed, of the cathedrals on the old foundation, except as herein specified, and of your majesty's Royal Chapel of Windsor, receive a double share of the divisible revenues; and that, until the time when all the dignities shall be held subject to these recommendations, just apportionments be made of the shares of such revenues, to be received by the new members of each chapter respectively.

20. That, upon the first vacancy in the deanery of Windsor, the living of Haseley be severed from the deanery, and revert to the patronage of the dean and chapter of Windsor.

21. That the chapter of St. Asaph consist hereafter of a dean and two canons, and that the canons have the cure of souls within the parish: that the deanery retain so much of its separate endowment as shall remain, after competently providing thereout for the vicarage of Henllan; and that the divisible revenues be equally shared by the two canons.

22. That the chapter of Bangor consist hereafter of a dean and two canons, the canons performing the same duties, both in the cathedral and in the parish of Bangor, as are now performed by the priest-vicars of that cathedral; that the endowments belonging to the prebend of Penmynydd be annexed to the deanery of Bangor; and that such portion of the tithes now belonging to the said deanery as shall be determined upon, be applied to the augmentation of the vicarages, or perpetual curacies, of the parishes in which they respectively

accrue.

23. That the deaneries of St. Asaph and Bangor be united to the Archdeaconries of St. Asaph and Bangor respectively; and that the archdeaconry of Merioneth be endowed with the property belonging to one of the prebends in the Cathedral Church of Bangor, hereafter to be fixed upon.

24. That the chapter of St David's consist hereafter of a precentor and two canons, the canons being charged with the cure of souls in the parish of St. David's; that the divisible revenues be divided into twenty-four parts; that ten of such parts be assigned to the precentor, and five to each canon ; and that the remaining four parts be paid as an endowment, to the archdeacon of Cardigan. 25. That the chapter of Llandaff consist hereafter of an archdeacon and two canons, the canons being charged with the cure of souls, in the parishes of Llandaff and Whitchurch, respectively; and that, after paying to the Bishop of › Llandaff one seventh part of the divisible revenues, the remainder be divided among the three members of the chapter, the archdeacon receiving one half, and each of the canons one quarter.

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26. That the endowment, belonging to one of the prebends in the Collegiate

Church of Brecon, hereafter to be fixed upon, be annexed to the archdeaconry of Brecon.

27. That all the remaining property belonging to the canonries, prebends, dignities and offices, in the Cathedral Churches of St. Asaph, Bangor, St. David's, Llandaff, and in the Collegiate Church of Brecon, as they become vacant, be vested in the said commissioners, and be applied by them to the improvement of poor benefices in the Principality of Wales; unless the said commissioners shall deem it fit to apply any part thereof, to the better endowment of the College of St. David's at Lampeter, either absolutely, or in exchange for any benefices with cure of souls, which are now connected with that establishment; and that authority be given to them for that purpose.

28. That the whole divisible revenues of the dean and chapter of Ripon be divided into six parts; and that the dean receive two parts, and the four canons one part each.

29. That no new appointment be made to any of the prebends, dignities, or offices, not being residentiary in the several Cathedral and Collegiate Churches, except as herein specified; nor to the deanery of Wolverhampton.

30. That all the estates, tithes, and other endowments, of whatever kind, belonging to the said deanery, prebends, dignities, and offices, as well those which are now vacant, as those which shall hereafter become vacant, be, except as herein specified, vested in the said commissioners.

31. That the endowments, of whatever kind, belonging to the Collegiate Churches of Wolverhampton, Heytesbury, and Middleham, be applied to the purpose of making a better provision for the cure of souls in the districts, or places, with which those churches are respectively connected.

32. That the archdeacon of Nottingham be in future the rector of the Colle. giate Church of Southwell, and have under him an assistant minister, such minister to have an income of not less than 3001. per annum, out of the revenues of the said church, and two minor canons, with an income of not less than 1502 per annum each; and that such minor canons also assist in the duties of the parish of Southwell.

33. That so much of the property belonging to the Collegiate Church of Wimborne Minster, as shall upon due enquiry be found to remain, after adequately providing for the original purposes of the foundation, be applied to the purpose of making a better provision for the spiritual care of the parish of Wimborne Minster.

34. That provision be made for the due performance of such duties in the respective Cathedral and Collegiate Churches as may require to be so provided for, in consequence of the diminution in the number of canons, while that change is in progress; and that measures be taken by the said commissioners, for the disposal of such residence houses in the precincts of the respective Cathedral and Collegiate Churches, as may no longer be required; and for the distribution and appropriation of those which may be retained.

35. That power be given to unite such of the better endowed canonries, in the respective chapters, as may be deemed properly available for the purpose, with the parochial charge of populous districts, within the dioceses in which such churches shall be respectively situate.

36. That such arrangements be made with respect to the deanery and canonries in the chapter of Durham, and their revenues, as shall, upon due inquiry and consideration, be determined on, with a view to maintaining the University of Durham in a state of respectability and efficiency; due regard being had to the just claims of any existing officer of the University.

37. That the visitors of the respective chapters do so alter, from time to time, the existing statutes and rules, as to make them consistent with the altered constitution and duties of the chapters, respectively; but that no statute made under this authority take effect, until it shall have been submitted to the said commissioners, and shall have received the sanction of your majesty in council. 38. That the several corporations, or colleges, of vicars choral, priest-vicars, or minor canons, be dissolved, and that their endowments be dealt with in such manner as shall be determined on; so as to secure to each of the existing members, a provision at least equivalent to that which he now possesses; and that 'the advowsons belonging to the said last-mentioned corporations and colleges be vested in the chapters of their respective churches.

39. That all the said officers be hereafter styled minor canons ;—that their

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number, in each Cathedral or Collegiate Church, where it now exceeds four, bè gradually reduced to a number not exceeding four, nor less than two;--and that the stipend of each minor canon hereafter to be appointed be not less than 1507. per annum.

40. That no minor canonry, in any Cathedral or Collegiate Church, be held together with any benefice, unless such benefice be within the limits of the city wherein such church is situate.

41. That no minor canon be qualified to take any benefice in the patronage of the chapter, beyond such limits, until he shall have actually served as minor canon for five years at the least; and that within one year after the acceptance of any such benefice, he vacate his minor canonry.

42. That upon the vacancy of any benefice in the patronage of a chapter, the dean and chapter present thereto either one of their own body, or a minor canon, subject to such regulations as aforesaid; or a spiritual person who shall have served for five years at the least as master of the grammar school, if any attached to such Cathedral or Collegiate Church, who shall within one year thereafter vacate his mastership; and that if neither a member of the chapter, nor a minor canon, nor such schoolmaster be presented within three calendar months, the bishop of the diocese in which the benefice is situate do, within the next three calendar months, collate thereto a spiritual person, who shall have actually served within such diocese, as curate or incumbent for five years at the least; and that if no such collation take place within such time, the benefice lapse to the archbishop of the province.

43. That the patronage of all benefices with cure of souls possessed by individual members of chapters, in right of their separate estates, or by prebendaries, dignitaries, or officers, not residentiary, be transferred to the bishops of the dioceses in which the benefices shall be respectively situate.

44. That all ecclesiastical rectories without cure of souls, except such as are in the patronage of any college in either of the Universities, or of any private patron, as well those which are now vacant as those which shall hereafter become vacant, be suppressed; and that the endowments, of whatever kind, belonging thereto, be, except as herein specified, applied towards augmenting the existing provision for the cure of souls; due regard being had, in the first instance, to the wants of the dioceses in which the said rectories shall be respectively situate.

45. That the Bishops of London and Lincoln be enabled to collate, to the new canonry in the chapter of St. Paul and of Lincoln respectively, one of the archdeacons of their respective dioceses; subject to such regulations, before any vacancy shall occur among the existing members of the said chapters respectively, as may be determined on; and that upon the occurrence of any such vacancy, provision be made for such archdeacon, and if it be deemed fit, for one other of the archdeacons in each of the said dioceses, by the application of a portion of the income of such canonry.

46. That the stall in the Cathedral Church of Rochester, which is now annexed to the archdeaconry of Rochester, be annexed to the new archdeaconry of Maidstone.

47. That archdeaconries, not otherwise competently endowed, be provided for respectively, by the annexation, where circumstances will permit, either of an entire canonry,-or of a canonry charged with the payment of such portion of its income as shall be determined on, towards the provision for another archdeacon in the same diocese,-or of such last-mentioned portion of the income of a canonry, or until such arrangement can be made, and in cases where it may be necessary, by augmentation, out of the lands or tithes vested in the said commissioners, or out of the revenues accruing from the suppression of ecclesiastical rectories without cure of souls or of non-residentiary prebends; provided that the annual income of each archdeaconry so augmented out of such lands, tithes, or revenues, do not exceed 2001.

48. That with respect to benefices which are annexed, by Act of Parliament or otherwise, to the headships of colleges in the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, power be given to sanction, with the consent of the respective colleges, the sale of the advowsons of such benefices, and the investment of the proceeds in proper securities, the interest to be paid to the respective heads of the colleges for the time being; and that upon the completion of the respective arrangements, the present incumbents be permitted, on resigning their respec

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