The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-05-27 00:00:00

BURIAL BOARD.

An adjourned meeting of this Board was held
on Saturday last.
Mr. Shepherd in the chair.
There were also present Messrs. Haskew, Platt,
Perkins, Evers, King, and Billingham.
The minutes of the last meeting were read and
confirmed.
The first business was in reference to a loan for
the purpose of building a cemetery, chapels, pur-
chase of land, &c. It had been asserted by the
Clerk that the Metropolitan AFsurance Company
would lend the money required for 40 years at 44-,
per cent., or 50 years at 41.
A long discussion ensued as to whether they
should borrow £5,000 or £4,500.
The Clerk then read the correspondence he had
in reference to the money. The first one was from
Mr. R. Willeock, on behalf of the Imperial Life
Office, offering the money for 30 years at 41 per
cent., but a previous offer had been made on be.
half of this company to lend the money for 40 or
50 year's at 44- per cent, and it was resolved to
make further enquiries from both the offices
some named.

Mr. Haskew said he thought they were losing a
good deal of time, but he took it that they had.
quite done with the Loan Commissioners. -
It was stated that the Rev. H. Downing, the
rector of Oldswinford, was willing to ratify the
agreement Made with his predecessor as to the sale
of the site for the cemetery; but this had not yet
formally been done.
The Chairman said they would have to submit
plans to the bishop of the diocese for approval;
ann he suggested that the plans should show one
chapel, to be used by all denominations.
Mr. C. King said he heard from the bishop that,
if consecrated, he could not allow the clergyito
perform the service in a chapel used by ministers
of other religious bodies.
Mr. Haskew : That is the law of the Church of
England.
The Chairman said his impression was that it
was not the law of the Church of England. He
thought they should submit a reasonable•plau to
the bishop for his approval, telling him that, if
the law allowed it, they proposed that it should be
consecrated, but that it should be used by all
denominations • and that the law did not allow of
this, they would erect a second one. The point
he had named had never been raised, and it was
not for the bishop to forestall a decision of the
courts. .

Mr. King said the Bishop of Worcester had very
liberal ideas on the subject, but still he was bound
by the law.
The Chairman: If he has any discretion, he
will probal.4 exercise it in favour of the rate-
payers.
Mr. Perkins said the question was put to Mr.
Holland, Burial Acts inspector, and he told them
that in several places there was only one chapel.
Mr. 'askew said at Derby there was a chapel
used by various denominations.
The Chairman remarked that the clergy of the
Church of England certainly used the Church
services at the chapel referred to. He had no
doubt the bishop and many others thought the
law did not permit of what he suggested, but
there had been mistaken views of the law on other
points.
Mr. King: Are the ratepayers going to fight
the question?
The Chairman: It won't be raised as far as we
are concerned. Is it right to take the money of
the ratepayers and build a chapel, to be used ex-
clusively by the members of the Church of Eng-
land? I take it as unreasonable.
Mr. Haskew said, on the other hand they had
to take the money of the ratepayers to build a
chapel for the use of other denominations, and
he looked upon it as a matter of equality.
After further discussion, it was resolved specially
to consider the question for one or two chapels at
the next meeting.
There was no other business.