The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-01-04 00:00:00

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TITHES IN THE CITY OF LONDON.

Yesterday a Vestry Meeting of the Inhabitants of St. Giles
Without, Cripplegate, took place, for the purpose of taking into
consideration a letter which had been written to them by their
Vicar, .Ir. Holmes, intimating to them a very serious determina-
tion which he had made with respect to his tithes. The Meeting
was extremely numerous, and the business was conducted with
more order than many of those which have been held upon this
very provoking subject. The Churchwardens presided. The
Vicar's letter, which was as follows, was then read.

"To the inhabitants of the parish of St. Giles Without, Crip-
plegate, in the city of London.
" Inc some time past I have had it in contemplation to make an
alteration in tile rate of the perish tithes, which I have delayed
until circumstances have rendered such alteration absolutely neces-
sary. During the twenty-three years I have been Vicar of this
large and respectable parish, the utmost I have required of any in.
habitant has been one shilling in the pound, not calculated on the
actual amount of rent paid, but on an assessment admitted by all
to be his than the actual rent, and much less than by law I am en.
titled to. Notwithstanding which I have within the last nine years
been put to considerable expense by the parishioners joining in
three several applications to Parliament to repeal the statute in
which my right to the tithe is thunded. lam now involved in
• most serious expense in nearly rebuilding the vicarage
house, which (notwithstanding the frequent repairs I have given
it during my incumbency) has, from age, fallen into gene-
ral decay ; and when I add to this the increased expenses of
my family, 1 feel imperatively called upon to apply to
my legal resources for aid and assistance. I therefore give notice
that, from and after Christmas next, my collector will call upon
the inhabitants for an increased payment of tithes upon the rents
of the several houses and buildings within the parish. At the same
time, I beg it to be understood that it is not my intention to de.
mend the full amount ofiny legal right, but to place the rate of the
tithes of Crlpplcgate upon a similar footing with other parishes in
which the tithes are regulated by the same Statute. I trust, that
when my parishioners reflect on the great length of time I have
contented myself with so small a portion of my right, and the cir-
cumstances which make it necessary I should now increase it, they
will not suffer the harmony and good understanding that has
hitherto subsisted between us to be interrupted; as they cannot
with justice consider 1 am departing from that line of moderation
which I have always pursued, and of which they have enjoyed the
benefit for 50 many years. WILLIAM iIOI.3IES, V mar.

•• Cripplegate, Vag. 4, IRV."
Mr. Bitonne sr said he had bced told that is would be necessary
to have some resolutions ready for the occasion, and he had accor-
dingly prepared himself with some ; but as he understood there
were others drawn up. the meeting could make their election upon
hearing them read. He was of opinion that the best mode of set-
tling the contest was by endeavouring to obtain the amicable con.
curtenee of the Vicar, and of the Deep and Chapter of St. Paul's,
who were the patrons of the living. For the advantages of this
course they had the examples of SL Andrew's, Holborn, and of
Bishopagate, of which latter parish, that distinguished ornament
of the Church, the Bishop of Chester, was the Rector. Everything
ought to be done to prevent the existence of such animosity as pre-
vailed in the neighbouring parish of St. (Have, Hart-street. (Hear,
hear.) Ile urged, that whatever allowance was determined upon,
a clause should be introduced, as in the Bishoplemte Bill, to
compel the landlords to pay the tithes. By this means, the
bickenngs which took place so frequently between the poorer
Inhabitants and the tithe collectors would be put an end to.
Ile concluded by moving a string of declaratory resolutions, the
substance of which was to the effect, that the inhabitants of the
parish observe with the deepest concern the differences and alter-
cations which exist in several parishes within this City on the
subject of tithes, and being desirous of avoiding the like mis-
fortunes, as detrimental to the best Interests of religion, and of
that peace and good-will which ought to unite the inhabitants of
a parish with their Christian Minister, resolve and declare their
willingness to review and revise the present payment made in
lieu of tithes, and to make such liberal allowance and provision for
the Incumbent as may be found consistent with their means.
Mr. JONES said he did not object to the tone of the Reso-
lutions, but he thought them premature. They knew not what
the Vicar intended to take from them. The extent of the de-
mand should be first ascertained. He therefore moved, as an
amendment, that a Committee should be appointed to wait upon
the Vicar, for the purpose of learning the extent of the Increase
of tithes which he intended to make, and to report the result to the
parishioners.
Mr. Pur.LEX was for adopting the resolutions containing the
combined qualities of the first proposition and the amendment. He
did not think the parishioners could obtain relief in the Court of
Chancery, and the expense of making the experiment would be
terrific. Of two evils he would choose the least, and nothing could
he so bad as trying the Court he had alluded to. He thought it
would be extremely advisable to endeavour to induce the Vicar to
go with them to Parliament, in order to obtain a final adjustment of
the matter. He at the name time believed it to be a necessary step
to send a deputation to learn the extent of the Vicar's demand be-
fore they proceeded further in the business.
Several parishioners here began to complain loudly. One stated
that there was no reliance to be placed upon any promise the Vicar
might make, as he was determined to get all he could squeeze out
of his parishioners. He had, it was well known, when it was
agreed to give him a shilling in the pound, declared that he would
never ask more. (Hear, hear.)
Another Parishioner said they ought to have spirit enough to go
to Parliament, and resist every attempt to increase the burden,
which the poorer people were not able to endure.
Alderman Wool) said that he well knew formerly, when the
first demand of increase from Id. to a Is. in the pound was made,
there were great professions of zeal and readiness to subscribe, and
he went alone to Chancery to resist the claim of the Vicar. There
was no one to follow his example. They yielded one after the other,
and at length the whole parish ageed to pay the sum required.—
(Hear. hear, and a laugh.)
A Parishioner—lt was a taint Committee.
Alderman WooD said die whole parish having agreed to pay,
he did not think it prudent to continue the conflict in Chancery, and
withdrew. He for one was not convinced of the right of any one
of the gentlemen who had made claims of an increase, or obtained
a compromise to the demands they made on their parishioners. He
opposed any concessim, except it was strengthened by Parliament,
and would apply to the Vicar's successors as well as to himself.
Ultimately it was determined that a Committee should be so-
pointed to wait upon the Vicar, and the Dean and Chapter of St.
Paul's. to ascertain the extent of demand, and to learn whether
they would agree to go to Parliament upon the subject.
The eicctmg tl:cu broke up.