The Sun.
London, England, 1839-11-15 00:00:00

NEW CHURCHES AT ROTHER-

HITHE.

A general Vestry was yesterday held in the Vestry-
room of the parish church of St. Mary, Rotherhithe,
convened by the Churchwardens to consider what steps
it may be proper to take in order to prevent the new
churches in, the parish ever proving bur lensome. This
meeting was convened in consequence of a public notice
having been given of an intention to apply to Parliament
in the ensuing Session, for an Act to facilitate the collec-
tion of highway rates, poor-rates, and church-rates in
this parish, to consolidate the rates as to collection, and
to extend the powers of a former Act, so as to provide
by rate or otherwise for the future repair of such churches
or chapels as may be erected in the parish, and to enable
the Rector to provide for the future endowment of such
churches and chapels.

At twelve o'clock the Rector, the Rev. Mr. BLICKE,
took the chair.

Mr. Churchwarden SIMPSON said that he was desi-
rous that the parishioners should distinctly understand
that the Churchwardens had not, in any way, pro-
moted these proceedings. A few days since he had
been waited on by the worthy Rector, who requested
him to convene a meeting of the parishioners for the
purpose of enabling him (the Rector) to submit cer-
tain plans to the parish for their consideration ;
this, after consulting with his colleague, he bad re-
fused to do—but when, on the following day, the Rec•
for had presented to them a requisition, signed by thirty-
three respectable inhabitants of the parish, himself and
his colleague had thought it their duty to convene the
present meeting. As regarded the interest of
the Mother Church at Rotherhithe, he for one,
would never consent to any measure that should be to
the injury of that Church so long as he should have the
honour of holding the office to which his fellow-
parishioners had elected him. He hoped the proceed-
ings would be conducted in a spirit of peace and
unanimity.

The CHAIRMAN said, that as far as he was concerned,
the statement made by the Worthy Churchwarden was
perfectly correct. He (the Rector) might, had he
chosen, have called this meeting on his own authority,
but he had adopted the method he had, as beinc, more
respectful to the parishioners. He had always taken care
to prevent the new churches being any burden to the
parish except by their own consent. His intention was
to resign one hundred guineas for the benefit of the pa-
rish, but he could only do this for his life—he could not
bind his successor except by Act of Parliament, which
he could not obtain without the assistance of the parish.
He already obtained the consent of the Bishop to the
proposed plan. What he wanted was to raise 1,000/. in
the Three-and-a-Half per Cents., which would produce
701. per annum for the clergymen of each of the new
churches, and with what they might expect to get in
addition from the Clergy Aid Society, and the Pastoral
Aid Society, he thought the Parish would not be
troubled for any thing more beyond voluntary con-
tributions. The pew rents might also be expected
to realize a considerable sum. In consequence of the
increase of the population of the parish between 1820 and
1838 they had been obliged to procure various Acts of
Parliament for providing new churches and additional
burial-grounds, at a cost to the parish of not less that:
2001. per annum. He proposed to introduce a clause•
in the new Act authorising the taking offers for burials
in the Church-yards in Trinity-street and in the Dept-
ford-road. The powers of the present Act would cease
at the death of two aged persons, and they would soon
not be able to take fees for interments in the burial-
ground belonging to the Mother Church. He did not
expect the obtaining the Act would cost the parish
anything ; as on a former occasion the Church Commis-
sioners had not insisted on their right of coming on the,
parish for any expenses, he did not imagine they would
do so now. He proposed to introduce a clause enacting
that for the future no rate should exceed fourpence
in the pound ; and, whereas by the existing law, the
persons inhabiting the districts of the new churches
might, after paying rates for twenty years, throw off
all connection with the Mother Church, be proposed
to prevent this by the introduction of a clause into
the new Act for that purpose.

Mr. Churchwarden SIMPSON thought the better pl,tn
of proceeding would be to appoint a committee to in-
quire into and report on the subject, and concluded by
making a motion to that effect.
The CHAIRMAN said that any delay would be at-
tended with additional expense, and they must not be
surprised if, in the course of twenty-four hours, they
were to see the requisite notices in the Gazette and
the Surrey Standard.
The motion having been seconded,
Mr. SPURGIN moved, as an amendment—" That the
further consideration of this subject be delayed for
twelve months."

After cor-"--Able discussion, the amendment was put
and neg• -iginal motion carried, and the com-
mittee

"ut two o'clock,

'US BODIES

:s Clergy on
'tame pro-
all -e
or ft. •
sn. Now

this the most
decist en at least,
in which • .agemert to a
religion, • ..I.e re,urn made to
the House moneys gr ited to the
various relig. .e Colonies fo the year
1838, shows ti. „all C"urch Establishment
has received the " non s portion. The account stands
thus:-.

X. s. d