The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-28 00:00:00

THE NEW BISHOPRICS.

The following is a copy of the First Report of the
Commissioners appointed to consider the state of the
several bishoprics in-England and Wales:—

"TO HER MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY.

" We. your Majesty's Commissioners, appointed by a
commission under the great seal, bearing date the 10th
day of February, 1847, humbly offer to your Majesty
this our first report.
" We have been appointed by that commission to con-
sider the state of the several bishoprics in England and
Wales, and to offer suggestions, with special reference
to the intention therein graciously declared by your
Majesty, that a measure Should be submitted to Parlia-
ment for continuing the bishoprics of St. Asaph and
Bangor as separate bishoprics, and for establishing
forthwith a bishopric of Manchester. and also, so soon
as conveniently may be, three other additional bi-
shoprics, _

"According
" to these your Majesty's directions we
have, after considering generally the state of the several
bishoprics in England and \Vales, in the first instance
addressed our attention to the.proposed continuance of
the bishoprics of St. Asaph and Bangor as separate
bishoprics.
" Looking to the situation of the two diocesan cities
of St. Asaph and Bangor, and the nature of the country,
we think it inexpedient to recommend an extension of
the general boundaries of the two dioceses; but there aro
a few obvious alterations which would, in our opinion,
tend to equalise the duties of the two bishops.
" We accordingly suggest, that the portion of the dio-
cese of Bangor now insulated in the diocese of Saint
Asaph, being part of the county of Denbigh, and forming
the deanery of Dyffryn Clwyd, should be included in the
diocese of St. Asaph; that the diocese of Bangor should
comprehend the whole county of Merioneth, part of
which is now in St. Asaph; that the deanery of Arwstley,
in the county of Montgomery, being a detached part of
the diocese of Bangor, should continue part of that dio-
cese, and be united thereto by the transfer from St.
Asaph of the deanery of Ceifeiliog in the same county;
that the diocese of St Asaph should comprise the whole
counties of Flint and Denbigh, including certain border
parishes now in the diocese of Chester; and that the
small portion of the county of Salop which now forms
part of the diocese of St. Asaph should continue an-
nexed thereto, as containing a Welch population.
" The annual income of the Bishop of St. Asaph
having been already fixed, by order of your Majesty in
Council, at 4,2001., we are of opinion that the income
of the Bishop of Bangor should not exceed that amount.
" The Act of Parliament referred to in the commis-
sion, and the order in council founded upon that Act,
provide that the diocese of Manchester should consist of
the county of Lancaster, except the deanery of Fumes
and Cartmel, intend. d to be annexed to Carlisle ; and
the same Act contains a further provision, which has not
yet been made the subject of an order in council, that
the diocese of Chester should consist of the whole county
of Chester and the small portion of the county of Flint
now in that diocese, and of the northern part of the
county of Salop, now in the diocese of Lichfield.
" This arrangement appears to us to be capable of
considerable improvement. The diocese of Manchester.
if so constituted, would contain a population of 1,640,307,
accordity, to the census of 1841. an area of 1,576 square
miles, and 425 parishes and ecclesiastical districts ; and
the diocese of Chester would contain a population of
523,820, 1,687 square miles, and 337 parishes and dis-
tricts.

" We are of opinion that the limits of these two
dioceses may be otherwise arranged, so that they may
bear their full proportion in extent and population to
the other dioceses of England, without the addition of
North Shropshire, respecting which we contemplate a
different arrangement.
" We recommend that the diocese of Chester should
consist of the whole county of Chester, and of the
south-westeru portion of Lancashire which includes Li-
verpool, being the deanery of Warrington; except the
parish of Leigh, which, from its vicinity to the town of
Manchester, may more conveniently be attached to the
diocese of Manchester.
" The diocese of Manchester would then consist of so
much of the county of Lancaster as is included within
the deaneries of Kendal and Kirkby Lonsdale, the
deaneries of Amounderness, Blackburn, Manchester, and
Leyland, and the parish of Leigh, in the deanery
.of
Warrington.

" According to these recommendations, the diocese of
Chester would contain a population of 912,449, an area
of 1,408 square miles, and 302 parishes and districts;
and the diocese of Manchester would contain a popula-
tion of 1,123,518, 1,220 square miles, and 313 parishes
and districts.

" We are of opinion, that the annual income of the
Bishop of Manchester should be 4.2001. ; and having
learned from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for Eng-
land that the Episcopal fund, now at their disposal, is
sufficient for this purpose, we humbly recommend the
immediate foundation and endowment of the see of Man-
chester accordingly.
" We offer no recommendation respecting ecclesiastical
patronage, because the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for
England have already the power, subject to the approval
of your Majesty in Council, to make arrangements upon
that subject.
" Under the authority of the existing Act of Parlia-
ment, an archdeaconry of Manchester has been founded ;
~and there is power under the same Act, also to create an
archdeaconry of Lancaster. These two nrchdeaconries
are not more than sufficient for the new diocese of Man-
chester ; and we are of opinion that in the diocese of
Chester there should be, in addition to the arcbdeaconry
of Chester, an archdeaconry of Liverpool, comprisingaso
much of ancashire as will be in 'this diocese, with the )
de of rral,-in the county of Chester.
;deanery
We
now
proceed to submit to,your Majesty the fore-
koing,recommendaitions, in the, form of distinct prop° 4
tions “PROPOSITIONS.
" I. That the diocese of St. Asaph consist of the whole
counties of Flint and Denbigh, and such parts of the
counties of Salop and Montgomery as are now in that
diocese, except the deanery of Ceifeiliog in the last-men-
tioned county.
" 2. That the diocese of Bangor consist of the whole
counties of Anglesey, Carnarvon, and Merioneth, and
the deaneries of Ceifeiliog and Arwstley, in the county
of Montgomery.
" 3. That the diocese of Chester consist of the county
of Chester, and the deanery of Warrington, in the county
of Lancaster, except the parish. of Leigh.
" 4. That the new bishopric of Manchester be forth-
with founded, and endowed out of the revenues at the
disposal of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England
applicable to episcopal purposes.
`..s:'•That the diocese of Manchester consist of such
parts of the deaneries of Kendal and Kirkby Lonsdale as
are it the county of Lancaster, and of the deaneries of
Amounderness, Blackburn, Manchester, and Leyland,
and the parish of Leigh, in the deanery of Warrington,
all in the same county.
_ _

" 6. That an archleaconry of Liverpool be founded in
the diocese of Chester ; and that such archdeaconry
comprise the deanery . of Worrell, in the county of
Chester, and the deanery of Warrington (except the
parish of Leigh), in the comity of Lancaster.
"All which we humbly submit to your Majesty's gra-
cious consideration, this 20th day of April, 1847.
" W. CANTUAR.
" COTTENHAM, C.
" E. EI3OR. _
" LANSDOWNE.
" CHICHESTER.
" POWYS.
." J. RUSSELL.
" C. J. LONDON.
" E. DUNELNI.
" C. R. WINTON.
" J. LINCOLN.
" J. B. CHESTER.
" G. GREY.
" CHARLES WOOD."

Owing to the present state of the money market,
negotiations in the foreign exchanges were not effected so
currently as. usual, and in many ixstances bills remained
over. There was no alteration in the rates, with the excep-
tion of Holland, Hamburg h, and Frankfort, which were ra-
ther higher.