The Sun.
London, England, 1840-07-22 00:00:00

THE DIOCESE OF ST. DAN :;1•S

(From The Welshman)
Our readers are no doubt aware that the Rev. Connop
Thiriwall is generally spoken of as the probable succes-
sor of the late Dr. Jenkinson, to the bishoprick of St.
David's. Tiee Rev. Gentleman was instituted to the
Rectory ei Kirkby Underdale, in Yorkshire, in 1834,
by the: Lord Chancellor. The population of that parish
in 1831, was but 290, and yet the net income at the
same period amounted to 867/. per annum. Mr. Tnirl-
- is one of the classic examiners in the University of
-London, and is generally understood to be a man of pro-
found learning. He is also known from the prominent
Drt be took in endeavouring to obtain the admission of
issenters to the Universities ; in fact, he is thoroughly
ilibvral in religion and politics, and in every way emi-
nently adapted to wear the mitre.
Our Reverend Contemporary last week, in bewailing
the loss of the late Bishop, and with him all chance of
preferment for Teri, parsons, wound up his lament by
endeavouring to show that to administer the affairs of
ehis diocese properly, the Bishop should understand the
`Welsh language. We have no objection to this, and
should be glad to see a Liberal Welshman, if a stranger
to this part of the Principality, appointed to the vacant
See. But we deny the necessity of the new Bishop being
a 'Welshman. We are aware that the nervous affliction
iinf our late respected diocesan, and his consequent love
eat solitude and seclusion, has been the cause of the pre-
:sent outcry for the appointment of a Welshman as his
successor. It is said that if he had known the Welsh
language, he would not have been so difficult of access,
and would have associated mere with his clergy. This
is not the fact. The desire of being alone—the dread
,of seeing strangers, which formed the peculiarity of
tthe late Dr. Jenkinson, v‘as the sole cause of the diffi-
culty which his clergy often found in obtaining an in-
terview with him. Ho made no distinction in the dis-
posal of the English and Welsh livings its his patron-
age, with the exception of requiring, in reference to the
Welsh, a certificate under the hands of the examiners
of the competency of the candidate for officiating in the
Welsh language ; and on no occasion did his Lordship
'ever make the slightest difference in his reception or
'treatment of an English and Welsh clergyman ; all the
clergy wi'l admit that he dispensed equal justice
throughout his diocese.
The late Dr. Burgess, the predecessor of Dr. Jenkin-
,son, presided over the See of St. David's twenty-two
years. He did not know a syllable of Welsh, and yet
we venture to say that there is not a clergyman in the
oliocese but will admit that he performed his duties to
ethe entire satisfaction of all parties. He was generally
tbeioeed because he was affable, and mixed as much as
-possible with his clergy; nothing was then heard of the
necessity of appointing Welsh Bishops. We need
not refer to the general popularity of the Bishop
tot Llandaff amongst his clergy. He is also an Eng-
lishman. In fact, it must he apparent that it is of
little importance whether a Welsh Bishop understands
the language of the Principality, or not; all the clergy
speak English, and it is with them alone that the Bishop
has to do ; he is never brought into contact with their
flocks, except in administering the rite of confirmation,
and then he receives from each minister a certificate of
the fitness of the various candidates. As we have
before stated, in dispensing his patronage, the Bishop
ireceives a certificate under the hands of the examiners
as to the qualification of every candidate for officiating
in the Welsh language. In short if it were insisted
that. the Bishop of St. David's should be a Welshman,
the same necessity would exist, but in a much greater
degree, that the Judge of Assize, going the South
Wales circuit, should also be a Welshman.
Let it not es understood that we are inimical to the
eippeietmeet of a Welshman to preside over this see—
far from it ; we only contend that it is not absolutely
necessary for the well-being of the diocese that the
Bishop should understand Welsh, and that he may
properl.y discharge' all the important functions of his
°dee without it.