The Sun.
London, England, 1870-05-25 00:00:00

THE ESTABLISHED CHURCH IN WALES.

Mr. WATKIN WILLIAMS called attention to the position
and state of the Established Church in the dominion and
principality of Wales, and moved the following resolu-
tions :—" That, in the opinion of this House, it is right
that the Establishment of the Church and its Union
with the State should cease to exist in the said
dominion and principality. That it is just and expedient
that the public endowments enjoyed by the Church Esta•
blishment should, after making provision for all vested
interests, be applied to the suppqrt of a national and un-
denominational system of education for the said dominion and
principality of Wales." He said that the Church in the prin-
cipality was comprised in, although it was not absolutely
co-extensive with, four dioceses, which extended over an
area of 4,734,000 acres. The population of Wales, accord-
ing to the census of 1861, comprised within the dioceses
was 1,111,780, and according to the best estimate he could
form the population now was 1,220,000 in the Principality.
The total revenue of the Church was, abcording to the
best estimate he could make, £350,000 per annum. It
had four bishops, four deans, 13 canons residentiary,
10 archdeacons, and numerous minor dignitaries,
with a parochial clergy amounting, in round
numbers, to 1,000, although he found that
they were put down at 733. The Church established
in the Principality of Wales was an ancient and venerable
institution. It was not like the Church in Ireland, an
alien Church, forced upon the people by the conqueror
and oppressor. It wasnot, and he thought he was right
in saying so, regarded by the people with feelings of hos-
tility. Indeed he might say that in many
respects it was regarded with affection and
veneration. If, therefore, he succeeded in shewing
that the Established Church in Wales had not succeeded
in gaining the affections and confidence of the people; if
it were not the trusted and loved teacher of religion, the
question naturally arose what was the cause of it. It
could not be from want of opportunity, nor from the want
of the most favourable opportunity. It was not because
it had been regarded by the people with hostility, as the
Established Church in Ireland had been. The question
was of course a most serious one. The answer to the
question why the Church in Wales had not succeeded in
gaining the confidence of the people would give them the
solution to the problem, which he intended laying before
the House, and according to the answer would depend
whether the remedy for the existing state of things, was
a separation of the Church from the State, and a removal
of its endowments to other purposes or a re-modelling of
the Church, and an endeavour to constitute it upon a
different and more practical basis. After the most care.
ful and anxious study of the subject, he had come to the
conclusion that the true reason why the Established Church
in the Principality of Wales had failed was the same that
applied throughout Europe, that the people had come to
think that the establishment of religion by the State was
unscriptural and injurious bo the cause of true religion. The
hon. gentleman then dealt with the subject historically,
remarking that up to the middle of the eighteenth century
namely 1745, no great progress had been made in the cir.
culation of the Scriptures in the Welsh language, As a
fact, every effort had been made by the English to Angli,
else the Welsh, and although he had been sneered at and
ridiculed for saying so, he would repeat his statement that
it was the most gross error if they wished to anglicise the
people of the Principality by making them understand
English to endeavour to exterminate the Welsh language.
He said that a revolution in thought was taking place
throughout the Continent of Europe and the whole
of the civilised world, in comparison with which the Re-
formation, and the revolution of thought that took place
upon the introduction of the printing press, was abso-
lutely as nothing. The railway system and the inter-
communion of tnought through the medium of the press,
was annihilating old notions, and everybody was destroy-
ing each other's preconceived ideas and prejudices. (Cheers
and laughter.) It had been said that if they disestab-
lished the Church in Wales, they might as well disestab-
lish the Church in Cornwall or Yorkshire. All he could
say was that Cornwall and Yorkshire should look after
themselves—(hear, hear.)—He had been told that it was
premature to bring the subject forward, but he did not
think, if it were put, that an end should be put to the
state of things, that st was too soon. At the same time
he did not pretend to say his countrymen were impatient
as to the result. All he pould say was that they felt that
the time hag come when the House would listen and pay
attention to the question. His object would be obtained
by what he had already said and done. He believed that
if the measure he suggested were carried out it would con-
duce to religion and morality in the Principality. When
the whole facts were ascertained he believed the House
with its spirit of moderation would do the Principality the
justice they required,