The Sun.
London, England, 1833-09-24 00:00:00

CHURCH RATES AT COVENTRY.

(From a Morning Cotemporary.)
For many years past, the churchwardens of the
parish of St. Michael, Coventry, in vestry assembled,
have been in the practice of imposing church rate
after church rate upon the inhabitants, who, from
the uniform domineering manner in which the said
rates were annually demanded, became so accus-
tomed to the yoke, that they began to look upon
the matter as one in which they could not interfere.
There appeared to be no remedy, and a settled
apathy upon the subject pervaded all classes to such
an extent, that when parish meetings have been
called for the purpose of making the rate, the
churchwardens have been under the necessity of
calling in persons as they passed by the church
doors to obtain the quorum required by law, to
make the rate binding. The spirit which
has been manifested at Birmingham, Man-
chester, and other places, during the last
few years, has done something towards removing
this apathy. The inquiry, " What becomes of the
money we are thus called upon to pay ?" became
general, and amongst the Dissenters, " Why should
we pay to the support of an establishment from
which we conscientiously differ ?" Last year, when
the parish was called upon to grant another rate, a
few spirited individuals made an attempt to suppress
it, but from the local tyranny exercised in this place,
and from supposing the attempt would be useless,
only twelve persons could be found to attend;
consequently the annual demand of Is. 61. in the
pound was granted and enforced. The shameful
arbitrary manner in which the churchwardens pre-
vented the introduction of Mr. Hothouse's Bill at
the commencement of this year roused the spirit of
the people, and as the time drew near for the an-
nual farce of a parish meeting, they were determined
to redeem their character in the estimation of their
countrymen. They have done so this day.
The usual notice for a parish meeting to grant the
churchwardens the necessary annual sum for keeping
the parish church in repair was on Sunday last pub-
lished from the pulpit. Some time in the night of
Sunday the notices were posted on the church door,
but such were the apprehensions of the select, lest
the rate payers generally should become acquainted
with the intended meeting, that early on Monday
morning the notices were torn from the obscure
situation in which they had been placed. It was,
however, of no avail; this morning (Thursday,
Sept. 19) a numerous and respectable body of rate-
payers a-sembied in the church. Mr. Willmo:t,
attorney, was called to the chair. The vestry being
found insufficient to contain the assembly, the meet-
ing adjourned to a more commodious part of the
edifice. The alarm of the select and their friends
was now very apparent, and in order to gain time
it was proposed, and after some little discussion
acceded to, that the names of all present should be
taken down, and their qualification ascertained, ere
the business of the meeting commenced. During
this delay the desponding party sent out in all di-
rections for a reinforcement of their numbers, and
one or two were seen dropping in, apparently ex-
hausted with the efforts they had made to be in
time to make a bold stand in behalf of the compul-
sory system.

After the tedious preliminary had been gone
through, the churchwardens pretended to lay what
they called a statement of their accounts for the past
year before the meeting.
It appears that the rate last year produced 801/.
14s. 4d., to which they added the pew rents, fines,
&c., 166/. 18s. Bd., and an annual income, arising
from certain estates, of 230/. 3s. 6d., forming a total
ofti enienahralyb
tl,an2toso/.,
for extclheu sisvue ofp
p o rat no
fa ntnhuea
vl
icraarte upon
;but,
notwithstanding this enormous sum, they had con-
trived to contract debts beyond their income to the
amount of seven hundred pounds, without the
knowledge or consent of the parish. Amongst other
items of expenditure during the last year were-
-211. to the vicar for reading weekly prayers (besides
his vicar's rate); 1001. for repairs at the vicarage-
house (no such building being in existence); 60/.
to the organist; 201. for tuning and repairing the
organ ; 311. 95. to the parish clerk ; 36/. I4s. 3d.
to the sexton (besides marriage and other fees);
12/. for regulating the clock and chimes; 121. 12s.
to the leader of the choir; 21/. to the singing boys;
30/.for coals; 191. 19s. for sacramental wine and bis-
cuits; 51.55. for water; 51. for ascertaining if it was ne-
cessary to consecrate the ground on which the new
church is built, and 50/. for the expenses of conse-
cration; 2/. for hats for Sunday constables; 21/. for
ringing the bells; 4/. for bell ropes; 1551. in dis-
charge of an old debt, but how contracted was not
specified ; 321. for bread given away on the Sunday;
10/. for rent of burial ground; 5/. for Bibles;
2/. 16s. fees to the Bishop; 80/., being the amount
of annuities to two old ladies; 41. 4s. Bd., gown
account and surplices; for repairs of the church,
120/. 6s. 6d. The above items, including other
trifling expenses, amount to upwards of 900/. To
this was added 219/. 2s. 91-d. which, the church-
wardens said, they were compelled to pay towards
the erection and fitting up of Christ Church ; and
by this means they continued to eke out something
like a balance, and endeavoured to pacify the mur-
murs of the meeting on the announcement of
this latter sum, by stating that the like charges
could not again occur.

Mr. LEA, the attorney of the churchwardens,
stated, that the ordinary expenses of the church
were about 1,0851., and that the sum they now
wanted to raise, in addition to the pew rents, in-
come from estates, &c., was about 7751.
Mr. R. HANDS said he expected the accounts
for the past year would have been published prior
to the meeting, but as they had not, the parishioners
had not an opportunity ofjudging of their propriety.
Mr. LEA statad, that the accounts never had
been published, but were open to the inspection of
the payers.

Mr.WiLmoTT, jun., said the object in not pub-
lishing the accounts was to save expense.—(A

Mr.
HANDS was quite certain the parish would
not object to the trifling expense of a few hand-bills.
Mr. S. WitiTTEm--The parishioners ought not
to be called upon for more money until they had
seen in what manner the last had been expended.
Mr. R. HANDS —The sum expended in the re-
pairs and services of the church was equal to one-
fourth of the whole of the poor-rate, out of which
was paid the county rate. I wish to know from the
churchwardens what sums they require for the en-
suing year ?

RALPIIS, accountan t-churchwarden, after much
hesitation, and a glance of expressive import at his
brother churchwardens, said, not less than Is. Gd. in
the pound.
_ _

Mr. MAYO wished to know it' the churchwardens
were at liberty to contract a debt of 500/., or any
other sum, beyond what was granted them, and
without the consent of the parish ?
Mr.JotiN CARTER said, the money required by
the churchwardens should be raised within the year.
It would, however, be unhandsome not to pay the
debts which had been contracted.—(Exclamations
of " Oh, oh !" arid " What have we to do with
that? we did not contract them.")
Mr. C. WOODCOCK wished to know whether any
estimate of the probable expenses of repairs for the
ensuing year had been made. The meeting was
called to grant a sum for the repairs of the church.
He wished to know to what amount the repairs
would be?

The ACCOUNTANT CHURCHWARDEN stated, that
if no accident occurred, he did not intend to expend
more than 51.

Mr. C. WooDcocK—lf that is the case, a very
small rate will be wanted.
The Churchwardens said they could not do with
less than Is. 6d. in the pound, which sum was pro-
posed to the meeting.
Mr. R. HANDS stated that the accounts of the
Churchwardens were anything but satisfactory, and
he should therefore propose the following amend-
ment :

" That this meeting consider the sum required by the

Churchwardens extravagant and u

purpose of enabling them to b

PA.:factory estimate, and for givin

,onnts, ih's meeting do adjourn to
Mr. HANDS said that, althoui
ject was to adjourn the meeting
would candidly tell them that

and frorr principle objected to compulsory payments
of this nature; and therefore his real object was to
;et rid )1 the rate altogether.—(A loud burst of
approbation followed this announcement.)
The amendment was seconded by Mr. 11. MER-
RIDEW.

Mr. JOHN CARTETt, town-clerk, (who, by the by,
as it respects his official occupations, is a kind of
Caleb Qlotem in the city,) said, if this amendment
was carried, it would place the churchwardens ill
the awkward predicament of having no funds to
carry on the necessary services of the church. The
notice calling the meeting was informal. It stated
that the rate was wanted only for the repairs of the
church, whereas it was expended in various other
ways. He should propose that the meeting be
solved, and another meeting called, the notice tor
~hick should embrace all the points fur which the'
money was required.

Mr. W. MA.vo remarked that all former meetings
had been called by a similar notice w that calling
the present one, yet it did not appear that any pre-
vious objection had ever been made.

Several voices exclaimed, " Nobody opposed the
rate then."

After considerable discussion,
The Cllmamts proposed Mr. Carter's amen-
ment, " That thii meeting be dissolved." On a
show of hands, an overwhelming majority appeared
against it. The minority then demanded a division;
this accordingly took place, and resulted in the
Chairman declaiing Mr. Carter's motion lost. The
amendment proposed by Mr. R. Hands wag tbsm
put, and carried by a large majority.
At the close of the meeting votes of thanks were
given to the Chairman, for his able and impartial
conduct in the chair ; and to Mr. It. Hands for the
spirited manner in which he had advocated the cause
of the parishioners on the occasion.

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