The Sun.
London, England, 1835-03-19 00:00:00

CHURCH COMMISSION.

(From the Times.)
The following description of the report, which is ready, and
will, we believe, be presented to-night, is in the main correct,
though much abridged. We do not feel ourselves at liberty to
give at present any further development, except as regards the
revenue. We understand that the rule laid down is, that when
the annual income of a Bishop amounts to 4,500/., no addition
should be made : nor any diminution unless it exceed 5,500/.
But it is suggested that the two Archbishoprics, and the
Bishoprics of London, Durham, and Winchester, require a
larger provision. It is added, that this approach to an equa-
lization will diminish the inducements to translation, besides
the advantage of a discontinuance of commendams.

( From the Standard.)
The report of the Church Reform Commissioners is, we are
informed, an elaborate and most ably drawn up document.
The Commissioners have digested the voluminous and com-
plicated details of the important subjects committed to them
under the three several heads of territory, income, and patro-
nage. Under the head territory are explained the new arrange-
ments of dioceses proposed, of which the following are amongst
the most interesting :
It is proposed to erect two new bishoprics---one of Manches-
ter, the other of Ripon. The greater part of the new diocese
of Manchester is to be taken from the present diocese of Ches-
ter; the Archdiocess of York to supply the new diocese of
Ripon.
The number of Bishops in the House of Lords will not,
however, be increased, for it is proposed to unite the Bishop-
rics of Bristol and Llandaff, the out-lying part of the diocese
of Bristol in Wilts and Dorset to pass to the diocese of Salis-
bury ; and also to unite the Sees of Bangor and St. Asaph.
It is likewise proposed to deprive the See of London of those
parts of the metropolitan diocese which lie in Essex and Herts,
giving to London in return all that in the represented metro-
politan districts which now belongs to Canterbury or Winches-
ter, so as to make the diocese nearly co-extensive with the re-
presented metropolis. Essex is to be transferred to the Bi-
shopric of Rochester.

'these are the most striking territorial changes proposed.
There are many more arrangements under the same head,
but we have not time to detail them all, and without a map
the greater number would be scarcely intelligible.
The principle of the proposed reform being to adjust as
nearly as may be the incomes of the Bishops to their several
stations and duties, the proposed arrangements in this respect
may he surmised from what we have said of territory.
Patronage must still more closely attend the changes to be
made in the distribution of dioceses. We are gratified to be
able, however, to say that all the Commissioners, including
the Lord Chancellor have agreed to surrender their patronage
for the purposes contemplated in the report ; and there is every
reason to hope that this example will be universally followed
by the Right Reverend Bench, and all the official patrons of
Church livings.
As an example of the mode in which it is intended that
this patronage shall be employed, we may mention the cases
of the Prebends in Westminster and Canterbury that have
lately fallen in.
The parish of St. Margaret, Westminster, is to be divided,
and the income of the present parochial minister being added
to the income of the Prebend, one-half of the aggregate is to
be allocated to each of the ministers of the divided parish. A
similar arrangement has been made for Canterbury. The out-
line which we have given is slight, but it is faithful.