Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-05-08
BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

HOUoE OF COM MONS. RICH 10.
The Chancellor of the Excheqner NOV
ed that the house do resolve INTO a COM
mittee To take into consideration so much
of the Prince Regents speech, as related
10 the building of new churches. He said
this was subject which was not likely
10 occupy much of The time OF the house
and the Speaker having left the chair, the
right hon. Gentleman said, that no COM
munication had ever been made from the
Throne which was more entitled to the
gratitude of the public, than the present.
More than century had now elapsed
since Parliament had afforded an accom-
mediation 10 the public, by the erection of
new churches. That measure, however.
was imperfect, because no more than ii
churches were then built and since then
there had been no additional accommo-
dation for public worship. Nothing could
have so long delayed the accomplishment
OF so necessary an object, but the diff
cultIcs in which the country had been
placed. The increase of our population
since the period in question, had reduced
the accommodation to so small proper
ton, that it became the duty of Parla-
ment 10 remedy this great and growing
Inconvenience. This want of accommo-
dation arose now from the great increase
of people III places, which were formerly
laid out into very large parishes. The
population had been doubled since the
last increase of churches took place. The
average number of Inhabitants was 900
for each parish III the diocese of London:
while in that of Oxford, the number was
only 2002. There were therefore four TO
one more in one diocese than i'm another.
The dlsproportions were still greater in
individual parishes. In the parish of
Saint Martins in the Fields, there were
$4,000 inhabitants, while in another par
lsh there we're 81, 900, and in Mary le- bone
there were $4,000. In many parishes on
ly small rOPortlon could be accOmmo-
dated. There were three parishes, in
which we're 100000 people who could not
be accommodated there were eight, in
which the deficiency was from 30 To 40. 600
people and in twelve more, the deficien-
cy amounted TO 20 600. IL church could
contain one-third of It's Inhabitants al one
time, that would be sufficient accommo-
dation. In work published by Mr..
Yates, it appeared that the population of
London was I,l29, 900 and there were
churches only for the accommodation of
ISL 600, having above 900,O0 without any
accommodation. The towns Of Roman
origin were divided into smaller districts,
and were better provided than the others
with churches. In The dioceses Of York
and Chester, the dlsproportion ofihenum-
Der Of churches 10 the population was
less than in that of London. In the do
cese Of York, there were o6 churches
which afforded accommodation for 80 900
inhabitants. The population consisted
OF 800, 900 souls, which consequently left
100000 souls unprovided with church
room. In the diocese Of Chester there
were l57 parishes; the population was
$3.50, 900 souls, and Of these one million
we're unprovided with church room. -Four
parts of the population ofSurrey were also
without The accommodation of a church.
II was not, however, TO the accommodate
ton which would be afforded by church
es, that tie benefit of the present measure
was limited. II would go to increase the
number OF spiritual ministers, and afford
10 the people a greater share Of that pas
toral instruction and attendance, of winch
they stood in need. 1t would tighten the