Curious Scene at a Church.

Evening Star, Issue 7238, 14 June 1887, Page 4

Curious Scene at a Church.

An extraordinary scene occurred at the sale of the Rowland Hill Memorial Church by auction at Leamington lately. The church was erected by the founder of the penny post tor the service of the Church of England. At his death Sir Rowland Hill bequeathed the property to the Hackney College trustees, the only condition being that the Litany should be read at every religious service held in the church. Hackney College, being a Congregationaiist body, were precluded from making use of the building owing to this condition, and leased the property to the Countess of Huntingdon's Connection. At the termination of this lease the Hackney College trustees closed the church, and appealed to the Charity Commissioners for power to sell the property. An inquiry was held, at which the congregation who had been evicted from the church objected to the proposed sale as a violation of the spirit if not the letter of Sir Rowland Hill's deed of gift. The necessary permission, however, was granted, and the present sale was by the authority of the Charity Commissioners. The sale occasioned considerable excitement. During a discussion which took place previous to the sale Mr Campin said the congregation had spent about L3OO on the church, and he wished to know if it would be returned to them. The auctioneer said nothing would be returned to them. The money was directed by the Charity Commissioners to be paid in the usual way to the official trustees of the Bank of England, and the dividends would be paid to Hackney College. The property, which was started at L4OO, after slow bidding, rose to L 650, at which price it was sold.