CITY’S OLD CHURCHES

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 November 1926, Page 5

CITY’S OLD CHURCHES

SALE SCHEME REJECTED. iAustralian and N.Z. Cable Af’eociatioi: LONDON, November 26. In the House of Commons, Lord Hugh Cecil, in moving that the House snould direct that the Union of Benefits, and the Disposal, of Churches Bill be presented for the Royal Assent explained that .the measure authorised the sales of the sites of. certain London churches. Owing to the loss of the Sunday population, he said, there were now fbrty-seven parishes for only 12,000 resident inhabitants. Nothing would be done without careful inquiry, but if the parishes in the City of London were reduced in number, the funds could be assigned to other churches in the diocese of London. The Bill would place the difficult matter in the hands of a commission that would be in full touch with moderate rational public opinion. Sir T. Bowater, former Lord Mayor of London, moved the rejection of the Bill. He urged that the object of the measure was to pull down the great ancient churches in the city, so as to get. the money to spend elsewhere. Lord Cecil’s motion was rejeted by 124 votes to 27.