Untitled

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XI, Issue 24, 12 October 1883, Page 23

An admirable illustration was afforded yesterday of the woikine of the system of Church patronage, which finds defenders in the Established Church. iNunney is a rural parish in one of the mo*t beautiful and eDjoyable parts of England, about three miles from Frome. The church is a handsome stone Gothic building iust opposite the picturesque ruins of Nuuney Castle, There are connected with the living a good house, garden, and 58 acres of glebe land. The tithe rent-charge is valued at £374 a year, the whole gross income being but little short of £600 a year. The population is only 1,123. The pf-rpetual advowson and next presentation were submitted for sale at Tokenhonse-yard yesterday by order of the Chaucery Division of the High Court of Justice. A gentleman asked if it was not a fact that the present holder of the incumbency was a healthy maD and likely to live to a good old age. 'Jhe auctioueer could not give any information on the subject, but there migbt be a possibility of obtaining immediate possession if some amicable arrangement to that effect were come to with the present rector ; but, of course, that was too delicate a subject for him to express any opinion upon. He was tlien asked the reserve price ; but he answered that he was iu«tructed by the Court of Chancery not to divulge the amount to au? person, whether he purchased or not. The attractions were n^t sufficient to draw intending purchasers, and after considerable efforts and persuasions on the part of the auctioneer, who could not get a bid, the property in the souls of the parishioners of Nunney was withdrawn.— London Echo, July 26. J