Chapter XX

. the Tithe Act of 1891.

Appendix F contains a summary by counties of the rent charges of England and Wales, taken from the return of 1887.

Appendix G is an analysis of the Tithe Commutation Return as regards (1) the number of old parishes; (2) parishes appropriated and their vicars; (3) parishes which had not been appropriated. Nearly one-half (or 3,864) in England were appropriated. It was worse in Wales, for of 834 old parishes, 468 were appropriated. When we add the sinecure rectories, pluralities and non-residence of incumbents, we can form a correct conclusion as regards the cause of the present position of the Church of England in Wales.

In addition to the above, I have also given the number of parishes in receipt of lands and money payments in lieu of tithes by numerous Inclosure Acts.

But the most important statistics are given at page 257 as regards the gross aggregate amount of the “Revenues of the Church of England.” Hitherto, very small and misleading amounts of these revenues have been given. But the Parliamentary Return, made up in the office of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners and just published, has now given the public, for the first time, a generally correct idea of the gross annual amount, from _permanent sources_, of these revenues, and also the number of benefices and parsonage houses with their _rateable_ value, which is _much less_ than their _actual_ value.

The Return is defective; (1) because it is framed on values in 1886, and (2) it omits the large fluctuating income—about a million a year—from fees, pew-rents, and Easter offerings. Correctly, the gross income in 1890, was £6,825,730. But the permanent income capitalized equals £140,000,000.

My best thanks are due to Walter de Gray Birch, Esq., of the MSS. Department of the British Museum, for his kind assistance and courtesy; also to the officials connected with the Library.

HENRY WILLIAM CLARKE.

CONTENTS.

_Introduction, pages xvii.-xxiv._

Difficulties in writing a true history of tithes, xvii. No tithes paid for centuries after the Christian Era, xviii. Canons passed for their payment, xviii. Papal interference in the British Church, xix. Custom of paying tithes in eighth century, xix. Population of England then, xx. Norman monks initiated appropriations, xx. Infeudations condemned by Lateran Councils, xx. Monastic lands granted by Henry VIII. and his children, xxi. Changes made by Ecclesiastical Commission, xxi., xxii. No physical transfer of Endowments at the Reformation, xxiii. Present trustees of Church Endowments have only a Parliamentary Title, xxiii. A Roman Catholic Bishop’s views on present movements in Church of England, xxiii., xxiv.

##