Some Selected Reports from The Windsor and Eton Express
18th March 1837
The Abolition of Church Rates
In pursuance of a requisition addressed to the Mayor, a meeting was held on Thursday week in the Town Hall, Windsor, of persons styling themselves the "friends of the Church," for the purpose of considering the proposed abolition of the present method of levying church-rates, and to petition His Majesty and the two Houses of Parliament, praying protection from any innovation on the chartered rights, or any inroad on the lawful property of the Established Church. Edward Bovingdon, Esq., Mayor, having taken the Chair, read the requisition, after which
Sir John Chapman (Surgeon) rose, and said it would have been more agreeable to his feelings, if the duty which he was about to perform had devolved on some person of more weight and ability than himself, but having been a member of the Church by birth, education, and inclination, he felt that he could not hesitate to persevere in that course, in a cause in which he had ever been a zealous but he feared an unworthy advocate -[cheers]. He dared not, when he saw the Established Church in danger, withhold any little ability he possessed from advocating an establishment to which he was so warmly attached - [cheers]. He had attended many meetings in that Hall, upon various occasions, of a religious, charitable, municipal, and political character, and one of them in which he had been engaged most anxiously and warmly, was that at which they agreed in building their present beautiful edifice, which was now subjected to an attack from the pressure which surrounded them - [cheers]. Having been one who was concerned in raising that edifice, which was the admiration of all persons, no matter of what religious creed they were, he could not but look with fear and apprehension at the attempt which was now being made to sap its very foundation - [cheers].
It might be said that they were unnecessarily alarmed, and that which was now being done was for the advantage of the country. He wished he could see it in that view. He looked upon it that the church-rate was as fixed a charge on houses and lands as any charge could be, and he considered that his own house was as much bound to discharge the rate as it was the land-tax, or any other tax, until it was wholly exonerated, and also it was a robbery to take that away to which the property was subjected - [cheers]. The resolution he should propose, stated that it was the bounden duty of the nation to establish and maintain the public worship of Almighty God - [cheers]. It was scarcely necessary for him to remark on so plain and simple a proposition, but he could not let it pass without a few observations. It would not be necessary to say anything in favour of the Church, which had been established and maintained for centuries; but when attacks were made to deprive them of it by apoliation and robbery, they ought to rise as one man, and use every exertion to protect the Church from such apoliation and robbery - [cheers]. The
Government had stated their intention to abolish church-rates, which he contended were the property of the Church, and had no more right to be abolished than had the quit rents of the houses of the Corporation of Windsor - [cheers]. When he saw a sacrilegious attempt made by the Government of the country to deprive the Church of that property, and that by Act of Parliament too, it reminded him of a saying that he had heard when a young man, that when any notorious offender was discovered it was observed of him, "Oh , that man would rob a church ! " - [laughter and cheers].
They were now in danger of being robbed by Act of Parliament, and therefore it was their duty, as members of that Church, to come forward to prevent such spoilation and injury - [cheers]. It might be said that the Church was not at this day fit to hold the property entrusted to them, and that it was from the Establishment having degenerated that the Government was about to take charge of the property. If this had taken place in his early days, when he remembered that the Clergy were relax in their duties, he would not have been surprised, but he was thankful that so great an alteration had since taken place in Church, which has been increasingly in the piety and zeal of its Ministers, and that now instead of seeing the Churches empty, they were filled, and the general cry was for new Churches, so much so, that upon the single hint of the Bishop of London, a short time ago, upwards of �100,000 had been raised for that purpose [cheers]. He also instanced this town, in which the number of Church services had been increased, and by the gratuitous assistance of the Clergy - [cheers].
If the attempts now making had been made in his younger days, he should certainly not have been surprised; but now, thank God, Ministers were constantly issuing from the two Universities, deeply sensible of their important duties, and eager and zealous in the discharge of them; and now instead of the Church being as it was some years ago, it was an exception to the general rule, to find a Minister who did not discharge his duties in the most exemplary manner possible - [cheers]. It that respect, therefore, there was no reason why the attempts to which he had alluded should be made, and why the Church should not continue to possess the whole of the property that belonged to it. Then as far as regarded the national advantages derived from the maintenance and support of the Established Church, that was a point which he conceived was so clearly established, that it was scarcely necessary to allude to it.
Nor would he allude to it, but from the apprehension of danger, which made it necessary to call upon the members of the Church, to assist in supporting that religion which had been handed down to them by their forefathers - [cheers]. Upon this subject he would read what had been said by a most respectable Dissenting Minister - the Rev.Mr.Warr, a Dissenting Minister, of St.Leonard's, Hastings :- "If it be lawful to institute Christianity, it is lawful to perpetuate it. Because there is a decayed beam in the roof, is it necessary to pull the barn down, when it can be removed and a second one substituted. It is much better to heal, if possible, a diseased limb, than at once to amputate, and I call upon the advocates for Church annihilation to point out an equal substitute for it. With any thing less than its utter destruction, I am fully persuaded that neither popery nor infidelity will be satisfied, and I implore my brethren to keep an equal distance from them both; they stand not in need of assistance to advance and carry their claims. The people of God have but one common interest ; many a holy devoted Minister of the Establishment is labouring to promote the glory of God in the salvation of souls; and it is but solemn mockery to bless God for their success, and to pray for its increase, while there hands are stretched out to unroof the building that covers them.
If the Church be a field, the taxes are not to be rooted up to the destruction of the wheat. Where there is one faithful, holy Minister of the Establishment, I would to God there were a hundred Churchmen and Dissenters, we should all find enough to do. Because my fellow-shopmen gets more custom at his counter than I do at mine that's no reason that I should quarrel with him, so that the master gets profits" -[cheers]. Sir John Chapman then said as others had to address the meeting, he would conclude by proposing his resolution - [cheers].
Mr.Clarke (landlord of the White Hart Inn) observed that much of the difficulty which he should have felt in addressing the meeting had been removed by the very able manner in which Sir John Chapman had introduced the resolution, but he held the times in which they lived to be of such a nature, and their character to be so important, that it became culpable in any man who called himself a citizen to remain in retirement -[cheers]. Future historians would write down the present period as one of great difficulty, and it was the duty of every man not to remain silent while an attack was being made on the Established Church of the Country -[cheers]. One great point should not be forgotten, viz:- that they, as Englishmen, prided themselves, and justly so, upon their national character, and he asked of the present meeting to reflect and see on what foundation that national character had been built -[cheers]. If he looked to the surrounding nations, whether at catholic Europe, democratic America, or demoralised France -[cheers] - he could still say with pride, that England stood far above them all. But by what means had her national character been maintained ?
By means of the Established Church -[cheers]. What was it that had so long made this mere speck on the earth so much respected, but on the grounds of her national character, and her national religion ? The very first blow that would be struck at that national character, would be struck at the Church -[cheers]. This was his decided conviction; and this it was that induced him to second the resolution. The Church must be supported, and supported as a national Establishment; this he declared; and with the greatest feelings of liberality towards his Dissenting brethren. In this country the utmost toleration and liberty were given to every person to worship God in his own way, but that was no reason why there should not be a national Establishment -[cheers]. That Establishment had been handed down from their forefathers, and he should consider he had acted improperly , did he not do all he could to hand it to his children, in all its purity, and all its integrity.
The resolution was then put and carried unanimously.
Mr.Sharman (Linendraper) said, it was a source of great gratification to him to find that the first resolution had been unanimously accepted. It had been advocated with that sort of feeling that must have gone home to the bosom of every one, and must have been responded to by all who had hearts to feel -[cheers]. That resolution spoke of the necessity of an Established Church, and in the Government measure, that likewise was advocated, but he would make a few observations as to how such a wish was borne out by the conduct of the Ministry. He certainly had received their assurance with feelings of gratitude, because he believed that the greatest blessings which persons enjoyed resulted from the Church -[cheers]. But to support that Church it must have some means for its support; and when he found the Chancellor of the Exchequer profess an attachment to it, and in the next breath propose - not a better use of Church property, but - the confiscation of that property, he confessed he entertained feelings of alarm -[cheers]. That fact must come home to all whom he was addressing, because, if that property was the inalienable right of the Church, they ought to consider this subject most seriously.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer proposed to take possession of the Church property, and to use it as to himself seemed right. That right he (Mr.Sharman) much questioned, and the advantages which the Chancellor of the Exchequer hoped to be gained, were, he thought, very illusory - [cheers]. He (Mr.S) really approached the subject with great difficulty, but he hoped, from the sincerity of his feelings, that he should receive the kind attention of the meeting - [hear, hear]. One objection that had been raised against the Church was, that those members of it, who had the granting of leases, had been guilty of extortion in their demands from the lessees. That was one charge against the Clergy, and he need hardly say in that assembly that it fell to the ground. But where was the feeling of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he proposed to take possession of the property of the Church and letting it out at rack rents, with a view of raising a fund from the property ? He (Mr.S) feared that it was not, as it used to be, for it used to be that they could remember Governments, no matter what their politics were, who were independent, and not as now, the mere creatures of dictation - [cheers]. With regard to church-rates, he believed they were a right, positively established by law on property - that they were not charged upon individuals, and that the parties objecting to pay them were not individually charged. He ment to say that his Dissenting brethren were not taxed - it was their property that was taxed - [cheers]. For instance, if he had a
house to let and it was applied to by any person who wished to take it, no matter whether a churchman or dissenter, the first question would be as to the rent, and next, what were the charges upon it; he would therefore know what the parochial rates were, and consequently the church-rate was not a rate on individuals, but upon property - [cheers]. Next, as to the influence of these rates upon the feelings as it was termed - the conscientious objection to the payment of church-rates. He would soon show that the dissenters, of whatever denomination they were, derived an equal advantage with the churchman from the assessment of church-rates, and he would maintain, that all the advantages they all enjoyed, were attributable to the Church - [cheers]. He was but a feeble and humble advocate, and perfectly unable to express what he felt upon this subject, but before he read the resolution, he would echo the exhortations of Sir John Chapman and Mr.Clarke, that it was most necessary for all persons present to reflect on the high and important duties on which they had that day met -[hear, hear]. They were matters of no trifling import - they might be considered as the passing events of the day - but still an awful and strict responsibility rested on the meeting - [hear]. Why he made these observations on the pressing necessity of the
friends of the Church expressing their sentiments, was that they had such a rallying point in their venerable fabric. Looking at those of its ministers who now surrounded him, he would say, that having such support, he hoped the meeting would seriously reflect on the situation in which they were, and take care that they did not, by supineness of feeling, connect themselves with that which would make any man blush, for supineness would make a man closely allied to infidelity. They must do one of two things, either right or wrong. He would thus exhort them, "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit ye like men, be strong, and may God grant a favourable issue of our exertions." -[cheers]. Mr.Sharman then read his resolution.
Mr.George (plasterer) seconded it, and it was carried unanimously.
Mr.Soley (surgeon) in moving the next resolution, said he came forward with deep feelings of diffidence, unaccustomed, as he was, to public business, and being unwilling to intrude himself on the notice of others, he should not have done so now if it had not been from the fear that he might have been considered indifferent on a subject which every one must most deeply feel - [Here Mr.Soley made a long pause, apparently forgetting the thread of his discourse, but being encouraged by the cheers of those present, he at length proceeded]. And to enjoy those blessings we derive from the National Establishment - [Another long pause, filled up by encouraging cheers]. In the daily routine of his professional duties, he had heard much of church-rates, but he could not divine the reason for those angry and vindictive feelings, unless it be that men sometimes picked at straws to endeavour to obtain their unholy purposes, reckless by what means - [Pause the third, and cheers more encouraging than before]. After all, why this cry - [Pause the fourth, and more cheers again, but they failed in their effect, and some kind friend called out "Read the resolution."] Mr.Soley then merely read the resolution, and sat down.
Mr.George Chapman (surgeon) seconded it, and it was carried unanimously.
The Rev.Mr.Allen (a Wesleyan Minister) rose to propose the next resolution, which was to the effect that the Church-rate was the right of the poor, and by which places of worship were maintained for their use, said he considered it a high honor in being called upon to take a public part in this interesting and important meeting -[cheers]. He felt constrained to do so although under the influence of great difficulties of feeling, which feeling originated from the great national importance of the question, the discussion of which had brought them together that day -[cheers]. But at the same time he must observe that he would not be sustaining the character of a Wesleyan Minister did he not take a part in the proceedings -[cheers]. The venerable founder of the Wesleyans, the Rev.John Wesley, had been a distinguished member of the Established Church, and entertained sentiments of great friendliness towards that Church until he breathed his last, and he had uniformly said that he was a friend to the Church, and that all who were enemies of it were enemies to himself -[cheers].
When he died he bequeathed that friendly feeling to the ministers who were connected with him, and he (Mr.Allen) had no hesitation in saying that, in connection with his brethren in the christian ministry and the great body of followers of that great man, he most conscientiously inherited that principle of friendly feeling in regard to the church - [cheers]. He desired, however, to place the question on such an elevated position as to be quite above all sectarian considerations. He wished for the time he was about addressing the meeting to forget he was a Wesleyan Minister -[cheers] - he wished for the time to forget he was addressing both clerical and lay members of the Established Church - and also to forget he was addressing himself to gentlemen who occupied highly respectable situations among his dissenting brethren. He wished in fact to forget for the time all party distinctions - using the word "party" of course in the best meaning thereof. He wished to confine himself to the question "ought the christian state of this country to provide means for the religious education of those over whom the state ought to exercise religious authority ?" -[cheers].
That, in fact was the question. Holding the sentiments he did it was his decided opinion that there was a solemn obligation, arising from the importance attached to the salvation of the souls of men, on the State of this country to provide the means of education for the population of this increasingly populous land -[cheers]. He had been much pleased with the remarks upon the subject that had been made by Sir John Chapman, who had placed the question on a purely religious and conscientious principle. He (Mr.Allen) would say that an obligation rested on the Government to secure that important object which the meeting was then seriously contemplating. He made this statement in the light of scripture, and he saw that there was an imperative obligation that could not be violated but at each person's responsibility to God, to provide the means of religious education for the population of the country -[cheers]. The case of Abraham, if he might be permitted to allude biblically, was one in point. They all knew that the distinguished patriarch had been honoured with a communion with God, and it pleased God to destroy Sodem and Gomorrah, and what was the special favour granted to that distinguished servant ? Because He knew Abraham would command his children and his household, and that they in consequence of that commandment would walk in the way of God -[cheers].
Now, who were Abraham's household ? He (Mr.Allen) boldly affirmed that as to number his household was very great, for he was recognised as a prince, and his household was sufficiently great to rescue his relative Lot from that state into which he had fallen. Therefore, the household of Abraham was large - it was a princedom, if he might call it. Now, mark the application of the principle ! Here was a prince exercising princely authority over a vast assembly of people, and the Lord bestowed on him an especial mark of favour because He had confidence in the integrity of his principles - because he would teach those over whom he was destined to exercise spiritual authority [cheers]. If he took those facts from the bible and applied them to the same principles on the present occasion he hoped he would not be deemed irreverent in showing that it was the duty of a christian government to make provision for the education of those people over whom it exercised spiritual authority -[cheers]. Again, look at the Mosaic principle - look at Moses with his Ecclesiastical Commission, which was bound up with his Civil Commission. Look also at others, at Saul, David, Ezekiah, and all the kings of Israel, after the ten tribes had separated from the tribe of Judah, and the tribe of Benjamin. He (Mr.Allen) could see that each one of them was held responsible not only for the performance of the civil but of he ecclesiastical affairs of the Jewish nation.
Well then, if that was not mere fiction, did it not follow that they (the meeting) were to regard the injuction as to civil and ecclesiastical affairs as the greatest proof that the principle which they had met to advocate was not only not incompatible with the Divine will, but that it was what He approved of and enjoined on every one holding the powers of any government ? -[cheers]. He (Mr.Allen) was not forgetful that objections had been taken to this mode of reasoning, and consequently to the conclusion to which it led, one of which related to the character of the two former dispensations. Now he admitted that in that objective there was some plausibility; he admitted that the two former dispensations were but proparatory in their character; he admitted there were things connected with the Mosaic state of things that were typical, and therefore preparatory. St.Paul points out that they were connected with the priesthood, and likewise with all the appendages of that priesthood, so that the Levitical priesthood and their appendages ceased to be binding on those who lived under that state of things. Although they ceased to be binding under that state of things, would any one say that the law under the former Ducalogue ceased to be binding on the christian people ?
And if he said that the principle was open to objection in that case - and the apostle Paul proves in his Epistle to the Hebrews what the things that passed away really were - he would say that it was not. The other objection to the mode of reasoning that he was adopting was, that they did not read connected with the history of the primitive church, that organized state of things - any thing in fact like a national church. Why, he should think it strange indeed if in a newly formed colony they found a government fully organised, whether it be aristocratic or democratic -[cheers]. It would indeed be strange to find in a new colony a state of things like a monarchial form of government -[cheers]. The fact was, that the primative church was a spiritual colony, pure inclined and perfect indeed, as far as regarded the christian doctrine, feeling and practice, but imperfect and ill provided for as regarded matters of ecclesiastical polity -[cheers]. But he thought that if they took an impartial view of the primative christian church they would find principles in it which constituted a subordinate state of things - which implied the passage "Let all things be done decently and in order." - [cheers] - and as would modify and regulate those arrangements for the church which time and circumstances might render necessary, so as to produce a regularly organised but nationally supported christian institution - [cheers].
The present question was deriving support from a light which was purely analogical in its character, for every state was under an obligation to watch those persons over whom it has authority, and therefore to give a countenance - a fostering countenance - to every thing that contributed to the happiness and welfare of the State. Who would venture as assertion that religion did not contribute to the happiness of a State? The obligation was not only to take cogizance but to foster the religious education of the people, and also to make religion legally constituted -[cheers]. His last point was that it was the duty of Government to sustain a national church, because he thoroughly believed in the inefficiency of the voluntary principle - [loud cheers]. He was an advocate after all of the voluntary principle; he was himself supported by it, and the entire opinions of the Wesleyan community were sustained by the voluntary principle. The Church Missionary Society was also supported by it; therefore he would say that the voluntary principle did very much for the nation, and all the good derived by the encouragingly useful and extensive Wesleyan community resulted from it.
He was consequently not disposed to despise any man for an adherence to the voluntary principle, otherwise he should despise himself, which he was not disposed to do - [laughter]. But he knew from observation that the voluntary principle was not enough to meet the large claims for religious education which were made for the population - [cheers]. The character of the Wesleyan Ministry was itinerant, and they changed stations every two or three years. Next August he should have been in Windsor three years. He had seen many such removals in the short time he had been in the christian ministry. He had been in Cornwall in a densely populated place, where the mines were very extensive. What did he see there ? He there saw no [?] independents, and churches existed almost exclusively. Notwithstanding the large Wesleyan chapels there, particularly at Redruth, there was a vast disproportion between the claims to religious education and the means [?] afforded for it. He had also been in the agricultural parts of Somerset, in many places of which the voluntary principle had not reached.
There it had been a great solace to him to find that the Word of God and the Sacrament of the Christian Religion were administered to the inhabitants of the villages. There also he had read that incomparable form of prayer, the Liturgy of the Church - [hear, hear]. What was it that had induced this order of things ? Not the voluntary principle, but the Government principle - that ecclesiastical order of things for which the present meeting had met to contend - [cheers]. He was in Manchester two years ago where the Wesleyans had large chapels. Besides the churches, the Independants and Baptists also had edifices there, but there was a great disproportion between the claims for education and the means of affording it even in that privileged town - [cheers]. In London also, as appeared from the statement of the Hon and Rev.Baptist.Noel [?], who had portrayed the fact in colours that made one's heart sick, that there was a very great disproportion between the claims for and the means of obtaining religious education - [cheers]. He could enumerate many other facts of a similar kind, which had fallen under his own observation, and on that account he could state his decided opinions that the voluntary principle with all it efficiency was not capable of affording education sufficient for the public - [cheers]. And he did reflect,
that if he were ever by an apathy or hostility not to rally round his country in this time of danger he should be guilty of committing sacrilege, and bring on his own conscience that which he should ill like to have to answer for at the bar of God - [loud cheers]. It would of course have been seen by the meeting that he was an advocate for the union of Church and State really and substantially considered, and therefore it would be inconsistent in him if he did not advocate the perpetuation of Church-rates - [cheers]. The union between the Church and the State was not merely ideal, but it was found to exist in actual circumstances, one of which was that Church-rates should be paid; another, that tithes should be paid for the support of the Ministers, - [cheers] - another that the Bishops should sit in the House of Lords and exercise Protestant influence over the councils of the country - [cheers]. Contending as he did for the perpetuation of this junction he should indeed be ceding a principle if he did not support the perpetuation of Church-rates - [cheers].
For himself he could not conceive how any one could be called consistent who said that if he did not advocate the separation of Church and State and yet objected to pay Church-rates - [cheers] - for this destroyed one of the great leading and prominent circumstances which went to perpetuate the union. He begged to offer his thanks to the meeting for the patience with which they had heard him, assuring them that he should go from the Hall with great peacefulness of conscience in having performed his duty in the best manner he was able to do -[cheers]. The.Rev. Gentleman then proposed his resolution.
Mr.Clode (landlord of the Castle inn) seconded it, and it was carried unanimously.
The Rev.Mr.Coleridge (one of the masters of Eton College) said after the excellent speech made by Mr.Allen he should feel as a Minister of the Church deficient in his duty, and deficient also in gratitude to that gentleman if he did not bear testimony to the co-operation with the Church of England & the Wesleyan Ministers in Cornwall. His (Mr.Coleridge's) brother, on being appointed to a church in that county (Penrhyn we believe), was received at the door of his church in the kindest manner by nearly all the Wesleyan Ministers many miles round about twenty in number - all of whom came to pay their respects to him and to tender their co-operative assistance in his ministry. He also bore testimony to the great kind ...