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beyond that which the Church was then receiving from it in reserved rents and fines. In 1839 Mr. Finlaison estimated this surplus at upwards of £300,000 a year.[1] If this latter estimate is correct, as there seems every reason to believe, a capital of no less than five or six millions might be realized by the sale of Reversions or by other means. I propose that a portion of this, which I estimate at about £130,000 a year, be applied to the maintenance of Church fabrics. This would allow an average of £5000 towards the Church fund in each diocese. This ought to be increased to £8000 a year by the contributions of the wealthier parishes. This is a mere general average, since it is obvious that the sum should vary according to the extent and requirements of each particular diocese.
I submit that the body of the Church should remain in the hands of the laity and their churchwardens, who would thus continue responsible to the Bishop and his archdeacons for its repair.—I propose, however, that henceforth the church-wardens shall be elected by such only of the parishioners as shall be willing to declare themselves members of the Church of England, and that none but persons in full communion with the Church of England shall be eligible to the office of churchwarden. The churchwardens so elected
- ↑ Church Leases, by W. H. Grey. London, 1851, pages 79, 80, &c.
