The Official Year - Book of the Church of England, 1892. (S.P.C.K.)
—There can be no doubt that this is a striking record of work. Could we compare it with a corresponding set of figures and facts for the year 1792, we should doubtless find an advance such as never has taken place since the very first days of Christianity. Many of the items of information would find nothing to match them in such a comparison. We take almost at random such examples as Home Missions, Penitentiaries, Guilds, Orphanages, Clergy Homes, Missionary Colleges, Colonial Bishoprics. The catalogue of Church literature is not a little significant. An ignorant clergy, such as we have lately been told the Anglican priesthood has become, could hardly have produced it. The financial statistics are striking. In the twenty-five years 1860-84, the voluntary contributions of Churchmen amounted to 431,573,237, an amount which might be swollen, if all the items that might legitimately be included were added. The sums appropriated in aid of secondary education, for instance, are not included. As to Tithes of parochial incumbents, they receive 42,412,103, out of a total of a little over 44,000,000. Deduct 25 per cent. for depreciation of rent-charge, and we get 41,809,176, on which there is a charge for rates of not less than 3s. 4d. in the pound. This reduces it to about a million and a half, out of which a con- siderable part of the stipends of more than six thousand assistant- curates has to come. Reckoning these at an average of 4135 each, we get .£810,000. Supposing that the clergy pays two-fifths of this, we get a further deduction of 4320,000. It would hardly be too much to say that the absolutely net sum coming into the pockets of the parochial clergy—for no allowance has been made for subscriptions, alms, &c.—is little more than a million. This is considerably less than 4100 each for the twelve thousand in- cumbents. Of course an addition must be made for the value of houses, and of glebes,—when these can be let. It is noticeable that the total number of curates in sole charge is given at 218, a most creditably small figure.
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