Clerical Incomes. Edited by J. H. B. Masterman. (Bell. 6s.
net.)—Churchmen will be profoundly distressed at the revelations of clerical poverty in this book. It consists of plain statements of fact for six typical dioceses—London, Manchester, Birmingham, Southwell, Norwich, and Salisbury—with essays on the subject by the Bishop of Lichfield, the Dean of York, Archdeacon Conybeare, Canon Partridge, and Mr. Atkinson. The book shows all too clearly that many incumbents are very poorly paid, and that, even if the whole revenues of the Church were pooled and redistributed, the result would be to " reduce all the clergy to one level of poverty." In wealthy England this is a
most discreditable state of things. Bishop Hamilton Baynes
contrasts the readiness of Churchmen in his old diocese of .Natal
to support their clergy with the parsimony displayed in too .many English parishes. Canon Masterman reminds us that the " opulence " of Bishops is illusory. The Bishop of Lichfield states that his official income does not suffice to keep up his palace, where he has to offer hospitality to the diocesan clergy and to transact business. Many incumbents of seemingly well-endowed livings are in the same case, and need large private means to carry on their work. The book deserves serious attention.
Previous page
