Incomes of the Clergy
In the Lower House of Convocation of Canterbury this week Canon R. E. Roberts called attention to the " enormous disparity " in the incomes of the clergy. He pointed out that if the total income of the Church of Eng- land derived from endowments were evenly divided between the parishes, each would have an income of nearly £400 a year ; but that there were now hundreds of clergy in receipt of Li,000 a year or more, and thousands with considerably less than £400. An exact levelling of incomes would not be desirable, but the existing inequality often means the underpayment of the hardest worked incumbents in parishes Where the best men are needed. Everyone knows that the smallness of the total income of the Church is a disturbing handicap to its work and efficiency—the best work cannot be done under conditions of poverty. But something at least could be achieved by more equal distribution. The Dean of Hereford suggested that the matter should be con- sidered by a committee of both the Houses of Canterbury and York ; and it was agreed to ask for a committee to inquire into the reorganisation of man-power and finance.
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