[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."' Sia,—Some time ago I
had occasion to look into the question of Disestablishment, and was rather struck with the following fact. In the time of Elizabeth there were in England and Wales about 9,000 parish churches and places of worship, 9,400 beneficed clergy, and about 12,000 clergy altogether ; the population at that time has been estimated at from five to six millions. In 1875, there were 13,447 benefices and 19,237 clergy, with a population of over 22 millions. So that the Church has increased about one-third and the population four times. Non- conformity, from being nil, or pretty nearly so, in Elizabeth's time, has grown to its present proportions, which, I suppose, taking it roughly, would be about half the religious accommo- dation in the country. As far as one can judge from an isolated fact, it seems that the religious needs of an increasing popula- tion have been met by Voluntaryism, and not by the Establish- ment. If the effectiveness of the Establishment, as a religious organisation, is to be "judged by its works," it does not seem wholly a success in this respect ; and the future of it, as a Disestablished Church, not altogether dark and dismal. Althmigh a Liberationist, until the Scotch and Welsh Churches are disestablished, I think the line you advocate on the Disestablishment question the wisest under present circumstances.—I am, Sir, &c., Linden Avenue, Kidderminster, August 24th. P. ADAM.
Previous page
