The New Year's Pastoral Letter issued by the Bishop of
Carlisle contains some admirable sayings on Welsh Disestablishment and the need of a National Church. The Bishop sees the danger of National Churches degenerating into mere State establishments of religion and of being either oppressive or inert. But nevertheless he is not a Disesta- blisher, but very much the reverse. He admits that if the Episcopal Church in Wales to-day were in the condition in which it was a few generations ago, the justice of its dis- establishment could not be disputed. But it is not at present in that condition. "There is now no religious communion in Wales more vital, more strong, more devoted in every branch of true and noble service than the Established Church." He believes, further, that a Poll of the People in Wales on the sole issue of a National Church would reveal a quite unexpected love for that Church. The people, be holds, have much to lose and nothing to gain by Disestablishment. Disendow- ment he regards as pure spoliation.
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