The above list does not, I believe, enumerate more than one-fourth of the churches thus built within the last few years; but if your correspondents would furnish the cases which have occurred in their own neighbourhoods, a complete list might soon be obtained. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, A CHURCHMAN.* Trin. Coll., April 22nd. RELIGIOUS DESTITUTION. Church Statistics of Manchester, from "An Appeal to the Inhabitants of Manchester and the Neighbourhood, in behalf of the Society for Promoting_the Building and Enlargement of Churches and Chapels in the Parishes of Manchester and Eccles." IN the year 1773-4, the population of the parish of Manchester was 41,032.† The townships of Manchester and Salford contained 27,246 of this number. There were seven churches at this time in existence, which might possibly have accommodation for 10,000 persons. Dr. Chalmers, in his "Civic Economy," reckons that 5-8ths of the whole population ought to be in attendance on public worship every sabbath. Assuming this to be the proper proportion, there ought to have been church-room for 5-8ths of 27,246, or 17,028. 7,000, therefore, were then left unprovided for. The Bishop of Chester, in his last charge, says of the church, "Her purpose is excellent, that every sheep should have a fold, and every fold a shepherd." At that period, then, the work of effecting a more adequate supply ought to have been at once undertaken, The deficiency was such as by a vigorous effort might have been made up; but which, neglected, could not fail to grow, and produce the wretched effects of which we are both the sorrowful and the guilty witnesses. In 1801, nearly thirty years after, the population was something more than doubled. And the church accommodation also was perhaps doubled. But if no more, it is evident that the deficiency is also doubled; so that, instead of 7,000, we have now 14,000 unprovided for; and therefore, so far as the church is concerned, destitute of religious instruction. But it is since that period, and up to the present time, that the disproportion has increased to such a fearful extent, and consequently that demoralization has so rapidly advanced. At the period of the last census (1831) the population of the township of Manchester was given at 142,026; that of the parish at 270,961. The last parliamentary return represents the township as possessing church-room for about 17,500 persons; the parish for 33,000. In either case the supply is in the proportion of one person to between eight and nine. From the like documents it will appear that the supply in Eccles is that of • Any corrections or additions would be gladly received.-ED. History of Foundations of Manchester, vol. ii. p. 160. Viz.-The Collegiate Church, St. Ann's, St. Mary's, St. John's, St. Paul's, St. Thomas's, Ardwick, and Trinity, Salford. $ Charge 1835, p. 14. || That of the whole parish amounting to 84,053.-Hist. &c., p. 169. There were now added seven others, viz.-St. James's, St. Michael's, St. Mark's, Cheetham, St. Peter's, St. George's, St. Clement's, St. Stephen's.-It is remarkable, that in the next thirty years, seven other churches again were added; viz.— All Saints', St. Matthew's, St. Luke's, St. George's, Hulme, St. Andrew's, St. Philip's, and Christ Church. one person in seven. A tabular view will furnish the best exhibition of the state of matters in the two parishes. The townships of Manchester, Salford, and Pendleton, Ardwick, Chorlton, and Hulme, contain together 227,000 inhabitants. They possess 21 churches and 33 clergy. Suppose each church to accommodate 1,500 persons, (the highest allowance that can be made,) then 1,500 x 2131,500. Adhering still to the estimate of Dr. Chalmers, 50,400 bears to 31,500 the proportion of 8 to 5; which number we may therefore say is provided with church room. But (227,000-50,400=) 176,600 are left unprovided for, 5-8ths of which, or 110,375, who, had they the opportunity, might attend, are positively excluded from the church. There are 33 clergy. Suppose each one of them to take the oversight of 4,000 persons, then 132,000 come under the pastoral superintendence of the church, but (227,000—132,000) 95,000 are left by the church to wander on the dark mountains of error, ignorance, and sin, or to be gathered into other folds. Since 1831 no additional church has been opened for public worship; but the population has gone on increasing. For the intervening period up to the present time, 50,000 may be added to the number of inhabitants; to the accommodation, or spiritual instruction afforded by the church, nothing. Of which there are nine; viz.-Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Stretford, Newton, Blakeley, Denton, Birch, Didsbury, Gorton, and Heaton-Norris. + Including Eccles, Monton, Barton South, and Winton. The domestic chapel of Ellenbrook, capable of containing 300 persons, and the chapel of Swinton, which was consecrated for the use of the hamlets of Swinton, Hazlehurst, Little Haughton, and Clifton. It will be seen that the argument is conducted altogether on the aggressive principle of an establishment. Should these pages come in the way of any Christian of another denomination, he will perceive the drift of these calculations. Our limits, as well as our argument, oblige us to confine them to the church. He will also, it is hoped, believe that there is no wish whatever to keep out of sight the praiseworthy efforts of other labourers, or to refuse them the tribute of an acknowledgment for their supply of our lack of service. Dissenters, as such, are not bound to the work of religious aggression by any of their fundamental principles. The church, as an establishment, is bound to provide means for the religious instruction of all. Those who prefer other forms are, of course, at liberty to adopt them. Of all these neglected thousands of immortal beings, what multitudes of the thoughtless young have been left to wander into devious paths! What numbers, involved in spiritual darkness, have been left to perish in their ignorance! How many in deep affliction have been left to mourn alone in remediless despair! How many have passed without hope from time into eternity, whose everlasting wo may, in some measure, be charged upon our guilty negligence! "The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost." CHURCH ACCOMMODATION IN BIRMINGHAM. SIR,-If it will not be taking up too much space in your valuable Magazine, I feel tempted to send you the result of a more minute examination into the wants of this large mass of manufacturing population; by which it will be seen in what particular districts the exertions of the friends of Christianity, preached (as we believe) in its purest form, are most wanted. I must first state that there is some variance between the returns made by the several ecclesiastical parishes of Birmingham to the Church Commissioners, and that of the one secular parish issued from the Home Office. The Population Return gives us....................... Leaving unaccounted for 110,914 2,822 I have no doubt that the former is most correct, because one of the ecclesiastical returns gives the even number 11,000, and another 12,000. Still, on the present occasion, I must make use of the latter. From this I find the population of the parish of 11,153 Church accommodation, with proposed increase, in In Bordesley and Deritend I again find a small difference in the returns of Ezek. xxxiv. 4. Church accommodation 2,575, m. by 3 population issued from the Home Office and the Church Commissioners; the former being 14,640, the latter 14,685. Population of Bordesley and Deritend Persons unaccommodated........ 14,685 7,725 6,960 Large increase of population. In Duddestone and Hechells the Home Office and 12,698 Church accommodation of Ashted Chapel, with present 4,200 Persons unaccommodated........ 8,498 Large increase of population. In Edgbaston, the Home Office and Church Commis- 3,954 Church accommodation 372, m. by 3.......... 1,116 2,838 Persons unaccommodated........... Large increase of population. The two most striking results of this examination are, that, notwithstanding the great want of church accommodation in Birmingham, one parish, that of St. Philip, is fully provided for; the other, that the most destitute of all, is the parish of Edgbaston, a district containing by far the richest population, being at the same time the least oppressed by parochial burdens, and almost entirely the property of a nobleman whose name is usually found among the leaders in every work of christian charity and benevolence. That the other districts may be enabled to supply their population with that proportion of church-room which is at present enjoyed by the parish of St. Philip alone, and that the nobleman alluded to may soon put into execution those plans for the spiritual accommodation of his respectable tenantry, which I know he for some time past has had in contemplation, is the fervent prayer of Your obedient servant, Sutton Coldfield Rectory House, Feb. 10, 1836. WM. RILAND Bedford. P.S. Since the above was written, I find that Lord Calthorpe has given directions for the site of one new church to be marked out. The PARTICULARS and PLAN of an EPISCOPAL CHAPEL lately erected at Wharton, a populous Township in the Parish of Davenham, in the County of Chester, at the sole expense of J. F. FRANCE, Esq. THIS chapel is neatly built of brick, with stone plinths, copings, water tables, and heads and cills to the windows, &c. It is finished internally with an open-framed roof, all the timbers of which are dressed, moulded, and painted oak colour, in imitation of the roofs of the halls and other public buildings of the date of Henry VIII. and Edward VI. The chapel is altogether of an ecclesiastical character, is calculated to accommodate three hundred persons, and was built for the sum of 400l. entirely at the expense of J. F. France, Esq., of Bostock Hall. A smaller chapel, upon exactly a similar plan, has been erected by voluntary subscription in another township of the same parish. These chapels are merely licensed, and are supplied by an assistant curate in conjunction with the parish church. The exact items of expenditure are as follows: £ s. d. Bricklayer's, carpenter's, and painter's work, 319 0 0 Stonemason's, by ditto by estimate Sand and carting Extra painting 50 17 0 5 13 0 1 10 0 £377 0 0 Bell and fixing Prayer-books for desk, &c. Communion plate Pulpit cushion, communion table cover, carpet, 7 16 0 Davenham, Oct. 20, 1835. £24 10 0 EXTRACT OF A REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE FOR THE RELIEF OF THE VAUDOIS, AT A GENERAL MEETING, HELD MAY 9, 1836, THE LORD BISHOP OF WINCHESTER IN THE CHAIR, Appropriation of the annual amount of the dividends. To the Hospital at La Tour To the Infirmary at Pomaret To Four Girls' Schools, at St. Jean, Villar, St. Germain, and Clots, £10 each To the Girls' School at La Tour The Lords Commissioners of the Treasury usually give their order for the issue of Royal Grant of 2771. 18. 6d., in the month of May or June, upon the periodical application of the Treasurer of the Committee, who places it in the banking-house of Messrs. Bosanquet and Co., to meet the drafts, signed by the Pastors and widows of Pastors, who enjoy the benefit of the Royal Grant. It has been reported to the Committee, that the first stone of a building to be called "The College of the Holy Trinity," was laid at La Tour, on the 12th of August 1835, and that hopes are entertained of its being in a state fit for the reception of students about the beginning of next year. A second professor, M. Malan, has been appointed to this institution, under the sanction of the King of Sardinia; and the sum of 201. annually has been granted to him, out of the Vaudois Fund, as part of his stipend. A collection of books,* such as will be considered unobjectionable by the censorship of the Piedmontese Government, has also been prepared, for the library of the college, by the assistance of individuals in this country; in the list of which are-38 vols. of Valpy's edition of the Delphin Classics, 8 vols. of Stephens' Thesaurus, 21 vols. of theological works, and 44 vols. of miscellaneous literature, presented by a friend to the cause. Other friends have likewise generously presented books, &c.-viz. the Bishop of Chester, the Rev. G. Townsend, H. Douglas, C. Perigal, and G. T. Fox, Esq. * Messrs. Rivington have kindly consented to receive any books which may be sent to them for the college at La Tour. |