have provided for dividing Bishopricks in the more populous districts of the Country, and thus increasing the efficiency of the Church."

The Archbishop of Canterbury, in his speech in the House of Lords, on the 26th March, 1878, described that "measure as one of the greatest reforms proposed for the Church of England since the Reformation."

The Diocese of Lincoln is the largest in England (extending over more than two million and a quarter of acres, and it contains more than 800 benefices, and more than 1,000 clergy), and the contiguous Diocese of Lichfield is one of the most populous.

Among other similar recent provisions for which we are indebted to Her Majesty's Government and to Parliament, and which would, if realized, add six new Sees to the English Episcopate, the Legislature has now given powers for the division of these two Dioceses, Lincoln and Lichfield, by the erection of a new See at Southwell, for the Counties of Nottingham and Derby.

About £20,000 has been raised for this purpose; and £500 a year will be contributed to it by the See of Lincoln; and £300 a year by the See of Lichfield. So much progress having been made, it is to be hoped that the design may not long have to wait for its successful accomplishment.

The beautiful ancient Minster at Southwell, now under restoration, and the old Archiepiscopal Palace, and other interesting and convenient buildings in that place, afford great advantages for the completion of the proposed design.

Church Building in the Diocese.

141

During the period dating from 1840 to this time One Million, two hundred and eighty-five thousand, nine hundred and seventy-four Pounds have been expended in the building, enlargement, or restoration of Churches in this Diocese. (The particulars are inserted in Appendix A to this volume.)

This work does not seem to be slackened by the depression of trade and of the agricultural interest. In some respects, let me remind you, the present time is favourable for such undertakings, and to the building of Parsonages and Schools. Timber, iron, and lead are considerably cheaper than they were some time ago; bricks and roof tiles are reduced in price, and labour is not so high as it was.

Let me here say that no alterations ought to be made in the fabric or ornaments of Parish Churches without application for a faculty.

Since my last Visitation in 1876 a change has been made in our arrangements with regard to Ecclesiastical Dilapidations. We have now five Diocesan Surveyors ; and in order to give greater freedom to the Clergy in the choice of a Surveyor, the following rule has been proposed and adopted at a meeting of the Archdeacons and Rural Deans of the Diocese "That the Bishop be requested to give his assent to the following proposal: That when a Benefice becomes vacant, if the outgoing Incumbent, or his representatives, agree with the incoming Incumbent to name—and do name— to the Bishop, within three months of the vacancy occurring, one of the Diocesan Surveyors to be employed, the Bishop shall issue his Order to such

Surveyor to report on the Dilapidations of the Benefice.'

I have given my approval to this Resolution, subject to the following reservation, viz.:-That the nomination be made to me within two months and three weeks from the vacancy; inasmuch as (by the 29th section of the Ecclesiastical Dilapidations Act of 1871) I am obliged to issue an Order for a Survey within three months of the vacancy; and inasmuch as I could not comply with that provision of the Statute in cases where the above Resolution of the Meeting was not acted on; and where no nomination of a Surveyor were made by the two parties concerned some time before the expiration of three months from the vacancy. The proceedings in this Diocese under the Ecclesiastical Dilapidations Act, 1871, have been as follows:Orders for Surveys "Upon Vacancy"

315

Waiting for time for Objections to expire, or
Reports not yet sent in ......

18

Total............ 402

An alteration has also been made recently, with the consent of the Chancellor of the Diocese and the Registrar, by the reduction of the fees for the Sequestration of a Benefice from £1 17s. od. to 12s. 6d.;

Sequestration.-Benefices, Resignation of. 143

Is. to the Chancellor, IIS. 6d. to the Registrar. This will give perfect security to the Churchwardens in providing for the adequate remuneration of Clergymen employed to officiate during the vacancy of a Benefice.

An order has also been made, that upon every vacancy of a Benefice a sequestration shall be issued by the Registrar, as soon as the fact of such vacancy shall come to his knowledge; and I would request the Rural Deans to be good enough to inform the Registrar, Mr. Swan, of every vacancy which occurs in their several Deaneries as soon as possible.

By 1 & 2 Vict., c. 106, sect. 100, the Bishop of the Diocese is empowered to order the Sequestrator, during the avoidance of a Benefice, to pay out of the profits of the said Benefice such stipend or stipends to the curate or curates, appointed by the Bishop to perform the ecclesiastical duties of the Benefice during such vacancy, as are allowed by the said Act, in proportion to the time of such vacancy.

The Benefices Resignation Act of 1871 has been resorted to in many cases in this Diocese. Suffer me to say that it has taken away the reasons sometimes alleged for non-residence; and it has enabled the Church to say, with greater power than before, to some who allege those reasons—“ Either reside upon your Benefice, or resign it."

It is a pleasing thing to be able to report that there are very few instances of Clergymen of this Diocese who are not resident on their cures otherwise than by legal exemption.

144

TENTH ADDRESS.

LET us now pass to spiritual ministrations. In the three years preceding my last Visitation in 1876, the Ordinations of Priests and Deacons in this Diocese were as follows:

The Ordinations in the three years previous to the present Visitation have been

being an increase of 23 Deacons and 28 Priests.

I am thankful to see from your replies to my "Visitation Queries," that the Holy Sacrament of Baptism is administered during the time of Divine Service (as the Rubric directs) in 647 Churches.

Let me request you, my lay brethren the Churchwardens, to take care that a Font of stone, according to the Canon (Canon 81) be provided in your Churches; and that it be large enough for the immersion of children; and be filled with pure water (according to the rubric), and that the font be so constructed that the water may be allowed to run off easily after the