Independence at last for Canvey

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At the Court at Windsor, the 2nd day of March, 1881.

Present,

The Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty in Council.

Whereas by an Act passed in the first session of the Parliament holden in the first and second years of the reign of Her present Majesty, intituled An Act to abridge the holding  of benefices in plurality, and to make better provision for the residence of the clergy, after reciting that Whereas in some instances, tithings,  hamlets, chapelries, and other places or districts may be separated from the parishes or mother churches to which they belong, with great  advantage, and places altogether extra-parochial  may in some instances with advantage be  annexed to parishes or districts to which they are  contiguous, or be constituted separate parishes  for ecclesiastical purposes, it is, amongst other things, enacted That when with respect to his own diocese it shall appear to the Archbishop of the Province, or when the Bishop of any diocese shall represent to the said Archbishop that any such tithing, hamlet, chapelry, place or district within the diocese of such Archbishop, or the diocese of such Bishop, as the case may be, may be advantageously separated from any parish or mother church, and either be  constituted a separate benefice by itself or be united to any other parish to which it may be more conveniently annexed, or to any other adjoining tithing, hamlet, chapelry, place, or district, parochial or extra-parochial, so as to form a separate parish or benefice, or that any extra-parochial place may with advantage be annexed to any parish to which it is contiguous, or be constituted a separate  parish for ecclesiastical purposes; and the said Archbishop or Bishop shall draw up a scheme in writing (the scheme of such Bishop to be transmitted to the said Archbishop for his consideration) describing the mode in which it appears to him that the alteration may best be effected, and how the changes consequent on  such alteration in respect to ecclesiastical jurisdiction, glebe lands, tithes, rent-charges, and other ecclesiastical dues, rates, and payments, and in respect to patronage and rights to pews, may be made with justice to all parties interested; and if the patron or patrons of the benefice or benefices to be affected by such alteration shall consent in writing under his or their hands to such scheme, or to such modification thereof as the said Archbishop may approve, and the said Archbishop shall, on full consideration and enquiry, be satisfied with any such scheme, or modification thereof, and shall certify the same and such consent as aforesaid, by his report to Her Majesty in Council, it shall be lawful for Her Majesty in Council to make an Order for carrying such scheme, or modification thereof, as the case may be, into effect.

And whereas by another Act of Parliament, passed in the second and third years of the reign of Her present Majesty, intituled An Act to make better provision for the assignment of ecclesiastical districts to churches or chapels augmented by the Governors of the Bounty of Queen Anne, and for other purposes, it is, amongst other things, further enacted That when, by any Order of Her Majesty in Council  as aforesaid, a separate parish for ecclesiastical purposes is constituted, the same shall, on registration thereof, and with the consent in writing of the incumbent or incumbents of the benefice or benefices to be thereby affected, become a perpetual curacy and benefice, and the minister thereof, duly nominated and licensed thereto, and his successors, shall be a body politic and corporate, with perpetual succession, and may receive and take to himself and his successors all such lands, tenements, tithes, rent-charges, and hereditaments as shall be granted unto him or them, and such perpetual curate shall thenceforth have, within the limits of the district parish farmed under the Church Building Acts for the church of such perpetual curacy, sole and exclusive cure of souls, and shall not in anywise be  subject to the control or interference of the incumbent or incumbents of the benefice or benefices to be affected by such Order, if he or they shall have consented to such Order as aforesaid.

And whereas the Lord Bishop of Saint Albans hath made a representation in writing to his Grace the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury in the words and figures following, that is to say :—

To the Most Reverend Archibald Campbell by Divine Providence Lord Archbishop of the Province of Canterbury Primate of All England and Metropolitan.

I Thomas Legh by Divine permission Bishop of Saint Albans do hereby represent to your Grace that there is in the county of Essex and my diocese of Saint Albans a certain place or district forming a tract of marsh arable and pasture lands situate on the northern bank of the River Thames and separated from the main land by a tidal channel and containing according to the census of 1871 a population of 249 and known as Canvey Island.

Canvey Island consists of outlying portions of the following nine parishes viz. North Benfleet, South Benfleet, Bowers Gifford, Hadleigh, Laindon -with- Basildon, Pitsea, Pritttewell, Southchurch and Vange all in the county and diocese aforesaid. The churches of the said parishes are situate at distances varying from two miles to twelve miles from Canvey Island aforesaid.

There is in Canvey Island a consecrated church or chapel known as Saint Katherine’s Church the seats in which are free and unappro­priated and to which the inhabitants are accustomed to resort for Divine service and other rites of the Church of England except marriages. There is a consecrated burial-ground which is used for interments and which adjoins the said church or chapel.

Saint Katherine’s Church or Chapel is in the patronage of the Bishop of the diocese and its endowment amounts to £150 per annum or there­abouts. There is a house of residence belonging to the said church or chapel.

It appears to me that Canvey Island aforesaid may under the provisions of the Act of Parlia­ment of the first and second years of Her present Majesty c. 106 and the second and third years of Her said Majesty c. 49 be advantageously separated from the said several parishes of North Benfieet, South Benfleet, Bowers Gifford, Hadleigh, Laindon-with-Basildon, Pitsea, Prittlewell, South Church and Vange and be constituted a separate parish and perpetual curacy.

The patronage of the rectory of Southchurch aforesaid is vested in your Grace and your succes­sors Archbishops of Canterbury.

Pursuant to the direction contained in the 26th section of the said first mentioned Act of Parliament I the said Bishop, have drawn a scheme in writing appended to this representation de­scribing the mode in which it appears to me that the alteration above proposed may be best effected and how the changes consequent on such alteration in respect to ecclesiastical jurisdiction and dues may be made with justice to all parties interested and I do submit the same to your Grace together with the consent in writing of me the Bishop aforesaid as patron in right of my See of the benefices of Laindon-with-Basildon and Prittlewell the Master and Fellows of Emmanuel Col­lege in the University of Cambridge the patrons of the rectory of North Benfleet aforesaid the Dean and Chapter of the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter in Westminster the patrons of the vicarage of South Benfleet aforesaid the Reverend Edward Williams of East Huntspill in the county of Somerset Clerk the patron of the rectory of Bowers Gifford aforesaid Frederic Morehouse Metcalfe of Inglethorpe Hall in the county of Norfolk Esquire and the Reverend George Met­calfe of Christchurch Upwell in the county of Cambridge Clerk the patrons of the rectory of Hadleigh aforesaid the Honourable Lydia Frances Catherine Dawnay and the Reverend George Heathcote of Conington Rectory in the county of Huntingdon being the patrons of the rectory of Pitsea aforesaid, and Thomas Jenner Spitty of Billericay in the county of Essex Esquire the patron of the rectory of Vange aforesaid and the consents of the incumbents of the several bene­fices to be affected by such scheme to the intent that your Grace may if on full consideration and inquiry you shall be satisfied with the said scheme certify the same scheme and such several consents and also the consent of your Grace as patron of the rectory of Southchurch aforesaid to Her Majesty; in Council.

Given under my hand this sixteenth day of December one thousand eight hundred and eighty.
T. L. St. Albans.

And whereas the scheme and consents referred to in the said representation are as follows :-

SCHEME referred to in the foregoing Representation.

It is proposed to separate from the parishes of North Benfleet, South Benfleet, Bowers Gifford, Hadleigh, Laindon-with-Basildon, Pitsea, Prittlewell, Southchurch, and Vange the outlying portions of such respective parishes which constitute the place or district known as Canvey Island In the county of Essex and diocese of Saint Albans and to constitute the same a separate parish for ecclesi­astical purposes and a perpetual curacy of which the church or chapel of Saint Katharine’s Canvey Island aforesaid shall be the parish church.

The said perpetual curacy shall be subject to the same ecclesiastical jurisdiction as the benefices of North Benfleet, South Benfleet, Bowers Gifford, Hadleigh, Laindon-with-Basildon, Pitsea, Prittlewell, Southchurch, and Vange.

Marriages as well as baptisms churchings and burials shall be performed in the church of the benefice so to be constituted and the fees for all such offices performed within the limits of the said benefice and all ecclesiastical dues offerings and other emoluments, other than tithes arising from or in respect of the said benefice and usually payable to the incumbent of a benefice shall belong to the incumbent of the said intended perpetual curacy or benefice of .Canvey Island.

The incumbent of the said intended perpetual curacy shall have cure of souls within the limits thereof.

The right of nominating a minister to the church of such perpetual curacy and benefice shall’ be for ever vested and be in the Lord Bishop of the diocese wherein the same is for the time being locally situate.

The inhabitants of Canvey Island shall be exonerated from all liability to repair the pariah churches of the parishes to which they now re­spectively belong or any other church or chapel now or hereafter to be erected in any of the said parishes but shall be exclusively liable to the repairs of the said church at Canvey Island.

I the Most Reverend Archibald Campbell Lord Archbishop of Canterbury the patron or person entitled to present to the rectory of Southchurch in case the same were now vacant do hereby signify my consent to the scheme Above
proposed.
A. C. Cantuar.

We the Master and Fellows of Emmanuel College, in the University of Cambridge the patrons or persons entitled to present to the rectory of North Benfleet if the same were now vacant and the Reverend David Jones Davies Clerk rector of the said rectory the Dean and, Chapter of the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter in Westminster the patrons or persons entitled to present to the vicarage of South Benfleet in case the same were now vacant and the Reverend Francis Jinks Burl ton Clerk the vicar of the said vicarage the Reverend Edward Williams of East Huntspill vicarage in the county of Somer­set the patron or person entitled to present to the rectory of Bowers Gifford in case the same were now vacant and the Reverend Daniel Rowland Williams Clerk rector of the said rectory Frederic Morehouse Metcalfe of Inglethorpe Hall in the county of Norfolk, Esquire and the Reverend George Metcalfe of Christ Church Upwell in  the county of Cambridge Clerk the patrons or persons entitled to present to the rectory of Had­leigh in case the same were now vacant and the Reverend Arthur James Skrimahire Clerk M.D. rector of the said rectory the Right Reverend Thomas Legh Lord Bishop, of Saiot Albans the patron or person entitled in right of his See to pre­sent to the rectory of Laindon-with-Basildon and also to the vicarage of Prittlewell in case the same were respectively now vacant and the Reverend John Mathias Procter Clerk rector of the rectory of Laindon-with-Basildon and the Reverend Thomas Qsmotherley Reay Clerk vicar of the vicarage of Prittlewell the Honourable Lydia Frances Catherine Dawnay of Beningbrough Hall in the county of York Spinster and the Reverend George Heathcote of Conington Rectory in the County of Huntingdon being the patrons or per­sons entitled to present to the rectory of Pitsea in case the some were now vacant and the Reverend Henry Hasted Clerk rector of the said rectory the Reverend Josiah Bateman Clerk rector of the rectory of Southchurch Thomas Jenner Spitty of Billericay in the county of Essex a Major in Her Majesty’s Service being the patron or person entitled to present to the rectory of Vange in case the same were now vacant and the Reverend Edward Wright Clerk rector of the said rectory and the Reverend Henry Hayes Clerk incumbent of Saint Katherine’s Canvey Island aforesaid (all such benefices being respectively situate in the county of Essex and diocese of Saint. Albans do hereby respectively signify our consent to the scheme above proposed for separa­ting from the several parishes of North Benfleet, South Benfleet, Bowers Gifford, Hadleigh, Laindon-with-Basildon, Pitsea, Prittlewell, South Church and Vange the outlying portions of such parishes which constitute the district known as Canvey Island and for constituting the said district a separate benefice and a perpetual curacy.

Seal of Emmanuel College
Seal of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster
T. L. St. Albans.
F. J. Burlton.
E. Williams.
D. Rowland Williams.
Fredc. M. Metcalfe.
Geo. Metcalfe.
Arthur J. Slrimshire:
Lydia F. C. Dawnay.
G. Heathcote.
Henry Hasted.
Josiah Bateman.
Thos. Jenner Spitty.
Henry Edwd. Wright.
Henry Hayes.
John Mathias Proctor.
David Jones Davies.
Thomas O. Reay.

And whereas the said Bishop of Saint Albans hath transmitted the said scheme to the Archbishop of Canterbury for his consideration and the said Archbishop being satisfied with such scheme, hath certified the same and such consents as aforesaid, by his report to Her Majesty in Council dated the 2lst day of December, 1880; which report is in the words and figures following:-

To the QUEEN’s Most Excellent Majesty in Council.

We the undersigned Archibald Campbell Lord Archbishop of the Province of Canterbury do hereby report to your Majesty in Council.

That the Right Reverend Thomas Legh Lord Bishop of Saint Albans has represented unto us (amongst other things).

That there is in the county of Essex and diocese of Saint Albans a certain place or district forming a tract of marsh arable and pasture lands situate on the northern bank of the River Thames and separated from the main land by a tidal channel and containing according to the census of one thousand eight hundred and seventy-one a population of two hundred and forty-nine and known as Canvey Island.

That Canvey Island consists of outlying portions of the parishes of North Benfleet, South Benfleet Bowers Gifford, Hadleigh, Laindon-with-Basildon, Pitsea, Prittlewell, Southchurch, and Vange all in the county and diocese aforesaid.

That the churches of the said parishes are situate at distances varying from two miles to twelve miles from Canvey Island aforesaid.

That there is in Canvey Island aforesaid a consecrated church or chapel known as Saint Katharine’s Church.

That it appears to the said Lord Bishop that Canvey Island aforesaid may be advantageously separated from the said parishes and be constituted a separate parish for ecclesiastical purposes and a perpetual curacy and benefice.

That the said Lord Bishop has drawn up a scheme in writing describing the mode in which it appears to him the proposed alteration may best be effected and how the changes consequent on such alteration in respect to ecclesiastical juris­diction and dues may be made with justice to all parties interested which scheme together with the consents thereto in writing of the patrons and in­cumbents of the said parishes has been transmitted by the said Lord Bishop to us for our consideration.

The representation and scheme of the said Lord Bishop and the consents before referred to are hereunto annexed.

And we the said Archbishop being on full con­sideration and enquiry satisfied with the said scheme do hereby pursuant to the Act of Parliament of the first and second years of your Majesty’s reign chapter 106 certify the same and such consents as aforesaid to your Majesty in Council to the intent that your Majesty in Council may in case your Majesty in Council shall think fit so to do make and issue an Order for carrying the said scheme into effect.

As witness our hand this twenty-first day of December one thousand eight hundred and eighty.
A. C. Canluar.

Now therefore Her Majesty in Council by and with the advice of Her said Council, is pleased to order, and it is hereby ordered, that the said scheme of the Lord Bishop of Saint Albans be carried into effect.
C. L. Peel.

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Or the short version. The Bishop made a proposal to everyone concerned to make Canvey Island a Parish in its own right. Everyone thought it a great idea. The proposal and confirmation from the other parishes were put to the Queen and the Queen said YES!