The Union of Benefices Act 1860 (23 & 24 Vict. c. 142) was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which prevented the need for other actsBorer, M. I. C. The City of London – a history. New York, D. McKay Co, 1978 if following its prescribed three-stage scheme. It enabled reduction of the number of parish churches and vicars/rectors in London's "Metropolis", as defined by a narrower act of Parliament, the Metropolis Management Act 1855 (18 & 19 Vict. c. 120), five years before. It instead allowed commissions to recommend dissolution to various parties, which would then be a formality agreed by Order-in-Council.

It was chiefly used for the City of London,Huelin, G. Vanished Churches of the City of London, London Guildhall Library Publishing 1996 as its residential population declined in favour of commercial land useThe 1860 United Benefices Act Wright, G.W. in "Notes and Queries" 1943 184(10):290-291 in the second half of the 19th century.Reynolds, H. The Churches of the City of London. London, Bodley Head, 1922

Mechanism Sections 3 to 6 of the act imposed and regulated prior, unpaid, commissions of inquiry. Section 7. Section 8.Vestry to notify Assent, Suggestions for modification or Objections. Bishop to transmit final Proposals to Ecclesiastical Commissioners, to prepare Scheme, and certify same to the Queen in Council. "Queen in Council" means the Privy Council of the United Kingdom.

Eventual effects +Churches affected Church Fate YearUnited with All Hallows Bread Street Demolished 1876 St Mary-le-Bow All-Hallows-the-Great Tower demolished first; then main body 1876/1894 St Michael Paternoster Royal All Hallows Lombard Street DemolishedTower and other components re-erected at All Hallows, Twickenham 1937 St Edmund the King and Martyr All Hallows StainingTower remains. Demolished 1870 St Olave Hart Street Holy Trinity Gough Square Demolished 1906 St Bride, Fleet Street Holy Trinity, Minories ClosedThe Times, Tuesday, 20 June 1899; pg. 8; Issue 35860; col A Ecclesiastical Intelligence Ancient church closes(destroyed 1940"Local Administrative Units: Southern England" Youngs, F London: Royal Historical Society, 1979 ) 1899 St Botolph's Aldgate St Alphage London Wall Demolished 1924 St Mary Aldermanbury St Antholin, Budge RowViewed by many as the most tragic loss of all "Notes on Old City Churches" Pearce, C.W. (Winthrop Rogers Ltd 1909) DemolishedTo make way for the new Queen Victoria Street. Harben, H. (1918). A Dictionary of London. London: Herbert Jenkins. 1875 St Mary Aldermary St Benet Gracechurch Demolished 1868 All Hallows Lombard Street St Dionis Backchurch DemolishedProceeds went to building of St Dionis, Parson's Green 1878 All Hallows Lombard Street St George Botolph Lane Demolished 1901-04A survey at the beginning of the century had identified it had not been used for worship in 10 years The Times, 23 June 1900; pg. 15; Issue 36176; col F Survey Of The Memorials Of London. St Mary-at-Hill St James Duke's Place Demolished 1874 St Katherine Cree St Katherine Coleman Demolished 1926 St Olave Hart Street St Martin Outwich Demolished 1874 St Helen's Bishopsgate St Mary Somerset Demolished 1872 St Nicholas Cole Abbey St. Mary Magdalen Old Fish Street Caught fire,2 December 1886 Huelin (ibid) subsequently pulled down 1887 St Martin Ludgate St Matthew Friday Street Demolished 1885 St Vedast alias Foster St Michael Bassishaw Demolished 1900 St Lawrence Jewry St Michael Queenhithe DemolishedDemolition details 1875 St James Garlickhythe St Michael Wood Street Demolished 1895 St Alban, Wood Street St Mildred, Poultry Demolished 1872 St Olave Jewry St Olave Jewry Demolished 1888-91 St Margaret Lothbury St Peter Le Poer Demolished 1907 St Michael, Cornhill

As churchyards were emptied for buildings such as the new railway stations and roads, many remains were exhumed and re-interred in the City of London Cemetery.

This act was extended by the Union of Benefices Act 1898 (61 & 62 Vict. c. 23) This simply stated any such scheme "may be made if it provides for the erection of another church or parsonage for a benefice in the vicinity of the metropolis" [including] "any benefice within or partly within the Metropolitan Police District".

The whole act was repealed by section 1 of, and part VII of the schedule to, the Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1974, which came into force on 27 June 1974.

Notes

References

External links