Queen Anne’s Bounty
The origin of this revenue, which is considered to effect little compared with what might be accomplished under improved management, is as follows. We know that in olden times the Romish Pontiff had the “tenths” of the net annual income of good livings, as well as first-fruits. When the Pope and Henry VIII. quarrelled, and the Papal supremacy was subverted, not only was the supremacy in ecclesiastical affairs transferred from the Pope of Rome to England’s supreme ruler, but also the tenths and first-fruits likewise. At length Queen Anne came to the throne, when (with the consent of her Parliament) she nobly refused to receive what the Church should enjoy, and placed the income under the direction of a Board called “the Governors of Queen Anne’s Bounty.” Their revenue for the improvement of poor livings is considerable, but it might be largely increased. The Pope would have had the real present value, and not that of centuries since; yet, strange to say, while some old benefices have been freed from payment no new rich livings have since been included, and all the old ones are rated according to the absurd scale of assessment made in the time of Henry VIII. To illustrate this the writer compiled the following, some time since:—
| Benefice. | Diocese. | Value in King’s Books. | Value in Clergy List. |
| 1. Stanhope 2. Whitchurch 3. Halsall 4. Croston 5. Edgmond 6. Houghton-le-Spring 7. Bingham | Durham Lichfield Chester Manchester Lichfield Durham Lincoln | £67 6 8 8 17 0 24 11 5 31 11 0 46 8 0 124 0 0 44 7 0 ————— £347 1 1 | £4848 0 0 1458 0 0 3500 0 0 1050 0 0 2600 0 0 1600 0 0 1503 0 0 —————— £16,559 0 0 |
Thus, seven benefices which now pay only 34l. as tenths to the fund, would, if rated according to the present net value, furnish 1600l. annually. If this were altered, and a graduated scale of taxation upon all valuable livings adopted, we should soon see a more equitable and less objectionable management of ecclesiastical affairs. If all the rich clergy regularly assisted the poor benefices, would not the rich laity do the same?
We quote the above from a communication to the Times, 1862. It has been significantly remarked that a Report of the Receipts and Expenditure of the Bounty is desirable.