A meeting of the inhabitants of St. Mary Newington was
held on Wednesday, at Walworth,—Mr. Hawes, M. P. in the chair,—to me- morialize Lord Melbourne on the subject of the rates collected for the two new churches erected in that parish in 1820, namely, St. Peter's and Trinity Church: The memorial stated, that the Rector had repre- sented that the two churches would not cost more than 30,000/. ; and that as there would be a liberal assistance from the Commissioners, the only burden the inhabitants would have to bear would be a rate of threepence in the pound, and that it would become extinct in nine years. In point of fact, however, 40,000/. had been levied on the parish for the above purpose by a self elected body of trustees ; who bad also contracted a loan of 4,800/. in addition to another loan from the above Commissioners of 16.5171., which they had advanced when the churches were first built. The memorial concluded by represent- ing, that the rate ought to have ceased several years since, and all debts paid off; and by praying Lord Melbourne to adopt means for prevent- ing the further payment of rates for the above purpose, to relieve the parish from the whole of the debt due to the Commissioners, and to allow them to appoint trustees for the payment of the 4,8001., and thus to put an end to a system which has done much to alienate the minds of the parishioners from the Church of England. The memorial was unanimously agreed to ; and subsequently a resolution, to the effect "that the meeting pledged themselves to oppose the new church-rates in Coto, and to subscribe to pay the expenses attending such opposition."
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