The poll for a church-rate for the parish of Ashton-under-Line
closed oo Saturday last, when the numbers were—for the rate, 902; for the adjournment, 2,020; majority against the rate, 1,127. This result c in hardly excite surprise, when it is known that in the town of Ashton, according to the statement of the Manchester Statistical Society, read last week at Liverpool. there are no fewer than 1,293 heads of families "making no religious profession," and in the neigh- bouring town of Stalybriege 1,174 more.—Standard. [But it remains to be proved that the opponents of the rate, or any great number of them, were those who made "no religious profession." In Ashton and the neighbourhood the Dissenters are numerous. Those who make "no religious profession" are always assumed to be Churchmen, when it is convenient to represent the numbers of Dissenters as inconsider- able.] It ha- been stated that the Bridport church-rates were carried by a large number. The majority was only 10; the numbers for the rate 247, against it 2:37.
The Church-rate party were defeated last week in the parish of St. Mary- Wigford, Lincoln, by a majority of 74 to 48. A church-rate has been postponed for nine months at Fishtoft, near Boston.
At the Bucks Petty Sessions, on Saturday last, three warrants of distress were obtained by the Churchwardens of Haddenham, against individuals who had refused to pay the rate. In all the cases the sum demanded was trifling; but to the principle of being compelled to support a clench from which they dissent, the Haddenham Noncon- formists are determined to show their decided opposition.
It is said that the Church party throughout Buckinghamshire are resolved to bring the recusants into the Ecclesiastical Courts.
Mr. G. W. Brakenridge has munificently given 5001. towards building a church at Clevedon, and a further sum of 1,0001. towards an endow- ment for the same. Sir A. Elton, Bart., has given the ground for the site of the church, and 501. to the building-fund.—Bath Chronicle. On Tuesday, the Reverend Father Boyle, the Popish Priest of Hereford, beaded a procession of priests and persons of the Roman Catholic faith, who were dressed in robes, decorated with Maltese crosses. They moved from the Catholic chapel to a spot in Broad Street, where a new Catholic church on a most splendid scale is about to be erected ; and were met by T. Monnington, Esq , High Sheriff of the county, who laid the first stone of the new building with great ceremony ; after which, the place was consecrated with the holy chrism by the priests. Father Boyle then preached a sermon on the spot. The band of the Hereford Militia attended in full uniform, and played several sacred airs during the ceremony. The splendid costumes of the priests and the glittering pageant of the procession, preceded by the elevation of the Host, produced much curiosity.—Hereford Standard.
A new Roman Catholic church was opened on Wednesday week a Kendal, by the Catholic Bishop Briggs, with great pomp.
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