OBJECT.—The salvation of souls, with a single eye to the glory of God,
and in humble dependence on His blessing, by granting aid toward
maintaining faithful and devoted men to assist the Incumbents of Parishes
in their pastoral charge.
PRINCIPLES.—That, in a Christian land, a Church established should
adequately provide for the spiritual instruction of all the people; and
that it is part of the duty of a Christian Legislature to furnish the
Church with means to this end: but that, if the Legislature should fail
of this duty, then, rather than souls should perish, Christians must join
together, to supply the deficiency, and make the Church as effective as
it is in their power to do.
PLAN.—The Church Pastoral-Aid Society strictly regards the wants of the
Church on the one hand, and the order of the Church on the other. It
would make the Church efficient; it would carry the Gospel, by means of
the Church, to every man’s door, but it never intrudes its aid: the
Incumbent must apply for aid, or sanction the application; and until this
is done, the Society cannot move. When aid is sought and granted, the
Parochial Minister must say how it is to be employed—he must nominate the
persons to be employed—he must engage them, as well as superintend and
entirely control them. All that the Society does, is to provide for
their remuneration; and, while so doing, to ask satisfactory proof of
their qualifications.
OPERATIONS. RESULTS OF AID.
Incumbents aided 275 Grants now in operation:
Population under their 2,035,556 for Clergymen 230
charge
Average population to each 7,375 Lay- 40
Assistants
Average income of £163 Additional Churches and
Incumbents Chapels:
Without Parsonage-houses 138 Opened 67
The Society’s aid is to provide Proposed 59
for Clergymen 293 Addit. Licensed Places
used as Chapels:
Lay-Assistants 42 Opened 106
Total charge on the £26,198 Proposed 20
Society, when all are in
operation, per annum
Charge of those now in £20,908 Additional full Services
operation established:
Income of the Society for £16,176 On the 401
the year 1839–40 Lord’s-Day
On Week-days 172
Additional 161
Cottage
Lectures