Whereas it is expedient that the union created by Act of Parliament between the Churches of England and Ireland, as by law established, should be dissolved, and that the Church of Ireland, as so separated, should cease to be established by law, and that after satisfying, so far as possible, upon principles of equality as between the several religious denominations in Ireland, all just and equitable claims, the property of the said Church of Ireland, or the proceeds thereof, should be applied in such manner as Parliament shall hereafter direct:
And whereas Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to signify that she has placed at the disposal of Parliament her interest in the several archbishoprics, bishoprics, benefices, cathedral preferments, and other ecclesiastical dignities and offices in Ireland:
Short title.                                                                             1. This Act may be cited for all purposes as “The Irish Church Act, 1869.”

Dissolution of legislative union between Churches of England and Ireland.                2. On and after the first day of January one thousand eight hundred and seventy-one the said union created by Act of Parliament between the Churches of England and Ireland shall be dissolved, and the said Church of Ireland, herein-after referred to as “ the said Church, ” shall cease to be established by law.

Constitution and Powers of Commissioners.
[Ss. 3–6 rep. 56 & 57 Vict. c. 54. (S.L.R.) S. 3 provided for the appointment of certain persons constituted as Commissioners of Church Temporalities in Ireland.]

Powers of Commissioners.                                                                 7. Subject to such appeal as is herein-after mentioned, the Commissioners shall have full power to decide all questions whatsoever, whether of law or fact, which it may be necessary to decide for the purposes of this Act, and they shall not be subject to be restrained in the due execution of their powers under this Act by the order of any court, nor shall any proceedings before them be removed by certiorari into any court.

The Commissioners with respect to the following matters, that is to say,
(1.) Enforcing the attendance of witnesses, after a tender of their expenses, the examination of witnesses orally or by affidavit, and the production of deeds, books, papers, and documents;
(2.) Issuing any commission for the examination of witnesses;
(3.) Punishing persons refusing to give evidence or to produce documents, or guilty of contempt in the presence of the Commissioners or any of them sitting in open court;
(4.) Making or enforcing any order whatever made by them for the purpose of carrying into effect the objects of this Act,
shall have all such powers, rights, and privileges as are vested in the High Court of Chancery in Ireland for such or the like purposes, and all proceedings before the Commissioners shall in law be deemed to be judicial proceedings before a court of record.

The Commissioners may review and rescind or vary any order or decision previously made by them or any of them; but save as aforesaid, and as herein-after provided, every order or decision of the said Commissioners shall be final.

Forms of application, and general rules.                                                 8. The Commissioners shall circulate forms of application and directions as to the mode in which applications are to be made to them under this Act.

They shall also from time to time make, and when made they may rescind, amend, or add to, such general rules as they may think best adapted for regulating the course of procedure under this Act, and generally for securing the due execution of the powers vested in them by this Act, and giving effect to the provisions: Provided that every such general rule shall be laid before Her Majesty’s Privy Council of Ireland, and it shall be lawful for such Privy Council, by order signed by six of the said Privy Council, to confirm or disallow any such rule, or to alter or amend, and confirm with alteration or amendment, any such rule, or to remit any such rule to the Commissioners for further consideration; and every such general rule (when the same shall have been confirmed by order of the said Privy Council) shall be enrolled in the High Court of Chancery in Ireland, and when so enrolled shall be binding on the Commissioners in the exercise of their powers, and shall be of the same force and effect as if the same had been enacted by authority of Parliament; provided always, that any rules so confirmed and enrolled as aforesaid may from time to time be rescinded, amended, or altered, as occasion may require, by other rules made by the Commissioners, and confirmed and enrolled in like manner.

All general rules made and enrolled as aforesaid shall be laid before both Houses of Parliament within one month from the enrolment thereof, if Parliament be then sitting, or, if Parliament be not then sitting, within one month from the commencement of the then next session of Parliament.

[S. 9 rep. 56 & 57 Vict. c. 54. (S.L.R.)]
Transfer of Property and Dissolution of Ecclesiastical Corporations.

[S. 10 rep. 56 & 57 Vict. c. 54. (S.L.R.)]
Property of Ecclesiastical Commissioners vested in Commissioners under this Act.         11. From and after the passing of this Act all property, real and personal, at the date of such passing vested in or belonging to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for Ireland, is transferred to and vested in the Commissioners appointed under this Act, subject to all tenancies, charges, incumbrances, rights (including tenants rights of renewal), or liabilities affecting the same, and the corporation of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for Ireland is hereby dissolved.

Church property vested in Commissioners under this Act.                                  12. On the first of January one thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, save as herein-after provided, all property, real and personal, belonging or in anywise appertaining to or appropriated to the use of any archbishopric, bishopric, benefice, or cathedral preferment in or connected with the said Church, or belonging or in anywise appertaining to or appropriated to the use of any person as holding any such archbishopric, bishopric, benefice, or cathedral preferment, or belonging or in anywise appertaining to or appropriated to the use of any cathedral corporation in Ireland, as defined by this Act, shall vest in the Commissioners, subject as herein-after mentioned; that is to say,
3 & 4 Will. 4. c. 37.
23 & 24 Vict. c. 150.
(1.) In case of all such property, subject to any quitrents, head rents, leases, and other tenancies, charges, and incumbrances affecting the same:
(2.) In the case of any houses, buildings, farms, lands, churches, burial grounds, or other corporeal hereditaments to which, or to the rent and profits of which, any archbishop, bishop, or person holding any such benefice or cathedral preferment as aforesaid may be entitled, subject to the life interests of such archbishop, bishop, or person respectively; and such last-mentioned corporeal hereditaments shall, subject to the provision for commutation herein-after contained, continue in such archbishop, bishop, or person respectively for their respective lives with the same powers, rights, and authorities and in the same manner as if this Act had not passed:
(3.) On the death or cesser of the interest of any archbishop or bishop aforesaid the tenants then holding directly under any such archbishop or bishop where leases had been theretofore customarily renewable shall have similar rights of renewal of their said leases, and the said Commissioners shall be under similar obligations and have similar powers and rights in relation to such renewals, and the rents and fines thereupon, as the tenants of sees suppressed under statute third and fourth William the Fourth, chapter thirty-seven, and as the Ecclesiastical Commissioners in regard thereto had and were under respectively immediately before the passing of statute twenty third and twenty fourth Victoria, chapter one hundred and fifty; every application for any such renewal shall be made within one year from the death or cesser of the interest of such archbishop or bishop, and thereupon the Commissioners shall once and for ever fix for the future the rent and periods of renewal and the fine to be paid thereupon, and in case of any difference in relation to such rent or fine the same shall be referred to arbitration as herein.

[S. 13 rep. 56 & 57 Vict. c. 54. (S.L.R.)]
Compensation to Persons deprived of Income.
[Ss. 14, 15 rep. 56 & 57 Vict. c. 54. (S.L.R)]
Compensation to diocesan and district school-masters, clerks, sextons, &c.               16. The Commissioners shall, as soon as may be after the passing of this Act, ascertain and declare by order the following particulars:
53 Geo. 3. c. 107.
(1.) The amount of yearly salary which each schoolmaster of any diocesan or district school in Ireland is entitled to receive under any warrant of the Lord Lieutenant in Council made under the provisions of the Endowed Schools (Ireland) Act, 1813, or any statutory amendment thereof:
(2.) The amount of yearly salary which each clerk, sexton, or other holder of a freehold office of a similar character, or of any office held during good behaviour which the Commissioners may think equal to a freehold office, connected with any cathedral, parish, chapelry, and chapel of ease in Ireland, is entitled to receive, and of the emoluments of which he will be deprived by this Act:
and the Commissioners shall every year, after the first of January one thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, pay to each such diocesan schoolmaster, clerk, sexton, and officer respectively, so long as he lives and continues to perform the duties of his office personally or by sufficient deputy in the same school cathedral, church, or chapel, or, in the case of a clerk, sexton, or officer of the said church, any duties of the same kind which shall be assigned to him by the representative body of the Church herein-after mentioned, and which he will agree to perform, an annuity equal to the amount of his yearly salary and emoluments so ascertained as aforesaid, or shall, on the application of such annuitant, being a clerk, sexton, or officer of the said Church, made at any time between the first day of January one thousand eight hundred and seventy-one and the first day of January one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, and with the consent of the Church body herein-after mentioned, cause the present value of such life annuity to be estimated, and pay the same to such annuitant, or to such annuitant and Church body, in such proportions as they shall agree: Provided that no commutation shall be made of the salary of an annuitant, being a sexton, clerk, or other officer as aforesaid, without the consent of the ecclesiastical person under whom such sexton, clerk, or officer may be serving at the time of the application being made for commutation.

[Ss. 17, 18 rep. 56 & 57 Vict. c. 54. (S.L.R.)]
Powers of Church after passing of Act.
Repeal of laws prohibiting holding of synods, &c.                                        19. . . . nothing in any Act, law, or custom shall prevent the bishops, the clergy, and laity of the said Church, by such representatives, lay and clerical, and to be elected as they the said bishops, clergy, and laity shall appoint, from meeting in general synod or convention, and in such synod or convention framing constitutions and regulations for the general management and good government of the said Church and property and affairs thereof, and the future representation of the members thereof in diocesan synods, general convention, or otherwise.

Existing law to subsist by contract.                                                     20. The present ecclesiastical law of Ireland, and the present articles, doctrines, rites, rules, discipline, and ordinances of the said Church, with and subject to such (if any) modification or alteration as may be duly made therein according to the constitution of the said Church for the time being, shall be deemed to be binding on the members for the time being thereof in the same manner as if such members had mutually contracted and agreed to abide by and observe the same, and shall be capable of being enforced in the temporal courts in relation to any property which under and by virtue of this Act is reserved or given to or taken and enjoyed by the said Church or any members thereof, in the same manner and to the same extent as if such property had been expressly given, granted, or conveyed upon trust to be held, occupied, and enjoyed by persons who should observe and keep and be in all respects bound by the said ecclesiastical law, and the said articles, doctrines rites, rules, discipline, and ordinances of the said Church, subject as aforesaid; but nothing herein contained shall be construed to confer on any archbishop, bishop, or other ecclesiastical person any coercive jurisdiction whatsoever: Provided always, that no alteration in the articles, doctrines, rites, or, save in so far as may be rendered necessary by the passing of this Act, in the formularies of the said Church, shall be binding on any ecclesiastical person now licensed as a curate or holding any archbishopric, bishopric, benefice, or cathedral preferment in Ireland, being an annuitant or person entitled to compensation under this Act, who shall within one month after the making of such alteration signify in writing to the Church body hereafter mentioned his dissent therefrom, so as to deprive such person of any annuity or other compensation to which under this Act he may be entitled.

[S. 21 (abolition of ecclesiastical courts and ecclesiastical law) rep. 56 & 57 Vict. c. 54. (S.L.R.)]

Incorporation of Church body.                                                            22. If at any time it be shown to the satisfaction of Her Majesty that the bishops, clergy, and laity of the said Church in Ireland, or the persons who, for the time being, may succeed to the exercise and discharge of the episcopal functions of such bishops, and the clergy and laity in communion with such persons, have appointed any persons or body to represent the said Church and to hold property for any of the uses or purposes thereof, it shall be lawful for Her Majesty by charter to incorporate such body, with power, notwithstanding the statutes of mortmain, to hold lands to such extent as is in this Act provided, but not further or otherwise.

Dealings between Commissioners and representative Church body.

Redemption of annuities and life interest of ecclesiastical persons.                     23. In the event of a representative corporate body, hereinafter referred to as “the representative body of the said Church,” being constituted in pursuance of this Act to represent the said Church, any archbishop, bishop, or person holding any such benefice or cathedral preferment as aforesaid, or any curate entitled to an annuity under this Act, may apply to the Commissioners to commute his annuity and the value of his life interest, if any, in any ecclesiastical property held by him in pursuance of this Act, exclusive of any income derived from pew rents and burial fees, for a capital sum; and the Commissioners, if satisfied that such annuity and life interest is unincumbered, or, if incumbered, that the incumbrancers consent to the commutation, and that the said representative body assent to such commutation and also, in the case of a curate, that the incumbent (if any) from whose income the salary of such curate has been deducted as aforesaid assents, shall cause the then present value of such annuity and also of such life interest, exclusive as aforesaid, to be estimated, and shall pay the amount of such estimated value to the representative body of the said Church charged with the payment of the annuity in respect of which the capital sum is paid, so long as the annuitant requires such payment to be made but with power to the representative body of the said Church to make such arrangements in respect of the commuted value of the annuity with the annuitant, and as to the disposal of such portion thereof as shall after such arrangements be applicable to Church purposes, as shall to such body seem fit; and upon such capital sum being paid, the annuity of such applicant shall cease, and all the estate and interest of the said applicant in any such ecclesiastical property as aforesaid shall vest in the Commissioners.

Any person having a life interest in ecclesiastical property in pursuance of this Act, although not the recipient of an annuity shall be deemed to be an annuitant for the purposes of this section, and such life interest may be valued and commuted accordingly; provided that the value of the life interest in any ecclesiastical property of the said Church shall include the benefit (if any) derived from fines paid on the renewal of leases, on an average of fourteen years preceding the first of January one thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine; . . .

Building charge to be paid on commutation of annuity.                                    24. When any annuity is commuted as aforesaid, the Commissioners shall, as soon as may be, ascertain and by order declare the amount of any building charge to which the archbishop, bishop, incumbent, or person holding such cathedral preferment, and theretofore entitled to such annuity as aforesaid, or any person or persons claiming through or under him, may be entitled, after deducting such sum or sums of money (if any) as the Commissioners may ascertain and declare to be just in respect of any dilapidations or want of proper repair in any of the buildings subject to such charge, and the Commissioners shall thereupon pay to such archbishop, bishop, or person holding such benefice or cathedral preferment, or any person or persons claiming as aforesaid (as the case may be), the principal sum (if any) so ascertained and declared to be payable to him or them in respect of such building charge as aforesaid.

Enactments with respect to churches.                                                     25. The following enactments shall be made with respect to churches vested in the Commissioners under this Act:
(1.) Where any church or ecclesiastical building or structure appears to the Commissioners to be ruinous, or if a church to be wholly disused as a place of public worship, and not suitable for restoration as a place of public worship, and yet to be deserving of being maintained as a national monument by reason of its architectural character or antiquity, the Commissioners shall by order vest such church, building, or structure in the secretary of the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland, to be held by such secretary, his heirs and assigns, upon trust for the Commissioners of Public Works, to be preserved as a national monument, and not to be used as a place of public worship . . . . . . . . . . . .
(3.) Where any church was in use at the time of the passing of this Act, and no application in respect thereof is made by the said representative body of the said Church within the said prescribed period, and such church was erected at the private expense of any person, the Commissioners shall, on the application of the person who erected such church, if alive, or of his representatives if he died since the year one thousand eight hundred, by order vest such church in the applicant or applicants, or in such person or persons as he or they may direct:
(4.) Where any church vested in the Commissioners under this Act is not disposed of under the preceding sections, the Commissioners shall dispose of such church and the site thereof in such manner as they think expedient: . . . . . . . . . . . .
(6.) No vesting order made under this section shall prejudice or affect the right of any person or persons to any vault or other place of burial within any church or ecclesiastical building, and every such vesting order shall be deemed to be subject thereto, and to all such other rights of sepulture therein as may be subsisting at the date of such order.

Enactments with respect to burial grounds.                                               26. The following enactments shall be made with respect to burial grounds vested in the Commissioners:
(1.) Where any church vested in the representative body of the said Church has a burial ground annexed or adjacent thereto, but not separated therefrom by any carriage highway, or that has been granted by a private donor to, or exclusively used by, the parishioners attending the said church, such burial ground shall be included with the church in the order made by the Commissioners, subject to any life estate or interest subsisting therein, and pass to the said representative body accordingly, but without prejudice to such rights of or in respect of burial as may be subsisting therein, or may be thereafter declared to subsist therein by Act of Parliament; or the Commissioners shall, at the option of the said representative body, vest such burial ground in the guardians of the poor law union within which the same may be situate, subject to a right of way in the said representative body, and the clergy and congregation attending the said church, and such other persons as may resort thereto for the purpose of divine worship, or for the purpose of repairing the said church, or for any other lawful purpose; and such guardians shall not allow any funeral to take place during the usual time of the ordinary services in the said church, and shall make such other regulations as may be found necessary from time to time to prevent any interference by persons attending funerals with the clergy or congregation attending the said church, and shall keep the wall or other fence, and the gates or doors of, and any road or path through, such burial ground to the church situate therein in good and sufficient repair, and shall as far as may be consistently with the provisions herein-before contained, hold such burial ground for the same purposes, and subject to the same rules and regulations, as if such burial ground were a burial ground purchased or taken by such guardians, being a burial board under the provisions of the Burial Act (Ireland), 1856,[1] [1 The Act referred to must be the Burial Grounds (Ireland) Act, 1856, 19 & 20 Vict. c. 98., which is rep. by 41 & 42 Vict. c. 52. s. 294.] and the statutory amendments thereof, for the time being, but without prejudice to such right of burial as may be subsisting therein at the date of such order, or may thereafter be declared to subsist therein by Act of Parliament:
(2.) Where any church conveyed to the secretary to the Commissioners of Public Works for Ireland as aforesaid has a burial ground annexed or adjacent thereto, and also in every case other than those herein-before provided for in which a burial ground is vested in the Commissioners under this Act, unless such burial ground is in any private park, demesne, or ornamental grounds, the Commissioners shall vest such burial ground in the guardians of the poor of the poor law union within which the same may be situate, to be held by such guardians for the same purposes, and subject to the same rules and regulations, as if such burial ground were a burial ground purchased or taken by such guardians, being a burial board under the provisions of the Burial Act (Ireland), 1856,[1] and the statutory amendments thereof, for the time being, but without prejudice to such rights of burial as may be subsisting therein at the date of such order, or may thereafter be declared to subsist therein by Act of Parliament; and the Commissioners may, in the case of burial grounds situate in private parks, demesnes, or ornamental grounds, vest the same in such person and in such manner as the Lord Lieutenant in Council may direct in each particular instance.

Enactments with respect to ecclesiastical residences.                                    27. Where there is any ecclesiastical residence vested in the Commissioners which at the time of the passing of this Act or within six months prior thereto is or has been occupied as a residence by any ecclesiastical person performing or aiding in the performance of the services in any church vested in the representative body of said Church in pursuance of this Act or in any building temporarily used in place of a church, or where such residence being a see house is or has been occupied by the archbishop or bishop of the see to which such residence belongs at the time of the passing of this Act, or within six months prior thereto, the Commissioners shall, on the application of the representative body of the said Church, by order vest in that body such ecclesiastical residence, with the garden and curtilage thereto, subject to such life estate or interest, if any, as may be then subsisting therein, upon payment to the Commissioners of such sum as is herein-after mentioned, that is to say, where there is no building charge affecting the same, upon payment to the Commissioners of a sum equal to ten times the amount of the annual value of the site of such ecclesiastical residence estimated as land, and of the said garden and curtilage, such value to be determined in case of disagreement by arbitration; and where there is a building charge affecting the same, on payment to the Commissioners of such one of the two sums herein-after mentioned as may be the smallest, that is to say, either the amount of such building charge or a sum equal to the value of such ecclesiastical residence, with the garden and curtilage thereto, taken at ten years purchase of the annual value as estimated by the general tenement valuation, such valuation and payment to be made, if there be no life estate or interest subsisting in such residence, at the time of the making of the said vesting order, but if there be a life estate or interest subsisting therein, then such valuation, and also the payment to the Commissioners or persons entitled thereto in place of the Commissioners, to be made immediately after the determination of such life estate or interest.

Where the payment of the amount of any building charge or sum as aforesaid is deferred in pursuance of this section, the amount thereof shall be deemed to be a lien on the said ecclesiastical residence, and the garden and curtilage thereto, in the nature of a lien for unpaid purchase money, but it shall not bear interest until the same becomes payable in pursuance of this section.

Power to convey additional land to Church body.                                          28. Where any ecclesiastical residence is by order of the Commissioners vested in the representative body of the said Church, the Commissioners may, on the application of the said body, by order vest a further portion of land in the said body; that is to say,
(1.) In the case of a see house a quantity of land not exceeding thirty acres, being land usually occupied with the said see house;
(2.) In the case of any other ecclesiastical residence a quantity of land not exceeding ten acres, being land usually occupied with the said ecclesiastical residence:
Provided always, that if the Commissioners shall be of opinion that for the convenient enjoyment of the said house or residence, or by reason of the severance which would otherwise take place, an additional quantity of land should be granted, they shall by order vest such additional land in the said body.

There shall be paid to the said Commissioners by the said representative body as the price of the land to be vested in them in pursuance of this section such sum as may be agreed upon or may be determined by arbitration.

Any vesting order made by the Commissioners in pursuance of this section shall have annexed thereto a map accurately defining the land thereby vested.

[S. 29 rep. 56 & 57 Vict. c. 54. (S.L.R.)]
Moveable chattels belonging to see or church.                                            30. All plate, furniture, and other moveable chattels belonging to any church or chapel, or used in connexion with the celebration of Divine worship therein, shall vest in the representative Church body when incorporated; and, subject to the life enjoyment of same by the existing incumbents, all moveable chattels held and enjoyed by the incumbent for the time being of any see, cathedral preferment, and benefice in his corporate right, together with or as incident to the occupation of any ecclesiastical residence, shall also vest in the same body when incorporated; and where any property is vested in any ecclesiastical or cathedral corporation in Ireland in trust for the poor or any other charitable purpose, the dissolution of such corporation shall not affect the continuance of the trust, but such property shall immediately upon such dissolution vest in the representative body of the said Church, or, in default of and until the same shall be constituted, in the Commissioners for the execution of this Act, but subject always to the trusts affecting the same, and under the same supervision, local or otherwise, as theretofore, or as near thereto as the circumstances of the case will admit; and in all cases where ecclesiastical persons are at present in right of their dignities or offices entitled to be members of any lay corporations constituted for the management of any private endowment, or are trustees for the management of property belonging to institutions of private foundation for purposes not ecclesiastical, then the persons (if any) who shall hereafter at any time discharge duties similar or analogous to those now discharged by such ecclesiastical persons shall be entitled to succeed in their room, and be members of such lay corporations, and to act as such trustees.

Management of Property by Commissioners.
[Ss. 31, 32 (sale of tithe rentcharge to owners) rep. 56 & 57 Vict. c. 54. (S.L.R.) The provisions of 35 & 36 Vict. c. 90. s. 7. are substituted for s 32.]

Commissioners may purchase surrender or assignment of lease.                             33. The Commissioners may, in order to the commutation of tithe rentcharge, purchase the surrender or assignment of any subsisting lease of tithe rentcharge made by an ecclesiastical person or corporation.

Power to Commissioners to sell property vested in them by this Act.                      34. The Commissioners may at any time sell by public auction or private contract, or otherwise convert into money, any real or personal property vested in them by this Act, subject to the other provisions of this Act, and to the following conditions:
23 & 24 Vict. c. 153.
(1.) They shall not sell to the public any perpetual yearly rent issuing out of any land, or any right to mines or quarries in any land, where the fee simple of the land subject to such rent or right is vested in some person other than the Commissioners, until they have given notice to the owner of such land that they are willing to sell the same to him at the price herein-after mentioned, and the owner has declined to accept their offer:
(2.) Perpetuity rents shall be offered to the owner of the land out of which they issue at a capital sum equal to twenty-five times the annual amount of such rents:
(3.) The price of the rights to mines or quarries shall be fixed by the Commissioners by order:
(4.) They shall not sell to the public the fee simple of any land in which any archbishop, bishop, or person holding any such benefice or cathedral preferment as aforesaid has a life interest during the continuance of such life interest:
(5.) They shall not sell to the public the fee simple of any land which is held immediately from or under the Commissioners by virtue of any lease or tenancy, until they have given notice to the lessee or tenant that they are willing to sell the fee simple to him for a price to be named by the Commissioners in such notice, and such lessee or tenant has declined to accept their offer; . . .
(6.) Notice shall be given to the owner, where such owner is known to the Commissioners, by sending by post a letter containing the terms of the offer addressed to him at his last known place of abode; where he is not known, notice may be given by advertising the terms in the Dublin Gazette, and in one or more local newspapers as the Commissioners may determine:
(7.) An owner shall be deemed to have declined to accept the offer of the Commissioners if he do not accept the same in writing, and pay or secure tho purchase money to the Commissioners within three months after the giving of such notice as aforesaid:
(8.) “ Owner of land ” for the purposes of this section shall include a “ limited owner ” as defined by the Landed Property (Ireland) Improvement Act, 1860; and any limited owner may raise the money required for any purchase under this section, or any part thereof, by mortgage (at a rate of interest not exceeding five pounds per centum per annum) of the land of which he is such limited owner as aforesaid.

Any person purchasing from the Commissioners shall hold the lands, tenements, and hereditaments purchased by him subject to all tenants rights of renewal to which the same were subject in the hands of the Commissioners at the time of such sale.

Orders of Commissioners operating as conveyance, &c. to be liable to stamp duty          35. Every order of the Commissioners operating as a conveyance or mortgage of any property shall be deemed to be a conveyance or mortgage within the meaning of the Acts relating to stamps, and shall be chargeable with stamp duty accordingly.

Payment of money into bank.                                                              36. All purchase monies, rents, and other monies whatsoever payable to the Commissioners under or by reason of any of the provisions of this Act shall be paid into such bank, and be invested in such manner, as may from time to time be determined by the Treasury.

Accounts of capital and revenues.                                                        37. The Commissioners appointed under this Act shall prepare in such form, and either annually or for such shorter periods, as the Treasury may direct, accounts of the receipts and expenditure of the capital and of the revenues derived from all property, real and personal, vested in the Commissioners, or of any other funds falling under their control and management under the provisions of this Act; and within three months after the expiration of each year, or other shorter period, to which the accounts relate, the Commissioners shall transmit the same to the Comptroller and Auditor General, to be audited, certified, and reported upon with reference to the provisions of this Act, and in conformity with the powers and regulations prescribed in the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act, 1866, for the rendering and auditing of appropriation accounts; and the accounts with the reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon, shall be laid before both Houses of Parliament not later than two months after the date on which they shall have been rendered for audit, if Parliament be then sitting, and if not sitting, then within a week after it shall be next assembled: Provided always, that the expense of such audit shall be included in the incidental expenses herein-before mentioned of carrying this Act into execution, and shall be defrayed accordingly.

29 & 30 Vict. c. 39.
Regium Donum and College of Maynooth.
Compensation to nonconforming ministers.                                                 38. When the annual parliamentary grant for the expenses of the nonconforming, seceding, and Protestant dissenting ministers in Ireland, commonly called the Regium Donum, and in this Act referred to by that name, is discontinued, the Commissioners shall as soon as may be after such discontinuance ascertain and declare by order the amount of the yearly sum theretofore received thereout by each minister of any Protestant nonconforming congregation in Ireland, or which he would have been entitled to receive if such grant had not been discontinued, and shall pay to each such minister, so long as he lives and is continued in the ministry, by and with the consent of the governing body of the church or religious community to which he may belong, an annuity equal to the yearly amount so ascertained as aforesaid.

The Commissioners shall also on such discontinuance as aforesaid ascertain and declare by order the amount of any yearly sum to which any assistant successor to a minister in such congregation may be prospectively entitled, and shall secure to such successor a deferred life annuity of the same value and payable in the same events as the yearly sum for which it is substituted. The Commissioners shall also ascertain and declare by order what Protestant nonconforming congregations were on the first day of March one thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine fulfilling the conditions necessary for eventually obtaining out of the Regium Donum the payment of yearly sums for their respective ministers, and what would have been in each case the amount of such yearly payment, and the time at which the same would have begun to be payable, and shall as from that time pay to the minister of each such congregation a life annuity, subject to the same conditions as aforesaid, equal to the amount of the yearly payment which he would have become entitled to receive on the fulfilment of the necessary conditions if the grant of the Regium Donum had not been discontinued: Provided always, that no minister placed in a congregation, or becoming assistant successor, for the first time after the passing of this Act shall be entitled to any annual sum by way of compensation.

Commutation of annuities of nonconformist ministers, &c.                                 39. Any minister or assistant successor of any Protestant nonconforming congregation, to or for whom any annuity is paid or secured under this Act by reason of the discontinuance of the said grant called the Regium Donum, may apply to the Commissioners to commute his annuity for a capital sum to be paid to him, and the said Commissioners, if satisfied that the annuity of the applicant is not incumbered, or if incumbered that the incumbrancers consent to the commutation, shall cause the then present value of the annuity to be estimated, and shall pay the amount of such estimated value to trustees, such trustees to be appointed in the case of any such minister or assistant successor as aforesaid by such minister or assistant successor and the General Assembly or synod or presbytery, as the case may be, of the church or religious community to which such minister or assistant successor may belong.

[Ss. 40, 41 rep. 56 & 57 Vict. c. 54. (S.L.R.)]
Appeal.
Persons aggrieved may appeal.                                                            42. Where any person is aggrieved by the value set by the Commissioners on any life interest or other interest in respect of which compensation is awarded to him under this Act, and where any person feels aggrieved by the value set by the Commissioners on any advowson or right of presentation in respect of which he is awarded compensation under this Act, he may, if he think fit, refer such question to arbitration.

Supplemental Provisions.
[Ss. 43–47 rep. 56 & 57 Vict. c. 54. (S.L.R.)]
Dealings with Property.
Commissioners not to expend monies in building.                                          48. It shall not be lawful for the Commissioners to expend any money whatever in or about the building, rebuilding, or enlarging of any cathedral or other church, or any chapel, see house, glebe house, or other building belonging to the said church or to any person holding office therein or connected therewith, or in enlarging or improving any churchyard or graveyard, nor to grant or advance any money for the purposes aforesaid, or any of them, . . .

Commissioners not to expend monies in repairs.                                           49. It shall not be lawful for the Commissioners to expend any money whatever upon any such buildings, churchyard, or graveyard as aforesaid, whether for repairs or otherwise, nor in payment of salaries of clerks or sextons of any parish, chapelry, or chapel of ease who may be appointed after the passing of this Act, or in providing any church or chapel with fuel, lighting, or things necessary for the celebration of Divine service, nor to grant or advance any money for the purposes aforesaid, or any of them, . . .

Payment of building charge.                                                              50. Nothing herein contained shall affect the right of any archbishop, bishop, or person holding any benefice or cathedral preferment in the said Church, and whose annuity has not been commuted in pursuance of this Act, to receive the amount of any building charge to which such archbishop, bishop, or other person would have been entitled if this Act had not passed; and in the event of the circumstances occurring under which such person or his representatives would have been entitled, if this Act had not passed, to receive such charge, the Commissioners shall pay the same to such person or his representatives.

Regulations as to payment of commutation and annuity.                                    51. Every annuity payable by the Commissioners under this Act shall be deemed to accrue due from day to day, and shall be paid at such intervals not exceeding in any case six months, and in such manner, as the Commissioners may judge expedient.

The Commissioners may deduct from any annuity payable by them any sums they may have been required to pay to any in-cumbrancer in respect of any charge which would have been payable out of the property for which such annuity is substituted if no substitution had taken place, subject to the like provision thereout for the discharge of the spiritual duties of the see or benefice as the income thereof would have been liable to if this Act had not been passed.

All commutation monies paid under this Act in lieu of annuities shall be calculated at the rate of three pounds ten shillings per centum per annum.

Power of Commissioners to accept mortgages as security for a portion of purchase money.  52. [1] [1 The interest on mortgages under this section is reduced, 50 & 51 Vict. c. 33. s. 25.] Where the Commissioners sell any land or interest in land in pursuance of this Act, the Commissioners may credit the purchaser with such part of the purchase money, not exceeding three-fourth parts, as they think proper, on having payment of the same, with interest at the rate of four per centum per annum, secured to the satisfaction of the Commissioners; and any such purchase money may be made payable by half-yearly instalments not exceeding sixty-four in number.

Power to pay by instalments.                                                             53. Where the Commissioners are authorized or required under this Act to pay any capital sum in respect of any commuted annuity, they may, if they think fit, instead of paying such sum at once, elect to pay the same by half-yearly instalments, not exceeding eight in number, together with interest at the rate of three and a half pounds per cent. on any part of the capital for the time being remaining unpaid.

Where the representative body of the said Church is liable to pay any capital sum to the Commissioners, such capital sum may be paid by twenty-two yearly instalments, with interest at the rate of three and a half per cent. on the amount of the purchase money remaining unpaid, to be secured in such manner as the Commissioners think expedient.

Sales of lands, &c. may be made in Landed Estates Court.                                 54. If in any case in which the Commissioners are by this Act authorized or directed to sell any property it appears to them to be expedient that the same should be sold, or the sale thereof carried out, in the Landed Estates Court in Ireland, it shall be lawful for the Commissioners so to declare by order, and to direct that such sale shall be effected or carried out by the said court and thereupon such sale shall be effected or carried out in and by the said court accordingly; but any right of pre-emption herein-before declared shall be as far as possible preserved in the said court; and the conveyance of the premises so to be sold, or the sale of which may be carried out, under any such order, shall be executed by a judge of the said court, and shall have the same force and operation in all respects as if the same were so executed in a matter in which an absolute order for sale of the said premises had been duly made by the said court on a petition filed therein for that purpose.

Saving claim of arrears of rent, &c.                                                     55. The vesting of any property in the Commissioners under this Act shall not preclude any person entitled from recovering any arrears of rent, interest, or other sums payable at the time of such vesting, out of or in respect of such property, and such arrears, interest, or other sum may be recovered by such person in the some manner in all respects as if such vesting had not taken place; and where any person is deprived of any rent. interest, or other sum payable out of or in respect of property by reason of such property vesting in the Commissioners under this Act, the Commissioners, after deducting any rates or charges payable thereout, shall pay to such person a proportionate part of such rents, interest, and other sums in respect of the time that may have intervened between the last day at which such person was entitled to receive such rents, interest, or sums, and the time of the vesting of the property in the Commissioners.

Provision for other persons under disability.                                            56. Where any person who (if not under disability) might have made any application, given any consent, done any act, or been party to any proceeding under this Act, is an infant, idiot, or lunatic the guardian or committee of the estate respectively of such person may make such applications, give such consents, do such acts, and be party to such proceedings, as such person respectively, if free from disability, might have made, given, done, or been party to, and shall otherwise represent such person for the purposes of this Act: where there is no guardian or committee of the estate of any such person as aforesaid being infant, idiot; or lunatic, or where any person the committee of whose estates if he were idiot or lunatic would be authorized to act for and represent such person under this part of this Act is of unsound mind or incapable of managing his affairs, but has not been found idiot or lunatic under an inquisition, it shall be lawful for the Court of Chancery to appoint a guardian of such person for the purpose of any proceedings under this Act, and from time to time to change such guardian; and where the court sees fit it may appoint a person to act as the next friend of a married woman for the purpose of any proceeding under this Act, and from time to time remove or change such next friend.

Provision as to incapacitated owners.                                                    57. If in any case any such advowson or building charge as is mentioned in this Act is so circumstanced as that there is not in the opinion of the Commissioners any person competent to give an effectual discharge for the compensation or amount payable in respect thereof, or if the person or any of the persons claiming to be entitled thereto do not deduce his or their title to the satisfaction of the Commissioners, or if any doubt or other difficulty whatsoever arise in relation to the premises, it shall be lawful for the Commissioners so to declare by order, and thereupon the compensation or amount so payable by the Commissioners shall be paid into the Bank of Ireland, ex parte the Commissioners, to be dealt with in the same manner in which purchase money payable to parties under disability is paid into the Bank of Ireland and dealt with in pursuance of the Lands Clauses Consolidation Act, 1845; and in the construction of that Act this Act shall for the purposes of this section be deemed to be the special Act.

8 & 9 Vict. c. 18.
Power to officers of Commissioners to enter upon land.                                   58. Any surveyor or other person employed by the Commissioners for the purpose of ascertaining the value of any land or buildings which, or the reversion of which, may be vested in the Commissioners under this Act, may enter upon such land or buildings at all reasonable times during the day, upon making full compensation for any damage he may do, for the purpose of making a valuation of such land or buildings, or ascertaining the several matters and things necessary to be ascertained by the Commissioners for the purpose of carrying this Act into effect.

Power of the Commissioners to raise Money.
Commissioners to raise money for the purposes of the Act.                                59. The Commissioners may, with the consent of the Treasury, from time to time raise such sums of money as they may think expedient for the purpose of carrying into effect any of the provisions of this Act, and the Commissioners may give as security for the repayment of any monies so raised, and of interest thereon, the whole or any part of the property vested in them by this Act.

Power to Treasury to advance money to Commissioners.                                     60. The Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt, if they think fit, with the approval of the Treasury, may from time to time out of any money in their hands under the Trustee Savings Banks Act, 1863, or under the Post Office Savings Bank Act, 1861, or under both those Acts, advance to the Commissioners, with such guarantee as is by this Act authorized (but not otherwise), the whole or any part or parts of the money which by this Act the Commissioners are authorized to raise.

26 & 27 Vict. c. 87.
24 & 25 Vict. c. 14.
Power for Treasury to guarantee advance to Commissioners.                                61. It shall be lawful for the Treasury, if they think fit, from time to time to guarantee the payment of the principal and interest of all or any part of any money for the time being raised by the Commissioners in pursuance of this Act.

Form of security and guarantee.                                                          62. Any security given by the Commissioners in pursuance of this Act shall be in such form, and may contain such powers of sale or otherwise, as the Treasury may approve, and there shall be certified thereon, in such form as the Treasury may direct, the guarantee to be given in pursuance of this Act.

Guarantee to be based on Consolidated Fund.                                              63. For the purpose of giving effect to the guarantee aforesaid, it shall be lawful for the Treasury, from time to time in aid of any money applicable under this Act, for payment of principal and interest for the time being accrued due in respect of any monies raised by the Commissioners in pursuance of this Act, to cause to be issued out of the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom, or the growing produce thereof, such sums as may be necessary for payment of the same principal and interest or of any part thereof respectively.

Repayment to Consolidated Fund.                                                          64. In case any money is at any time issued out of the said Consolidated Fund in pursuance of the guarantee aforesaid, the Treasury shall cause the same to be repaid to the said Consolidated Fund out of the funds in the hands of the Commissioners.

Arbitration.
Rules as to arbitration.                                                                 65. Arbitrations under this Act shall be conducted in manner directed by the Railway Clauses Consolidation Act, 1845, and for this purpose the clauses of the said Act with respect to the settlement of disputes by arbitration shall be incorporated herewith, subject to the qualification that, in cases where the Board of Trade is thereby authorized to appoint an umpire, the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland shall have power to appoint the same.

8 & 9 Vict. c. 20.
Temporary Provisions.
[S. 66 rep. 56 & 57 Vict. c. 54. (S.L.R.)]
As to exclusion of house, &c. in cases of commutation.                                   67. In case of any commutation as herein-before provided it shall be lawful for the Commissioners, at the desire of the holder of any archbishopric, bishopric, benefice, or cathedral perferment, to exclude from such commutation any house or land reserved to such holder by this Act which shall be in his actual occupation; but in such case the building charges, if any, to which he shall be entitled shall not become payable under section twenty-four of this Act, but payable at the termination of his life interest under section fifty.

Surplus.
Ultimate trust of surplus.                                                               68. And whereas it is further expedient that the proceeds of the said property should be appropriated mainly to the relief of unavoidable calamity and suffering, yet not so as to cancel or impair the obligations now attached to property under the Acts for the relief of the poor: Be it further enacted, that the said proceeds shall be so applied accordingly in the manner Parliament shall hereafter direct.

Saving Clauses.
Provision as to Acts relating to United Church of England and Ireland.                   69. In all enactments, deeds, and other documents in which mention is made of the United Church of England and Ireland, the enactments and provisions relating thereto shall be read distributively in respect of the Church of England and the Church of Ireland, but, as to the last-mentioned Church, subject to the provisions of this Act.

Saving rights as to proprietary chapels and chapels or ease.                             70. Nothing in this Act contained shall affect the patronage or right of presentation to any proprietary or district parochial church or endowed chapel of ease which has been endowed out of private funds, or affect the property in any such church or chapel, or the property held for the purposes of or appropriated to the use of the same, or affect the continuance of the trust relating thereto as originally constituted.

Saving of Act of 39 & 40 G. 3. c. 67., &c.                                               71. Nothing herein contained shall affect the Union with Ireland Act, 1800, or an Act of the Irish Parliament passed in the fortieth year of the reign of King George the Third, intituled “An Act for the Union of Great Britain and Ireland,” or anything done thereby, except in so far as relates to the union of the Churches of England and Ireland, and except as expressly herein-before provided.

Construction of Act.
Interpretation of terms.                                                                 72. In the construction and for the purposes of this Act the following words and expressions shall have the meanings hereby assigned to them respectively, unless there be something in the subject or context repugnant thereto; (that is to say,)

“ Lease ” shall include an agreement for a lease, or other contract of tenancy, and the estate or interest created or agreed to be created thereby:
“ Ecclesiastical person ” shall mean and include any archbishop or bishop, or person holding any benefice or cathedral preferment as herein-after defined:
“ Church ” shall include a public chapel or chapel of ease, also a cathedral or collegiate church:
“ Benefice ” shall mean and include every parish, rectory, vicarage, perpetual curacy, donative, chantry, endowed public chapel, parochial chapelry, and chapelry or district annexed, or reputed to be annexed, to any church or chapel, and whether the same be or be not within any exempt or peculiar jurisdiction:
“ Glebe house ” shall mean a house of residence belonging to any benefice as herein-before defined:
“ Cathedral preferment ” shall mean and include every deanery, archdeaconry, prebend, canonry, chaplaincy, office of minor canon, chantry, office of priest vicar, vicar choral or choirman, having any prebend or endowment belonging thereto, or belonging to any body corporate consisting of persons holding any such office, and also every precentorship, treasurership, sub-deanery, chancellorship of the church, and other dignity and office in any cathedral or collegiate church:
“ Cathedral corporation ” shall mean any dean and chapter or chapter, and also any corporation of minor canons, or vicars and choirmen, or vicars choral, or any other subordinate corporation of or belonging to or connected with any cathedral or collegiate church in Ireland:
“ Curate ” shall include residentiary preacher or reader:
“ Property ” shall include things in action and rights of action:
“ Jurisdiction ” shall mean legal and coercive power, and shall not extend to or include any power or authority which may be exercised in a voluntary religious association, upon the footing of mutual contract or agreement.


[Preamble.]
No persons shall be rated to church or poor rates for churches or places exclusively appropriated to public religious worship, and duly certified.  [1.] No person or persons shall be rated or shall be liable to be rated or to pay to any church or poor rates or cesses, for or in respect of any churches, district churches, chapels, meeting houses, or premises, or such part thereof as shall be exclusively appropriated to public religious worship, and which (other than churches, district churches, and episcopal chapels of the established church) shall be duly certified for the performance of such religious worship according to the provision of any Act or Acts now in force: Provided always, that no person or persons shall be hereby exempted from any such rates or cesses for or in respect of any parts of such churches, district churches, chapels, meeting houses, or other premises which are not so exclusively appropriated, and from which parts not so exclusively appropriated such person or persons shall receive any rent or rents, or shall derive profit or advantage.

Persons not to be liable to rates because premises are used for Sunday schools, &c.                                                                 2. Provided always, that no person or persons shall be liable to any such rates or cesses because the said churches, district churches, chapels, meeting houses, or other premises, or any vestry rooms belonging thereto, or any part thereof, may be used for Sunday or infant schools, or for the charitable education of the poor.


[Preamble recites 32 & 33 Vict. c. 42. ss. 23, 39, (which provided for the commutation of the life interests of ministers or assistant ministers of protestant non-conforming congregations in Ireland): that upwards of three-fourths of the whole number of the ministers of the general assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland authorized to commute under the said Act had already commuted their life interests for capital sums under the provisions of the said Act (which ministers who had already commuted are herein-after designated “the said commuting ministers”): that the said commuting ministers and the said general assembly duly appointed certain persons to be trustees to receive the said capital sums pursuant to the said Act: that, in order to enable the said trustees to pay to each of the said commuting ministers an annuity for his life, provided he should so long continue in his office of minister, equal to the annuity commuted by him as aforesaid, and at the same time to preserve undiminished the entire amount of the said commutation money as a source of permanent endowment for the church, certain members of the church agreed to raise by voluntary annual contribution or otherwise a certain amount of income, to be called “the sustentation fund” of the said church (and herein-after designated as “the said sustentation fund”), the same to be applied in each and every year so long as any such life annuity should be payable as aforesaid to supplement the annual income arising from the said commutation money, so far as might be required for the payment in full of the several annuities: that the said commuting ministers had agreed that the commutation money payable in respect of their life interests should be vested in the said trustees, on certain trusts contained in and declared by a deed dated 18th July 1870: that certain colleges and other property and trust funds connected therewith which had been given and bequeathed for the education of ministers for the said church were vested in certain trustees for the said church; that certain churches, manses, and other property connected therewith, were vested in certain trustees, for congregations connected with the said church; that certain trust Junds and moneys given and bequeathed by members of the said church for missions and other charities connected with the said church, were vested in or under the control of divers trustees for the said church, and portions thereof had been invested on mortgages of lands and in other securities.]

Short title.                                                                                1. This Act may be cited for all purposes as “The Irish Presbyterian Church Act, 1871.”

Trustees.                                                                                2. . . . the trustees named in said deed, and their successors appointed as herein-after expressed, shall be “The Trustees of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland” for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of this Act, and are in this Act referred to as “the trustees.”

Commutation moneys vested in trustees.                                                                                3. From and after the passing of this Act all moneys paid or payable in respect of the annuities of ministers who at the date of such passing have commuted the annuities payable to them respectively under the said Act, and all securities therefor, and the right to receive and realise the same respectively, are transferred to and vested in the trustees and their successors, subject to the directions and enactments affecting the same herein-after contained.

Commutation money of subsequently commuting ministers.                                                                                4. It shall be lawful for the trustees, if they shall think fit, with the consent in writing of any minister of the said church who has not before the passing of this Act commuted the annuity payable to him under the said Act, to apply to the said Commissioners for all commutation moneys (including the said twelve pounds per cent if payable) in respect of the annuity of any such minister who shall hereafter agree to commute his said annuity, and thereupon the said Commissioners shall pay such commutation moneys to the trustees.

Application of commutation fund and moneys received from treasurer of sustentation fund.                                                   5. The trustees shall, out of the said commutation moneys now paid or to be paid as aforesaid, (and which moneys are herein-after referred to as “the commutation fund,”) and out of the interest, dividend, and annual income thereof, pay to each minister who has as aforesaid commuted his annuity such annual sum as has heretofore been payable to him under the provisions of the said indenture, and to each minister who, after the making of the said indenture and before the passing of this Act, has commuted or who shall commute after the passing of this Act such annual sum as shall after such passing be mutually agreed upon between such last mentioned minister and the trustees: Provided always, that the trustees shall in the first place apply the interest, dividends, and annual income of the said commutation fund in or towards payment of the said several annuities, and if they shall receive from the treasurer forthe time being of the sustentation fund of the said general assembly, or from other sources, any other sums of money applicable for the same purpose, shall apply such sums of money in or towards payment of the said several annuities, and if after such application of the said interest, dividends, and annual income, and other sums of money respectively as aforesaid, the said several annuities shall not be fully paid, then and in such case, and from time to time so often as the same shall happen, the trustees shall raise out of the capital of the said commutation fund so much as may be required for payment of the said several annuities in full, and apply such money in payment of the same accordingly.

Application of surplus of commutation and sustentation funds.                                                                              6. If at any time the interest, dividends, and annual income of the said commutation fund, together with such other sums of money as may be received by the trustees, and be applicable for the purpose as aforesaid, shall be more than sufficient for payment in full of the said several annuities for the time being charged upon and payable out of the commutation fund, then and in such case, and from time to time so often as the same shall happen, the trustees shall pay and apply such annual surplus of the said interest, dividends, and annual income, and other sum of money, in such manner as the general assembly shall from time to time direct.

Ministers may require trustees to purchase annuities, after which claim on commutation fund to cease.                                      7. Any minister entitled to an annuity under or by virtue of the provisions aforesaid may by notice in writing served upon the secretary or agent of the trustees require the trustees to purchase for and in the name of such minister, and in lieu of the annuity payable to him under or by virtue of the provisions aforesaid, a government annuity of the like amount for his life; and thereupon the trustees shall purchase such life annuity for and in the name of such minister, and such minister shall thereupon cease to have any further claim or demand whatever upon the commutation fund, or the interest, dividends, or annual income thereof, but shall nevertheless be entitled to receive out of any sums of money paid to the trustees by the treasurer for the time being of the sustentation fund for augmentation of ministers annuities such further annual sum as the trustees shall ascertain and determine to be properly payable to such minister, having regard to the amount of the sums of money so applicable for the purpose, and to the extent to which the benefit derivable from commutation has been lessened by the purchase for such minister of such life annuity as aforesaid.

Receipt of minister, his executors, administrators, or assigns, full discharge.                                                            8. The receipt in writing of any minister entitled to an annuity, or of his executors, administrators, or assigns, for the last quarterly payment of the annuity to which he may be so entitled under the provisions aforesaid, shall be deemed and taken to be a release in full to the trustees of all claims and demands whatsoever in respect of the commutation money and per-centage (if any) thereon paid by the said Commissioners to the trustees in respect of the commuted annuity of such minister, or any undisposed residue thereof, and in respect of all arrears on foot of the annuity to which such minister was in his lifetime entitled as aforesaid, other than and except any proportional part of the current gale of the said annuity which may have accrued between the day of his death and the gale day next preceding his death, and, subject only to the payment of such apportioned part (if any), the trustees shall thenceforth hold such commutation money so paid to them as aforesaid discharged from such annuity, and from all claims in respect thereof or in relation thereto.

Trust moneys, after payment of annuities, &c., to be left for permanent endowment of ministers for the time being of Presbyterian Church.  9. When and so soon as all of the said several life annuities so payable out of the said commutation fund as aforesaid shall have determined, and all claims and demands against the said fund in respect thereof shall have been satisfied, the said commutation fund, and the stocks, funds, and securities in which the same shall be invested, shall thenceforth be held by the trustees upon such trusts by way of permanent endowment for the benefit of the ministers for the time being of congregations of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland in connexion with and under the jurisdiction of the said general assembly as the said assembly shall direct: Provided always, nevertheless, that the interest, dividends, and annual income only of the said fund shall be applied for the benefit of such ministers, and that such preference as the general assembly may in its absolute and uncontrolled discretion think right shall be given to the claims of congregations whose ministers shall have so commuted as aforesaid.

Trusts of sustentation fund.                                                                                10. The trustees shall receive from the treasurer of the sustentation fund all sums given, subscribed, or bequeathed thereto, and shall subject to the provisions herein-before contained for the purpose of securing their annuities to the ministers who have commuted or may commute as aforesaid, pay and apply such sums as the said general assembly may from time to time direct: Provided always, that donations and bequests given or bequeathed to or in favour of the said sustentation fund, and directed to be permanently invested or otherwise given or bequeathed as an endowment fund for the sustentation of the ministry of the said church, and received by the trustees, shall be invested by them, and unless the respective donors or testators shall otherwise direct, the interest, dividends, and annual income thereof shall be paid and applied by the trustees as the general assembly may from time to time direct, and if such donor or testator shall specifically direct the trustees to apply the same to the support of the minister of any particular congregation, the same shall be applied accordingly by the trustees.

Gifts, bequests, or transfers to trustees to be held on trusts.                                                                            11. It shall be lawful for the trustees, if they shall think fit, with the approval of the said general assembly, to accept or take a transfer of any other gift or bequest of personal property given or bequeathed for the endowment or permanent use or benefit of the said church, or any college, congregation, mission, or charity connected therewith, or to take a transfer from any trustee or other person in whom the same shall be vested of any endowment or fund or securities for the purpose aforesaid, and the trustees shall hold such personal property so given, bequeathed, or transferred as aforesaid on the trusts declared by or contained in the deed, will, or other instrument of endowment.

Mode of investment of trust funds.                                                                                12. The trustees may from time to time invest the said commutation fund, and all other moneys that shall come to their hands under the provisions contained for the said church, in any of the public stocks or funds or government securities of the United Kingdom or India, or any colony or dependency of the United Kingdom, or upon mortgage of real securities in England, Wales, or Ireland, or in any other securities whatever which the said general assembly of the said church shall from time to time appoint; and no trustee shall be liable for any loss occasioned by the depreciation or failure of any such investment or otherwise, save by his own wilful default; and the trustees from time to time, at their discretion, may vary or transpose such stocks, funds, and securities into or for others of the same or a like nature.

Non-liability of trustees, save for wilful default.
Incorporation by Royal Charter.                                                                                13. It shall be lawful for Her Majesty by charter to incorporate the trustees with power, notwithstanding the Statutes of Mortmain, to hold land to such extent as is in this Act provided, but no further or otherwise, and the trustees when so incorporated by charter shall continue to Act in the execution of this Act.

Power to invest funds in purchase, &c. of lands for manses, &c. not exceeding thirty acres for each church.                                14. It shall be lawful for the trustees, when incorporated by charter as aforesaid, to invest all moneys vested in them for that purpose in the absolute purchase, or in procuring leases or fee-farm grants subject to annual or other rents, and with or without fines, of lands for the erection thereon of churches, or of manses for the use of the ministers of said church, or for schools or other buildings in connexion with said church buildings, or for other church purposes, the lands so to be purchased not to exceed thirty acres for each congregation, and to sell, grant, or demise the lands so purchased to trustees, for the minister and congregations of each church, for such sum or at such rent and for such term as the trustees shall think fit, or to permit such ministers and congregations to occupy and use the same at such rent and upon such terms and conditions as the trustees shall think fit; and the trustees may execute all such deeds, grants, leases, or other documents as may be necessary for the purpose aforesaid.

Power to vest colleges, church buildings, &c. in trustees.                                                                                15. It shall be lawful for the trustees of any college church building, schoolhouse, manse, or other real property whether freehold or chattel, held in trust for the said church or any congregation in connexion therewith, or any person or persons in whom the same may be vested, if they or he respectively shall think fit, to grant, assign, or otherwise vest in the trustees when incorporated by charter as aforesaid, with their concurrence, such college, church building, schoolhouse, manse, or other real property, whether freehold or chattel, to be held by the trustees upon such trust and subject to such rights as at the time of such grant, assignment, or vesting affected the same respectively, and the former trustees shall be thereupon released from the trusts thereof respectively.

Power to hold lands for colleges, &c.                                                                                16. It shall be lawful for any person whomsoever, entitled so to do, to give, grant, devise, bequeath, or assure, by any deed, will, or other instrument sufficient in law to create or convey an estate therein, any messuages, lands, hereditaments, or any estate therein, to the trustees when incorporated by charter as aforesaid for any college, or for any church building or school-house in connexion with any congregation or church, or for a hall for the meeting of the said general assembly: Provided always, that under the provisions aforesaid or otherwise not more than thirty acres shall be held in trust for any congregation, nor more than one hundred acres in trust for any college, nor more than twenty acres in trust for erecting thereon a hall, offices, or other buildings for the use of said general assembly: Provided always, nevertheless, that any such gift, grant, bequest, or assurance of lands in excess of the acreage hereby authorized to be held as aforesaid shall be void as to the excess only.

Power to sell surplus lands.                                                                                17. The trustees, when incorporated by charter as aforesaid, may from time to time sell, lease, exchange, or otherwise dispose of, on such terms and in such manner as they think fit, or mortgage, any lands vested in them, and not being otherwise required for purposes of the said church or any of the colleges or congregations connected therewith, and may enter into, execute, and do all contracts, assurances, and things necessary or proper in that behalf; and every such sale or lease as aforesaid may be made either absolutely for a sum in money, or for any annual rent or rents, to be made payable as the trustees direct, or partly for a sum of money and partly for such rent or rents as aforesaid, as the trustees think fit, and the trustees may afterwards sell any rent so to be made payable.

Directions as to business accounts, &c.                                                                                18. The trustees shall conduct their business at such place, and keep such minute books, and shall keep and render such accounts, and make such reports, from time to time, and hold such meetings, as the said general assembly of the Presbyterian Church shall from time to time direct and require.

Power to appoint officers.                                                                                19. It shall be lawful for the trustees from time to time to appoint a treasurer or treasurers, secretary, and such other officers and agents, and to prescribe for them such duties, and to pay them such remuneration for their services, as the trustees shall think fit; and such treasurer or treasurers, secretary, and other officers shall hold their respective officers on such terms as the trustees shall determine.

Power to appoint actuary.                                                                                20. The trustees shall, until all the annuities payable to the said commuting ministers shall have ceased, at the end of every third year, or oftener if required so to do by the said general assembly, certified as such by the clerk thereof, appoint a competent actuary to value and report upon the assets and liabilities of the said commutation fund, which report shall be laid before the general assembly at its next meeting.

Power to general assembly to appoint auditors.                                                                                21. The said general assembly may, at its ordinary meetings in each year, or at any extraordinary meeting specially convened for the purpose, appoint two or more fit and proper persons to examine and audit the accounts of the trustees; and such auditors shall have power to call for and require the production of all books of account, vouchers, and documents relating to the income and expenditure of the trust during the year to which the accounts so to be audited may relate, and the same shall be produced to them accordingly.

Receipts by treasurer, &c. a discharge.                                                                                22. The receipt in writing of the treasurer or treasurers, or of any of the trustees authorized in that behalf by byelaw, for any moneys paid, and for any stocks, funds, shares, or securities transferred to them by virtue of this Act, or in execution of any of the trusts or powers thereof, shall effectually discharge the person or persons paying or transferring the same therefrom, and from being bound to see to the application or being answerable for the loss or misapplication thereof.

Contracts by trustees.                                                                                23. With respect to contracts to be made by the trustees the following provisions shall have effect; (that is to say,)

With respect to any contract which if made between individuals would be by law required to be in writing and under seal, the trustees may make the same in writing under their common seal, when incorporated by charter as aforesaid, or until incorporated under the hands and seals of the trustees or any five of them acting on behalf or under the direction of the trustees, and in the same manner may vary or discharge the same:
With respect to any contract which if made between individuals would be by law required to be in writing and signed by the parties to be charged therewith, the trustees may make the same in writing signed by any two of them, or by the treasurer or any person appointed by byelaw to act in that behalf generally or in any particular case, and in the same manner may vary or discharge the same:
With respect to any contract which if made between individuals would be by law valid though not reduced into writing, the trustees, or any two of them, or the treasurer or any person acting on behalf or under the direction of the trustees, may make the same, or authorize the same to be made, without writing, and in the same manner may vary or discharge the same.

And all contracts made according to the provisions of this section shall be effectual at law, and shall be binding on the trustees, and on all other parties thereto, their heirs, executors, or administrators; and on any default in execution of their obligation, either by the trustees or any party thereto, such actions or suits may be brought either by or against the trustees as might be brought if the same contract had been made between individuals.

Minutes of meetings to be kept.                                                                                24. The said general assembly of the Presbyterian Church, and the said trustees and executive committee of the trustees respectively, in discharging their respective duties under this Act, or any byelaws to be made in pursuance thereof, shall cause notes, minutes, or copies (as the case requires) of their orders, resolutions, and proceedings, to be entered in books to be kept under their superintendence; and every such entry shall be signed by the moderator of the general assembly, or by the chairman of the meeting at which the order, resolution, or proceeding entered was past or taken, or by the moderator or chairman, as the case may be, of the next subsequent meeting; and every such entry so signed shall be received as evidence in all courts and elsewhere without proof of the meeting having been duly convened or held, or of the persons making or taking any such order, resolution, or proceeding, or causing the same to be entered, being members of the general assembly or being trustees (as the case may be), or of the signature of the person signing as chairman, or of the fact of his having been moderator or chairman, as the case may be, all which matters shall be presumed until the contrary is shown.

Acts done at meeting of general assembly valid notwithstanding disqualification.                                                           25. All acts done at a meeting of the general assembly or of the trustees, or of any committee thereof, by any person acting as a member of the general assembly or of the trustees or committee, shall, notwithstanding it being afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment of any such person so acting, or that he was disqualified, be as valid as if there had been no such defect or disqualification.

Validity of gifts and bequests, notwithstanding vacancy in the office of a trustee.                                                        26. Any order, resolution, or proceeding of the trustees, or any power by this Act conferred, or any gift, devise, or bequest to the trustees, or otherwise, for the benefit of the said church, or any congregation, college, mission, or charity connected therewith, shall not be invalidated by reason only of there being a vacancy among the trustees.

Indemnity to trustees.                                                                                27. The trustees shall not, nor shall any of them, by being party to or executing as such trustee any contract or other instrument, or otherwise lawfully executing any of the powers given to the trustees by this Act or the byelaws to be made in pursuance of its provisions, be subject to be sued or prosecuted by any person whomsoever, nor shall the bodies, goods, or lands of such trustees or any of them be liable to execution of any legal process by reason of any contract or other instrument so entered into, signed, or executed by them, or any of them, or by reason of any other lawful act done by them, or any of them, in the execution of any of their powers as such trustees as aforesaid, and the trustees, their heirs, executors, and administrators, shall be indemnified out of the trust funds for all payments made or liabilities incurred in respect of any acts done by them, and for all losses, costs, and damages which they may incur in the execution of this Act, and the trustees for the time being may apply the trust funds for the purposes of such indemity.

Power to pay travelling expenses, &c.                                                                                28. It shall be lawful for the trustees to pay to any trustee all travelling and other expenses incurred by him in or about the execution of the said trusts or powers or any of them.

Mode of election of trustees.                                                                                29. If any of the trustees herein-before named, or to be appointed as herein-after provided, shall die, or be declared a bankrupt, or file a petition for relief under any Act or Acts for the time being in force for the relief of insolvent debtors, or make any composition with his creditors, or cease to be a member of some congregation in connexion with the said general assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, or to reside in Ireland, or shall be absent therefrom for a continuous period of twelve calendar months, or shall, by writing under his hand, delivered to the clerk for the time being of the said general assembly, express his desire to be discharged, or shall refuse or become incapable to act, or shall be removed from being one of the trustees by a vote of the said general assembly, then and in any of such cases it shall be lawful for the said general assembly at its annual meeting, or at any meeting specially convened for such purpose, to appoint a person to fill such vacancy (the successor to fill up such vacancy to be a minister if the deceased or retiring trustee was or is a minister, or such successor to be a layman if the deceased or retiring trustee was or is a layman): Provided always, that no person shall be eligible to be elected a trustee who at the time of holding any such meeting of the general assembly is not and has not for a period of at least two years been a member of some congregation in connexion with the said general assembly.

Power to make byelaws, with assent of general assembly, &c.                                                                                30. It shall be lawful for the trustees from time to time to make such byelaws, rules, and regulations as may be deemed expedient respecting the management and disposition of the trust property, estates, and effects vested in them, the investment of trust moneys or funds, the transfer of any moneys or funds so invested in or upon any other security, the appointment of such and so many committees as may be considered necessary for the despatch of business, and to delegate to them all or any of the powers of the trustees, and to prescribe the powers and duties each such committee shall possess and discharge, and to declare how many members shall be on each committee, and how many present shall be necessary to make a quorum of the trustees or of the said committees respectively, the giving or sending notices for and the times, places, and manner of their meetings, and for the general conduct, management, or control of business affairs, times of meeting, and proceedings of the trustees: Provided always, that the said byelaws, and every alteration, repeal, or addition thereto, shall not come into force and effect until approved of by the said general assembly of the Presbyterian Church, and such approval shall be duly evidenced by the same being signed by the moderator for the time being of the said assembly, and the clerks of assembly, or one of them; and the said general assembly, at the annual meeting of assembly, or any meeting specially convened for the purpose, may by the vote of a majority at such meeting approve of, revoke, repeal, or alter, wholly or in part, all or any part of every or any such byelaw, rule, or regulation as aforesaid, and substitute or make any other byelaw, rule, or regulation in lieu thereof, as such general assembly shall think fit; and any instrument in writing which shall purport to be a byelaw, rule, or regulation of the trustees, and which shall be sealed with the common seal of the trustees when they are incorporated by charter as aforesaid, or until incorporated shall be under the hands and seals of the trustees, or any five of them, shall be received as primâ facie evidence of the same being such a byelaw, rule, or regulation in all courts and before all justices, officers, and persons whomsoever: Provided always, that the said byelaws shall not at any time be altered by the trustees, nor any new ones be added thereto, unless at a meeting of the trustees duly convened for the purpose, and of which meeting fourteen days notice shall previously be given or sent to each trustee in such form as may be provided by the byelaw for the time being as to notices, such notice to specify the proposed alteration, repeal, or addition.

Acts of general assembly.                                                                                31. The vote of the majority of the members for the time being of the general assembly present and voting at any meeting of the said assembly duly convened shall be considered as the act of the assembly for any of the purposes for which said act is hereby rendered necessary; and all votes and proceedings of the said general assembly, which shall be signed by the moderator thereof for the time being, and the clerks of the said assembly, or one of them, shall be received as evidence that same were passed at a meeting of the said assembly duly convened and constituted.

Annuities payable during life, &c.                                                                                32. Nothing in this Act contained shall be deemed or construed to entitle any minister to receive any annuity under this Act, except so long as he lives, and is continued in the ministry, by and with the consent of the said general assembly.

Costs.                                                                                33. The costs, charges, and expenses of and incident to the obtaining and passing of this Act and carrying same into effect, and the management of the trust estate, shall be paid by the trustees out of the moneys which are in or may come to their hands under the provisions of this Act.