1773: 13 George 3 c.58: An Act for providing Clergymen to officiate in Gaols within that Part of Great Britain called England.
[Preamble.]
‘WHEREAS there is no Provision made by Law for the Appointment of proper Ministers to officiate in the several County Gaols within that Part of Great Britain called England, and the Principality of Wales: And whereas the Appointment of Ministers to such Gaols, with a proper Salary, for the due Execution of their Duty as Clergymen, would alleviate the Distress of the Persons under Confinement, and would greatly contribute to the Purposes of Morality and Religion:’ May it therefore please Your Majesty that it may be enacted; and be it enacted by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same,
[Justices to ascertain how many Clergymen are to be employed in Gaols, and what Salary shall be paid them.]
That it shall and may be lawful to and for the Justices of the Peace, or the major Part of them assembled at the Quarter Sessions held for any County, Riding, or Division, within that Part of Great Britain called England, and the Principality of Wales, and they are hereby authorised and impowered to settle and ascertain how many Clergymen shall, by them, be deemed necessary to be employed in performing religious Duties, according to the Rites of the Church of England, in the several Gaols within their respective Jurisdictions, and to settle and ascertain what Duty shall be performed, and what Salary shall be paid to every such Clergyman, not exceeding Fifty Pounds, yearly, and every Year.
[Treasurers of Counties to pay the Sums out of the Rates.]
II. And be it further enacted, That the Treasurers of such Counties, Ridings, or Divisions, receiving a Certificate, signed by the Chairman of such Quarter Sessions, of the Number of such Clergymen, and the Salary to be respectively paid to them, shall pay out of the Rates of such County, Riding, or Division, the several Sums in the said Certificate mentioned; and the said several Sums so paid in pursuance of this Act, shall be allowed to the said Treasurers by the Justices before whom their Accounts shall be passed.
[Justices to nominate Clergymen for the above Purposes; and, in case of Death, &c. tο nominate others.]
III. And be it further enacted, That when the Number of such Clergymen, and the Salary to be respectively paid to them, shall have been settled and ascertained by such Justices, it shall and may be lawful to and for Justices of the Peace, at the Quarter Sessions, and they are hereby authorised and and impowered, to nominate and appoint, in every County, Riding, or Division, where the Justices shall have so settled and ascertained the Number of the Clergymen, and the Salary to be paid to them, as before mentioned, so many Clergymen to officiate and perform Divine Service, according to the Rites of the Church of England, in the several Gaols within such County, Riding, or Division, as shall have been so settled and ascertained by such Justices; and in case any such Clergyman or Clergymen shall die, or shall be thought unworthy, by such Justices, at the Quarter Sessions, to be continued in such Office, then it shall and may be lawful for such Justices, at the Quarter Sessions, to nominate and appoint, from Time to Time, as Occasion shall require, any other Clergyman to officiate in the Room of such Clergyman so dying, or so deemed to be unworthy to continue any longer in such Office.