Spiritual Peers.

page 49

Six Bishops awaiting the Reversion of Seats.

When the Diocese of Manchester was formed, in 1818, it was provided that the occupant of that See should be without a Peerage until vacancy arose in some See other than Canterbury, York, London, Durham, and Winchester. The newer Bishoprics of Truro, St. Albans, Liverpool, Newcastle, and Southwell (all largely endowed from voluntary sources) have widened the basis of this principle, and under it the number of prelates in the Peerage has not increased.

For specimens of Episcopal influence in the House of Lords, for cost of some of their Palaces, for analysis of Benefices in each Diocese, and for value of estates and probable cost of disendowment see section on the State Church.