['Scotland's greatest nineteenth-century churchman': Thomas Chalmers, Professor of Theology, economist, leader of both the Church and Free Church of Scotland.] Autograph Memorandum on church extension, for Thomas Henry Lister.

A document of some historical significance. The context of is described in Chalmers' entry in the Oxford DNB: 'In 1835 the whig government of Viscount Melbourne appointed a royal commission of inquiry to investigate church accommodation in Scotland, but the commission moved slowly about its work and angered Chalmers and the church extensionists by what they perceived as stalling methods and a bias towards the dissenters.' Lister's entry explains his involvement, stating that on 19 July 1835 'he was one of those commissioned to investigate the opportunities for religious worship and the means of religious instruction in Scotland.' From the papers of Lister's wife the future Lady Theresa Lewis (1803-1865). 4pp, 12mo. Forty-five lines. On bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded for postage. Signed ‘Thos Chalmers. / With Dr Chalmers most respectful acknowledgments to Mr Lister.’ Dated in pencil (by Lister?) ‘Feb 24. 1836.’ Chalmers dives straight in without a salutation: ‘1. It is most desired that an interim report on the Statistics of those localities for which New Churches are now in preparation, and their claims to an endowment - should be completed as soon as possible.’ In the second point Chalmers states ‘That an endowment should in every instance be accompanied by the enactment of a low rent rent, and a district be assigned to the place of worship with a preference to its sittings in favour of the people who reside in that district.’ The third and last point covers two pages of close text. It goes into greater detail about ‘a low-rent rent and a territorial district’, with respect to ‘dissenting ministers’, ‘established church’, ‘Legislature’ and ‘meeting-houses’.