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As to Condemnation of Residences and unnecessary Offices.
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XXXI. That in all Cases in which, upon any Inspection, it shall appear to the Commissioners, or Rural Dean and Architect, making the same, that any such Ecclesiastical Residence, or any Part or Offices thereof, is or are too ancient or decayed to be repaired, or is or are wholly or in part unnecessary or unsuitable for the Use and Residence of such Ecclesiastical Person and his Successors, having regard to the Income of such Ecclesiastical Person, the Situation and State of Repair of said Residence, or other Circumstances which the said Commissioners shall deem important in that Behalf, it shall be lawful for the said Commissioners and they are hereby required to make a Report thereof to the Person or Persons issuing the said Commission, together with the Grounds and Circumstances upon which the said Report is founded, and the Manner in which, in the Opinion of the said Commissioners, it would be most advisable to deal with such Residences or any Portion thereof so reported unworthy of Repair, or useless or unsuitable, and also to report whether or not any existing Charge in respect of any such Ecclesiastical Residence should be affected or reduced, and if so to what Extent, in case any such Buildings or Offices should be condemned; and it shall be lawful for the Person or Persons issuing the said Commission, upon the Return of any such Commission and Report, to hear and determine any Objections that may be had or taken to the said Report or any Part thereof, and to confirm, alter, or amend the same wholly or in part, as shall to him or them seem fit, and to condemn such House or Buildings or any Part thereof to be pulled down and destroyed, or otherwise sold, converted, and disposed of, as shall seem to him or them proper and expedient in that Behalf, and reduce any existing Charge affecting such Benefice in Amount in respect thereof, and to require and direct, if he or they shall so think fit, in the Manner herein-before provided, a new House of Residence or Building to be erected or purchased on the same or a different Site, and, in case the Sale of the Materials of which such former Residence or Portion thereof was composed shall be directed and had, to apply the Produce of such Sale in the building or improving of such Ecclesiastical Residence in manner aforesaid, so far as such Produce will extend.
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