Whenever a sum of not less than three hundred pounds shall have been raised by private contribution towards the building of a church or chapel for the exercise of the public worship of any denomination of Christians, it shall be lawful for His Excellency the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, subject to such regulations as he shall deem necessary, to authorize the future issue from the Colonial Treasury in aid of the undertaking of any sum or sums of money not exceeding in the whole the amount raised by such private contribution: Provided that no sum so authorized shall be issued unless upon proof of liabilities actually incurred in respect of such building as aforesaid to the amount of the sum so to be issued over and above the sum raised by private contribution: Provided also that the whole amount so to be issued in aid of the building of any church or chapel shall not exceed one thousand pounds.

Before any such issue as aforesaid shall be authorized, Trustees, not less than three nor more than five in number, shall be nominated for the approval of His Excellency the Governor, to whom when so approved the money so authorized to be issued shall be payable.

The site of the church or chapel and the real estate belonging thereto shall be conveyed to such Trustees, when approved, and their heirs, upon trust for the erection and maintenance of such church or chapel and to provide for the due celebration of divine worship therein.

Upon the completion of any such church or chapel the Trustees for the time being shall set apart sittings, to be marked with the words “Free Seats,” amounting to not less than one-third part of the whole of the sittings in such church or chapel. For the sittings so set apart no rent shall be at any time charged.

It shall be lawful for the Governor in Council to authorize from time to time the issue from the Colonial Treasury of stipends towards the support of ministers of religion officiating in such churches or chapels as aforesaid in which divine worship shall be regularly performed according to the rate following, that is to say,— In case one hundred adult persons resident within a reasonable distance of any such church or chapel shall subscribe a declaration setting forth their desire to attend the celebration of divine service thereat, it shall be lawful to issue to the minister thereof the sum of one hundred pounds a year; in case two hundred such persons shall subscribe such declaration, then the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds a year; in case five hundred persons shall subscribe such declaration, then the sum of two hundred pounds a year, which shall be the highest stipend to be issued under the authority of this Ordinance.

Whenever any sum not less than fifty pounds for any one year shall be raised by private contribution towards the maintenance of a minister of religion, where no such church or chapel as aforesaid shall have been erected but where there shall appear reasonable cause for the non-erection thereof, it shall be lawful for the Governor in Council to cause to be issued from the Colonial Treasury towards the maintenance of such minister any sum not exceeding one hundred pounds, nor exceeding the sum so raised.

Provided always that the whole amount of the sums to be issued under the authority of this Ordinance in any one year shall not exceed one-seventh part of the estimated revenue for such year.