Prebendary

Aprebendaryis a member of theCatholicorAnglican clergy,a form ofcanonwith a role in the administration of acathedralorcollegiate church.When attending services, prebendaries sit in particular seats, usually at the back of thechoirstalls, known asprebendal stalls.

History

At the time of theDomesday Bookin 1086, thecanonsanddignitariesof the cathedrals ofEnglandwere supported by the produce and other profits from the cathedral estates.^[2]In the early 12th century, the endowedprebendwas developed as an institution, in possession of which a cathedral official had a fixed and independent income. This made the cathedral canons independent of the bishop, and created posts that attracted the younger sons of the nobility.^[3]Part of the endowment was retained in a common fund, known inLatinascommunia,^[4]which was used to provide bread and money to a canon in residence in addition to the income from his prebend.^[2]

Most prebends disappeared in 1547, when nearly allcollegiate churchesinEngland and Waleswere dissolved by theAct for the Dissolution of Collegiate Churches and Chantriesof that year, as part of theReformation.The church ofSt Endellion,Cornwall, is one of the fewstill extant.^[5]^[6]

The office of prebendary is retained by certainChurch of England dioceses(those ofLichfield,Lincoln,andLondonbeing significant examples) as an honorary title for senior parish priests, usually awarded in recognition of long and dedicated service to the diocese. These priests are entitled to be called "Prebendary" (usually shortened to Preb.) and have a role in the administration of the relevant cathedral.^[7]Prebendaries have a prebendal stall in certain cathedrals and collegiate churches.^[8]

Thegreater chapterof a cathedral includes both the residentiary canons (full-time senior cathedral clergy) and the prebendaries (and, in London, the Minor Canons). In the Church of England, when a diocesan bishop retires, moves to another diocese or dies, the monarch will summon the greater chapter to elect a successor. This election is ceremonial, as the monarch (following the advice of the prime minister) tells the members of the greater chapter whom they are to elect.^{[citation needed]}

Wells CathedralandSaint Patrick's Cathedral, Dublinstill call their canons "prebendaries". They form the chapter of the cathedral and sit in their prebendal stalls when in residence in the cathedral.

Prebend

Theprebendis the form ofbeneficeheld by a prebendary; historically, thestipendattached to it was usually drawn from specific sources in the income of a cathedral's estates. In the 21st century, many remaining prebendaries hold an honorary position which does not carry an income with it.

Notes

^See list of holders in 'Canons residentiary of Salisbury', inFasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1541-1857:Volume 6, Salisbury Diocese, ed. Joyce M. Horn (London, 1986),pp. 93-105
^^a ^bGreenaway, Diane E, "The Medieval Cathedral", in Hobbs, Mary (ed.),Chichester Cathedral: An Historical Survey,Phillimore & Co, p. 14.
^Cantor, Norman F (1993),The Civilization of the Middle Ages,p. 381.
^Walcott, M.E.C. (1865).Cathedralia: a constitutional history of Cathedrals of the Western Church. Being an account of the various dignities, offices, and ministries of their members, etc.London: Joseph Masters. p. 120.Retrieved20 April2022.
^The Reliquary and Illustrated Archaeologist,: A Quarterly Journal and Review Devoted to the Study of Early Pagan and Christian Antiquities of Great Britain.J. R. Smith. 1893. pp.194.
^Betjeman, John; Guest, John (1978).The best of Betjeman.p. 150.ISBN 978-0-7195-3555-0.The Rector of St Endellion is also a Prebendary. This church is run by a college of priests like St George's Chapel, Windsor.
^Cutts, E. L. (1895)A Dictionary of the Church of England;3rd ed. London: SPCK, p. 476.
^"Prebendary, Church of England", Debretts Archived2015-03-16 at theWayback Machine

External links

Lists of prebendaries in England and Wales since 1066:"1066–1300",Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae(series), British History Online;1300–1541and1541–1857
Prebendaries of Aylesbury- The prebend of Aylesbury was attached to the See of Lincoln as early as 1092

[1] See list of holders in 'Canons residentiary of Salisbury', inFasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1541-1857:Volume 6, Salisbury Diocese, ed. Joyce M. Horn (London, 1986),pp. 93-105

[hobbs14-2] Greenaway, Diane E, "The Medieval Cathedral", in Hobbs, Mary (ed.),Chichester Cathedral: An Historical Survey,Phillimore & Co, p. 14.

[3] Cantor, Norman F (1993),The Civilization of the Middle Ages,p. 381.

[4] Walcott, M.E.C. (1865).Cathedralia: a constitutional history of Cathedrals of the Western Church. Being an account of the various dignities, offices, and ministries of their members, etc.London: Joseph Masters. p. 120.Retrieved20 April2022.

[5] The Reliquary and Illustrated Archaeologist,: A Quarterly Journal and Review Devoted to the Study of Early Pagan and Christian Antiquities of Great Britain.J. R. Smith. 1893. pp.194.

[6] Betjeman, John; Guest, John (1978).The best of Betjeman.p. 150.ISBN 978-0-7195-3555-0.The Rector of St Endellion is also a Prebendary. This church is run by a college of priests like St George's Chapel, Windsor.

[7] Cutts, E. L. (1895)A Dictionary of the Church of England;3rd ed. London: SPCK, p. 476.

[8] "Prebendary, Church of England", Debretts Archived2015-03-16 at theWayback Machine

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