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The Definition of an Archdeacon: Legal, Pastoral or Neither?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 January 2023

Clive Hogger
Clive Hogger*
Affiliation:
Associate Archdeacon, Diocese of Sheffield
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Abstract

Previous articles in this Journal on the subject of the role of archdeacons have created a dichotomy, between an archdeacon's role as being primarily legal or their role being primarily pastoral. This article examines the development of the role of an archdeacon and explores what was and is actually stated about them in legislation. It becomes clear that a legal definition is insufficient, so various non-statutory roles are then explored to ascertain whether it is, instead, pastoral. This, too, is found to be unconvincing, leading to a conclusion that the function of the archdeacon in the Church of England does not have a legal definition at all, but is rather a people-facing role which has attracted legal functions to it. What is more, even the pastoral aspect of the role is ill-defined without the legally stated relationships found in other offices, leaving an archdeacon's overall function, essential as it may be, subjective and open to challenge or interpretation. The article concludes that the role is primarily defined by nothing more than a blend of both national and local customs, a feature that could potentially be a vital source of strength.

Type
Articles
Information
Ecclesiastical Law Journal , Volume 25 , Issue 1 , January 2023 , pp. 5 - 18
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Copyright
Copyright © Ecclesiastical Law Society 2023

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Footnotes

1

As an associate archdeacon I am often asked what it is I do, and to answer I find I sometimes need to clarify first what an Archdeacon does and then explain which parts are delegated to me. This article is based on research undertaken into this matter as a part of the LLM (Canon Law) at Cardiff University. I am particularly grateful to Professor Norman Doe for his guidance and wisdom on this subject.

References

2 The Diocese of Exeter, Bishop's Guidelines for the Ordained Ministry (2020), § 7 – Bishops, Archdeacons and Rural Deans, see <https://exeter.anglican.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Bishops-Guidelines-1.3-June-2020.pdf> accessed 14 April 2022.

3 J Cannon and R Crowcroft, ‘Archdeacons’ in A Dictionary of British History (Oxford, 2015).

4 W Hook, A Church Dictionary (London, Oxford and Leeds, 1842), 53.

5 J Guy, ‘Archdeacons’ in The Oxford Companion to British History (Oxford, 2015), 41.

6 This translates as ‘No bishop or archdeacon shall hold pleas in the hundred concerning episcopal laws’.

7 Hook (note 4), 54.

8 Guy (note 5).

9 R Helmholz, The Spirit of Classical Canon Law (Georgia, 1996), 349.

10 S Marritt, ‘“All this I say against the rage of archdeacons against my poor fellow citizens”: Archdeacons’ Authority and Identity in Twelfth-Century England’ (2017) 102 History 914–932.

11 Guy (note 5).

12 G Evans, ‘Lanfranc, Anselm and a new consciousness of canon law in England’ in N Doe (ed), English Canon Law (Cardiff, 1998), 8.

13 Marritt (note 10), 926.

14 Hook (note 4), 54.

15 Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical 1603 (London, 1665).

16 The Book of Common Prayer (Cambridge, 2004), 554.

17 E Gibson and R Grey, Codex juris ecclesiastici anglicani, 4th edn (London, 1743).

18 Ecclesiastical Commissioners Act 1840 c. 113, s 27.

19 T Briden, Moore's Introduction to Canon Law, 4th edn (London, 2013), 159.

20 Canon C22 (1).

21 Canons C18 (8) and C25 (1).

22 Briden (note 19), 5.

23 Canon C22 (2) and (3).

24 See Canons B2, B3, B4, B5, B8, B12, B14A, B15A, B16, B18, B22, B24, B27, B28, B34, B38, B40, B41, B42, B43, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, C8, C9, C10, C11, C12, C13, C14, C15, C21, C23, C24, C25, C28, C30, E1, E4, E5, E6, E7, E8, G1, G2, G4, G5 and G6.

25 P Jones, ‘The Bishop: Pastor, Minister and Ordinary’, available at <https://ecclesiasticallaw.wordpress.com/2012/11/17/the-bishop-pastor-minister-and-ordinary>, accessed 21 April 2022.

26 Canon C20.

27 Jones (note 25).

28 Canon C22(4).

29 Halsbury's Laws of England, vol 34: Ecclesiastical Law, 5th edn (London, 2011), para 452.

30 N Doe, The Legal Framework of the Church of England (Oxford, 1996), 206.

31 The Diocese of Exeter, Bishop's Guidelines for the Ordained Ministry, (note 2).

32 The statutory duties of an Archdeacon, available at <https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2017-11/Statutory%20Duties%20of%20an%20Archdeacon.pdf>, accessed 10 January 2022. Almost all of the legislation referred to in this document has been either revised or replaced and hence is inaccurate, but, for this study, the categorisation into five areas of church life remains helpful.

33 Steen, J, ‘Archdeacons and the law’ (2019) 21 Ecc LJ 2–18Google Scholar.

34 The statutory duties of an Archdeacon (note 32).

35 Church Representation Rules (2020), Part 4.

36 Steen (note 33), 6.

37 Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and Care of Churches Measure 2018, Schedule 2, para 2(1)(b).

38 Briden (note 19), 165.

39 Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and Care of Churches Measure 2018.

40 Repair of Benefice Buildings Measure 1972.

41 Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011, Schedule 1.

42 Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011, s 3.

43 The statutory duties of an Archdeacon (note 32).

44 The Diocese of Exeter (note 2).

45 Church Representation Rules 2020.

46 Canon C22(5).

47 Canon C22(5).

48 The Faculty Jurisdiction Rules 2015 as amended by the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and Care of Churches Measure 2018, Schedule 3, Part 2 and the Faculty Jurisdiction (Amendment) Rules 2019, available at <https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2019-/12/FJR%202015%20as%20amended%20by%20FJ%28A%29R%202019.pdf>, accessed 23 April 2022.

49 The statutory duties of an Archdeacon (note 32).

50 Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and Care of Churches Measure 2018, s 74.

51 Briden (note 19), 164.

52 Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011, s 6.

53 Canon C22(4).

54 Common Worship Ordination Services, available at <https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/worship-texts-and-resources/common-worship/ministry/common-worship-ordination-0>, accessed 23 April 2022.

55 Incumbents (Vacation of Benefices) Measure 1977.

56 Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms of Service) Regulations 2009 Capability Procedure Code of Practice made under Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms Of Service) Measure 2009, s 8.

57 Ibid.

58 The Oxford Centre for Ecclesiology and Practical Theology, Sustaining Leaders in Mission and Change: The Continuing Ministerial Development of Archdeacons in the Church of England (2011), 10, available at <https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2017-12/Sustaining%20Leaders%20in%20Mission%20and%20Change.pdf>, accessed 10 August 2022.

59 Church Representation Rules 2020, r 44(2)(h).

60 Steen (note 33), 6.

61 So you're going to be an Archdeacon… A booklet for new archdeacons in the Church of England (2017), p 5, available at <https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2017-12/Induction%20booklet%20for%20Archdeacons.pdf>, accessed 21 April 2022.

62 Ravenscroft, R, ‘The role of the archdeacon today’ (1995) 3 Ecc LJ 379–392Google Scholar, at 381.

63 Bourke, M, ‘The Archdeacon's Dilemma’ (1989) XCII (747) Theology 198Google Scholar.

64 Jones, H, ‘Omnes gallia or The role of the archdeacon’ (1991) 2 Ecc LJ 236–240Google Scholar, at 237.

65 Steen (note 33), 5.

66 Ravenscroft (note 62), 387.

67 The Oxford Centre for Ecclesiology and Practical Theology (note 58), 16.

68 Clergy Discipline Measure 2003 Code of Practice (2006 revised: 2011, 2013 and 2016), §§ 10–12.

69 Ravenscroft (note 62), 382.

70 Jones (note 25).

71 Ravenscroft (note 62), 380.

72 Marritt (note 10), 931.

73 C Podmore, The Governance of the Church of England and the Anglican Communion, GS Misc 910 (2009).

74 Boakes, N, ‘Being an archdeacon: a coaching model’ (2020) 22 Ecc LJ 314–327Google Scholar, at 318.

75 I have first hand experience of this, having served as Acting Archdeacon Pastor in the Diocese of Coventry from 2017 to 2018.

76 Coventry Archdeacons, available at <https://www.coventry.anglican.org/about/archdeacons/>, accessed 10 August 2022.

77 A New Archdeacon for Coventry and Warwickshire, available at <https://archive.ph/20130112184154/http://www.coventry.anglican.org/news/stories/archdeaconpastor/>, accessed 23 September 2022.

78 Background notes to the appointment of an Archdeacon Missioner, available at <https://web.archive.org/web/20120425124513/http://www.coventrydiocese.org/upload/file/091008%20Background%20Notes%20to%20the%20Appointment%20of%20an%20Archdeacon%20Missioner%20Final%20Version.pdf#>, accessed 23 September 2022.

79 Jones (note 64), 240.

80 Steen (note 33), 18.

81 The Oxford Centre for Ecclesiology and Practical Theology (note 58), 11.