medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
You'll want to look for the rhyme and reason for the "order of
precedence," the fine ranking system that puts one titleholder
in front of another. The order of precedence as of 11/25/03
(http://www.fact-index.com/o/or/order_of_precedence_in_england_a
nd_wales.html) has the spiritual lords mixed in with the
temporal ones: the Archbishop of Canterbury at #18, the A. of
York at #21, and lower down--
49. The Bishop of London
50. The Bishop of Durham
51. The Bishop of Winchester
52. Other Church of England Diocesan Bishops, according to
seniority of consecration
53. Suffragan Bishops, according to seniority of consecration
54. Retired Church of England Diocesan Bishops, according to
seniority of consecration
Anciently, precedence in England dates to Anglo-Saxon times, and
evidence of precedence can be found in various documents, such
as witness lists in charters. The first written order of
precedece dates from the coronation of Henry IV in 1399.
Precedence today generally relates back to the Precedence Act of
1539 (31 Henry VIII, c.10) and the Ordinance of 1595. You can
find these at
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld/ldstords/ldso--r.htm#APPENDIX
and
http://www.heraldica.org/topics/britain/order_precedence.htm#1520
The Precedence Act, clause III, states: "And it is also
enacted, That next to the said Vice-gerent shall sit the
Archbishop of Canterbury; and then next to him, on the same form
and side, shall sit the Archbishop of York; and next to him, on
the same form and side, the Bishop of London; and next to him,
on the same side and form, the Bishop of Durham; and next to
him, on the same side and form, the Bishop of Winchester; and
then all the other Bishops of both Provinces of Canterbury and
York, shall sit and be placed on the same side, after their
ancienties, as it hath been accustomed."
Note the "as it hath been accustomed." That may mean you may
never find the very solid source you seek.
I'd guess that the order London, Durham, and Winchester relates
to the order of establishment, assuming that you can trace
Durham back to Chester-le-Street and then back to Lindisfarne.
Bishoprics have come and gone but the other ancient ones--(Bath
&) Wells, Hereford, (Coventry &) Lichfield, Rochester, and
Worcester--pre-date the Conquest. (I'm going by the Handbook of
British Chronology, 3rd ed., lists of bishops here; a C of E
history may have better dates.)
> ...please forgive me if the answer to this question is
something
> every preschooler should know.
If you find that preschooler, please let the world know!
Cheers,
Al Magary
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