APPENDIX.

(A.)

CIRCULAR RELATIVE TO THE OFFICE, &C. OF RURAL DEANS.

I.

DECANUS-Gr. AɛKavos à dɛKaç-in militiâ dictus est, qui 10 militibus: in monasteriis, qui 10 monachis; in Eccles. majori, 10 præbendis seu canonicis, plerumque Presbyteris, ideoque et ipse Archipresbyter habetur: in Episcopatûs divisione, 10 clericis seu parochiis.

Episcoporum Decani, al. Rurales, sunt Decani temporales ad aliquod ministerium sub Episcopo vel Archiepiscopo exercendum constituti: quo nomine etiam Chorepiscopus et Plebanus dictus est.-Hoffmanni Lexicon in verb. Decanus.

II.

DEAN (AεKavos à dexaç decem) is an Ecclesiastical magistrate, so called because anciently he presided or had power over ten canons or prebends at the least. "Sed dicuntur Decani rurales, eo quod decem Clericis sive Parochiis præsint."Secund. Papiam, Lindw. de Constit. verb. Decan. Rurales gloss. Dean Rural, because he usually had charge over ten countrey Parishes. Anciently also called Archipresbyter, because the other presbyters were under his charge.

This word (Dean) is diversely used by Lindwood, who, speaking of Dean Rurals, he describes them to be certain persons that have Jurisdiction Ecclesiastical over other ministers and parishes near adjoining, assigned unto them by the Bishop and Arch

deacon, being placed and displaced by them. Such are the Dean of Croydon in Surrey, the Dean of Battel in Kent, the Dean of Burian in Cornwall, &c. These Dean Rurals are Decani Temporales, constituted to some ministerial function under the Bishop or Archbishop.

The fourth is the Rural Dean aforesaid, having no absolute judicial power in himself, but is onely, by the direction of the Bishop or Archdeacon, to order and prepare Ecclesiastical affairs within the Deanry and Precinct: the power of these Rural Deans is at this day nigh extinguished by the office of the Archdeacon and Bishop's Chancellor; yet, in some parts of this Realm, it is still in force.-Godolphin's Repertorium Canonicum, chap. vii. p. 51-54.

22.-The Dean Rural succeeds, who was antiently called Archipresbyter he is appointed by the Bishop and Archdeacon to continue during pleasure. "Non est perpetuus sed amotivus ab officio ad nutum superioris cujus est Minister." Their office is to give an account to the Visitor of the lives and manners of those within their precincts, and to convocate the Clergy within their Deanries when the Ordinary shall appoint; or to give induction in the absence of the Archdeacon. They are in some Diocesses sworn to certain articles: this was anciently used, which shall be subjoined, that so the whole duty of a Dean Rural may be understood:

'I, A. B., do swear diligently and faithfully to execute the office of Dean Rural within the Deanery of -. I will diligently and faithfully execute, or cause to be executed, all "such processes as shall be directed unto me from my Lord Bishop of or his officers or ministers by his authority. "Item-I will give diligent attendance by myself or my deputy "at every Consistory Court to be holden by the said Reverend Father in God, or his Chancellor, as well to return such processes as shall be by me or my deputy executed as also to "receive others then unto me directed.

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"will be obedient to the Right Reverend Father in God

Item-I

"lawful commands: neither will I attempt, do, or procure to be "done or attempted, any thing that shall be prejudicial to his "jurisdiction, but will preserve and maintain the same to the " uttermost of my power."

24. By one of the Constitutions of Otho, the Dean Rural is commanded to have an authentical seal: which shows that anciently there was somewhat of jurisdiction intrusted with them: though now there is nothing left but its name, their power being no more than what the Bishop pleaseth to employ them in.-Appendix to the same, pp. 6, 7.

Vide also Ayliffe's Parergon, p. 205.

XV.-Des Doyens Ruraux.

III.

Chaque Archidiaconé est divisé en plusieurs Doyennés, auxquels on donne pour chef un des Curés du district, qui s'appelle Doyen Rural, ou Archiprêtre Rural.

"Nec contendat Episcopus non egere plebem Archipresbytero, quasi ipse eam gubernare valeat; quia esti valde idoneus sit, decet tamen ut sua onera partiatur; et sicut ipse matrici Ecclesiæ præest, ita Archipresbyteri præsint plebibus, ut in nullo titubet ecclesiastica sollicitudo."-Leo Papa IV., Anno 850. Concilio Ticinensi.

XVI. Ils doivent veiller sur les Curés de leur Doyenné.

Une des principales fonctions des Doyens Ruraux est de veiller sur les Curés de leur Doyenné, et de rendre compte à l'Evêque de toute leur conduite.-" Ut singulæ plebes Archipresbyterum habeant, propter assiduam erga populum Dei curam: singulis plebibus Archipresbyteros esse volumus, qui non solùm imperiti vulgi sollicitudinem gerant, verùm etiam Presbyterorum qui per minores titulos habitant vitam jugi circumspectione custodiant, et quâ unusquisque industriâ divinum opus exerceat, Episcopo suo renuncient."-Ex eodem concilio.

XVII. Leurs autres fonctions sont réglées par les statuts du Diocese ou par leur Commissions.-Les Loix Ecclesiastiques de France, E. III. p. 206.

IV.

RURAL DEANS. Besides Archdeacons, there were formerly Archpresbyters, or which is much the same, Rural Deans. Our dioceses are still divided into Deaneries, and those clergymen who, under the Bishop and Archdeacon, had the peculiar care and inspection of the clergy and laity of such a district, as is now called a Deanery, were Rural Deans. Johnson's Clergyman's Vade mecum, p. 54.

V.

De Archipresbyteris sive Decanis Ruralibus.

Cap. 5.-Decanatus quilibet Archipresbyterium rusticanum habeat, vel ab Episcopo vel Ecclesiæ Ordinario præficiendum Hic tanquam in specula Presbyteris, Diaconis, &c. ut singuli quæ ad eorum munus attinent præstent, perpetuo invigilabit. Episcopi voluntatem omnibus ejus Decanatus Ecclesiis sibi per literas significatam, quanta poterit celeritate, subinde exponi curabit. -Reformatio Legum

Ecclesiasticarum, p. 95.

VI.

Peractâ visitatione, Archidiaconus significabit Episcopo quos invenit in quoque decanatu, eâ doctrinâ, et judicio præditos ut digni sunt, qui pro concione doceant populum, et præsint aliis. Ex illis Episcopus potest delectum facere, quos velit esse decanos rurales.-Liber Canonum disciplinæ Ecclesiæ Anglicana Anno MDLXXI.

"But this is rather a permission than a positive command, for the continuance of that office. However, it proves, that Rural Deans were thought fit ministers to assist in dispensing the laws and discipline of our reformed Church: and it doth imply, that when they are deputed by the Bishop, they may exert all that power, which by canon and custom, resided in the said office before the Reformation. The little remains of this dignity and jurisdiction depend now on the custom of places,

and the pleasure of Diocesans."-Burn's Ecclesiastical Law, Dean and Chapter, vol. ii. p. 125.

1.

VII.

XIX.-INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE DEANS RURAL.

2.

3. He is likewise, as occasion shall require, to inspect the Churches, Chancells, and Chapels, and the Houses belonging to the Parsons and Vicars within his district, and to give information of their decays and delapidations to the Ordinary.

4. He is likewise to call the clergy together, when the Ordinary shall appoint, and take care of dispensing such orders as shall be transmitted to him, and to make returns accordingly. Bishop Gibson's Codex Juris Ecclesiastici Anglicani, vol. ii. p. 1551. See also a Memorial on the Subject of Rural Deans, in Dr. Bray's MSS. preserved in Sion College Library, No. 5, and printed in the Christian Remembrancer for May, 1825, p. 284.