Ecclesiastical Household
Encyclopedia
The Ecclesiastical Household is a part of the Royal Household
of the Sovereign
of the United Kingdom
. Reflecting the different constitutions of the Churches of England
and of Scotland
, there are separate Ecclesiastical Households in each nation.
Ecclesiastical Household comprises the College of Chaplains, and the associated Chapel Royal
, the Royal Almonry
Office, various Domestic Chaplains, and service Chaplains.
The College of Chaplains is under the Clerk of the Closet
, an office dating from 1437. It is normally held by a diocesan bishop, who may however remain in office after leaving his see. The current Clerk is the Lord Bishop of Guildford
, the Rt Rev'd Christopher Hill. The Deputy Clerk of the Closet
, a new office dating only from 1677, is the Domestic Chaplain to the Sovereign, and Sub-dean of the Chapel Royal, and is the sole full-time clerical member of the Household.
The Clerk of the Closet is responsible for advising the Private Secretary to the Sovereign
on the names for candidates to fill vacancies in the Roll of Chaplains to the Sovereign. He presents Bishops for Homage to the Sovereign; examines any theological books to be presented to the Sovereign; and preaches annually in the Chapel Royal, St James's Palace. He receives a salary of £7 a year.
Some 3-4 chaplains are appointed annually, and one is kept vacant for the Sovereign's own choosing.
.
The current Dean of the Chapel Royal
(since 2006) is the Very Reverend John B. Cairns
. Other members are the Dean of the Thistle
, the Domestic Chaplain (who is usually the minister at Crathie Kirk
) and approximately ten Chaplains in Ordinary. Upon retirement the Chaplains become "Extra Chaplains".
Royal Household
A Royal Household in ancient and medieval monarchies formed the basis for the general government of the country as well as providing for the needs of the sovereign and his relations....
of the Sovereign
Monarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Reflecting the different constitutions of the Churches of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, there are separate Ecclesiastical Households in each nation.
England
The Church of EnglandChurch of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
Ecclesiastical Household comprises the College of Chaplains, and the associated Chapel Royal
Chapel Royal
A Chapel Royal is a body of priests and singers who serve the spiritual needs of their sovereign wherever they are called upon to do so.-Austria:...
, the Royal Almonry
Royal Almonry
The Royal Almonry is a small office within the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom, headed by the Lord High Almoner, an office dating from 1103. The almoner is responsible for distributing alms to the poor....
Office, various Domestic Chaplains, and service Chaplains.
The College of Chaplains is under the Clerk of the Closet
Clerk of the Closet
The College of Chaplains of the Ecclesiastical Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom is under the Clerk of the Closet, an office dating from 1437. It is normally held by a diocesan bishop, who may however remain in office after leaving his see...
, an office dating from 1437. It is normally held by a diocesan bishop, who may however remain in office after leaving his see. The current Clerk is the Lord Bishop of Guildford
Bishop of Guildford
The Bishop of Guildford is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Guildford in the Province of Canterbury.The title was first created as a suffragan see in the Diocese of Winchester in 1874. The suffragan bishop of Guildford assisted the Bishop of Winchester in overseeing the diocese...
, the Rt Rev'd Christopher Hill. The Deputy Clerk of the Closet
Deputy Clerk of the Closet
The Deputy Clerk of the Closet is the Domestic Chaplain to the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. The office was created in 1677. Since 1931, the Deputy Clerk is also the sub-dean of the Chapel Royal...
, a new office dating only from 1677, is the Domestic Chaplain to the Sovereign, and Sub-dean of the Chapel Royal, and is the sole full-time clerical member of the Household.
The Clerk of the Closet is responsible for advising the Private Secretary to the Sovereign
Private Secretary to the Sovereign
The Private Secretary to the Sovereign is the senior operational member of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom, as distinct from the Great Officers of the Household. The Private Secretary is the principal channel of communication with Her Majesty's Government and the...
on the names for candidates to fill vacancies in the Roll of Chaplains to the Sovereign. He presents Bishops for Homage to the Sovereign; examines any theological books to be presented to the Sovereign; and preaches annually in the Chapel Royal, St James's Palace. He receives a salary of £7 a year.
Some 3-4 chaplains are appointed annually, and one is kept vacant for the Sovereign's own choosing.
Scotland
Her Majesty's Household in Scotland (Ecclesiastical) consists of Chaplains who are all ministers of the Church of ScotlandChurch of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
.
The current Dean of the Chapel Royal
Dean of the Chapel Royal
Dean of the Chapel Royal, in any kingdom, can be the title of an official charged with oversight of that kingdom's Chapel Royal, the ecclesiastical establishment which is part of the Royal Household and ministers to it.-England:...
(since 2006) is the Very Reverend John B. Cairns
John B. Cairns
John Ballantyne Cairns is a retired minister of the Church of Scotland.Following a career as a solicitor, he studied theology and was ordained in 1974. His first charge was as minister at the parishes of Langholm, Ewes and Westerkirk. He then became minister at Riverside Parish Church, Dumbarton...
. Other members are the Dean of the Thistle
Dean of the Thistle
The Dean of the Thistle is an office of the Order of the Thistle, re-established in 1687. The office is normally held by a minister of the Church of Scotland, and forms part of the Royal Household in Scotland....
, the Domestic Chaplain (who is usually the minister at Crathie Kirk
Crathie Kirk
Crathie Kirk is a small Church of Scotland parish church in the Scottish village of Crathie, best known for being the regular place of worship of the British Royal Family when they are holidaying at nearby Balmoral Castle....
) and approximately ten Chaplains in Ordinary. Upon retirement the Chaplains become "Extra Chaplains".