Synods of Westminster
Encyclopedia
Synods of Westminster. Under this heading are included certain of the more important ecclesiastical councils held within the present bounds of London
. Though the precise locality is occasionally uncertain, the majority of the medieval synod
s assembled in the chapter-house of old St Pauls, or the former chapel of St Catherine within the precincts of Westminster Abbey
or at Lambeth
. The councils were of various types, each with a constitutional history of its own. Before the reign of Edward I
, when convocation
assumed substantially its present form, there were convened in London various diocesan, provincial, national and legatine synods; during the past six centuries, however, the chief ecclesiastical assemblies held there have been convocations of the province of Canterbury
.
; it renewed ancient regulations, forbade simony
and permitted three bishops to remove from country places to Salisbury
, Chichester
and Chester
respectively.
adopted canons against simony, clerical marriages
and slavery
.
The councils of 1126, 1127 and 1138 were legatine
, that of 1175 provincial; their canons, chiefly re-enactments, throw light on the condition of the clergy at that time. The canons of 1200 are based in large measure on recommendations of the Lateran Council
of 1179.
had been established. A synod at Lambeth in 1281 put forth canons none too welcome to Edward I
; they included a detailed scheme for the religious instruction of the faithful. During the next two centuries the councils devoted much attention to heresy
:
From the time of Edward VI
on, many of the most vital changes in ecclesiastical discipline were adopted in convocations at St Pauls and in the Abbey. To enumerate them would be to give a running commentary on the development of the Church of England; among the most important were those of 1547, 1552, 1554, 1562, 1571, 1604, 1605, 1640 and 1661.
In 1852 there was held the first of a series of synods of the newly organized Roman Catholic archdiocese of Westminster
. For the Pan-Anglican Synods see Lambeth Conferences
.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Though the precise locality is occasionally uncertain, the majority of the medieval synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
s assembled in the chapter-house of old St Pauls, or the former chapel of St Catherine within the precincts of Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
or at Lambeth
Lambeth Palace
Lambeth Palace is the official London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury in England. It is located in Lambeth, on the south bank of the River Thames a short distance upstream of the Palace of Westminster on the opposite shore. It was acquired by the archbishopric around 1200...
. The councils were of various types, each with a constitutional history of its own. Before the reign of Edward I
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
, when convocation
Convocation
A Convocation is a group of people formally assembled for a special purpose.- University use :....
assumed substantially its present form, there were convened in London various diocesan, provincial, national and legatine synods; during the past six centuries, however, the chief ecclesiastical assemblies held there have been convocations of the province of Canterbury
Province of Canterbury
The Province of Canterbury, also called the Southern Province, is one of two ecclesiastical provinces making up the Church of England...
.
Eleventh century
The first really notable council at St Pauls was that of 1075 under the presidency of LanfrancLanfranc
Lanfranc was Archbishop of Canterbury, and a Lombard by birth.-Early life:Lanfranc was born in the early years of the 11th century at Pavia, where later tradition held that his father, Hanbald, held a rank broadly equivalent to magistrate...
; it renewed ancient regulations, forbade simony
Simony
Simony is the act of paying for sacraments and consequently for holy offices or for positions in the hierarchy of a church, named after Simon Magus , who appears in the Acts of the Apostles 8:9-24...
and permitted three bishops to remove from country places to Salisbury
Salisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
, Chichester
Chichester
Chichester is a cathedral city in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, South-East England. It has a long history as a settlement; its Roman past and its subsequent importance in Anglo-Saxon times are only its beginnings...
and Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
respectively.
Twelfth century
In 1102 a national synod at Westminster under AnselmAnselm of Canterbury
Anselm of Canterbury , also called of Aosta for his birthplace, and of Bec for his home monastery, was a Benedictine monk, a philosopher, and a prelate of the church who held the office of Archbishop of Canterbury from 1093 to 1109...
adopted canons against simony, clerical marriages
Clerical celibacy
Clerical celibacy is the discipline by which some or all members of the clergy in certain religions are required to be unmarried. Since these religions consider deliberate sexual thoughts, feelings, and behavior outside of marriage to be sinful, clerical celibacy also requires abstension from these...
and slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
.
The councils of 1126, 1127 and 1138 were legatine
Legatine council
A legatine council or legatine synod is an ecclesiastical council or synod that is presided over by a papal legate.According to Pope Gregory VII, writing in the Dictatus papae, a papal legate "presides over all bishops in a council, even if he is inferior in rank, and he can pronounce sentence of...
, that of 1175 provincial; their canons, chiefly re-enactments, throw light on the condition of the clergy at that time. The canons of 1200 are based in large measure on recommendations of the Lateran Council
Third Council of the Lateran
The Third Council of the Lateran met in March 1179 as the eleventh ecumenical council. Pope Alexander III presided and 302 bishops attended.By agreement reached at the Peace of Venice in 1177 the bitter conflict between Alexander III and Emperor Frederick I was brought to an end...
of 1179.
Thirteenth century
At St Pauls the legatine constitutions of Otto were published in a synod of 1237, those of Ottobori in 1268: these were the most important national councils held after the independence of YorkYork
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
had been established. A synod at Lambeth in 1281 put forth canons none too welcome to Edward I
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
; they included a detailed scheme for the religious instruction of the faithful. During the next two centuries the councils devoted much attention to heresy
Heresy
Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion...
:
- eight propositions concerning the body of Christ after his death were rejected at St Mary-le-Bowin 1286;
- the expulsion of the Jews from England was sanctioned by a legatine synod of Westminster in 1291;
- ten theses of John Wyclif were condemned at the Dominican friary in 1382, and eighteen articles drawn from his Trialogus met the same fate at St Pauls in 1396;
- and the doom of Sir John OldcastleJohn OldcastleSir John Oldcastle , English Lollard leader, was son of Sir Richard Oldcastle of Almeley in northwest Herefordshire and grandson of another Sir John Oldcastle....
was sealed at the latter place in 1413.
Later synods
The 14th-century synods at St Pauls concerned themselves largely with the financial and moral status of the clergy, and made many regulations regarding their dress and behaviour (1328, 1342, 1343; cf. 1463).From the time of Edward VI
Edward VI of England
Edward VI was the King of England and Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death. He was crowned on 20 February at the age of nine. The son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, Edward was the third monarch of the Tudor dynasty and England's first monarch who was raised as a Protestant...
on, many of the most vital changes in ecclesiastical discipline were adopted in convocations at St Pauls and in the Abbey. To enumerate them would be to give a running commentary on the development of the Church of England; among the most important were those of 1547, 1552, 1554, 1562, 1571, 1604, 1605, 1640 and 1661.
In 1852 there was held the first of a series of synods of the newly organized Roman Catholic archdiocese of Westminster
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster is an archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in England. The archdiocese consists of all the London boroughs north of the River Thames and west of the River Lea, together with the towns southwest of Staines and Sunbury-on-Thames and...
. For the Pan-Anglican Synods see Lambeth Conferences
Lambeth Conferences
The Lambeth Conferences are decennial assemblies of bishops of the Anglican Communion convened by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The first such conference took place in 1867....
.
Acts of synods prior to the Reformation
- Henry SpelmanHenry SpelmanSir Henry Spelman was an English antiquary, noted for his detailed collections of medieval records, in particular of church councils.-Life:...
- HardouinHardouinHardouin may refer to:* Hardouin de Graetz, or Ortwin , German scholar and theologian* Hardouin Mansart, or Jules Hardouin Mansart , French architect* Jean Hardouin , French classical scholar...
- William LyndwoodWilliam LyndwoodWilliam Lyndwood was an English bishop of St. David's, diplomat and canonist, most notable for the publication of the Provinciale.-Early life:...
, Provinciale (Oxford, 1679) - Wilkins
Canons and proceedings of convocations from 1547 to 1717
- Edward CardwellEdward CardwellEdward Cardwell was an English theologian also noted for his contributions to the study of English church history. In addition to his scholarly work, he filled various administrative positions in the University of Oxford....
, Synodalia (2 vols., Oxford, 1842)
Translations and summaries
- Gurin
- Edward Landon, (1909) A Manual of Councils of the Holy Catholic Church
- HefeleHefeleHefele:* Melchior Hefele , Austrian-Hungarian architect* Karl Josef von Hefele , a German Roman Catholic theologian, bishop* Hermann Hefele , German historian* Herbert Hefele , astronomer...
, Conciliengeschichte, vol. iv. ff.