Dean (church)

A , in which the Bishop is supreme, and as a worshipping community offering daily services, although without any territorial jurisdiction or Parish . It is in the latter capacity that the Dean operates, being in charge of the cathedral church, but ranking below the bishop in the wider diocese.

The Dean, as senior clergyman, usually heads a collegiate governing body called the Chapter , but his jurisdiction is independent of the chapter, and does not merely derive from his senior membership of it.

It is essential for a Dean to be in holy orders. In the Church Of England , the position of Dean is the most senior position open to ordained women, proposals for the consecration of bishops not yet having been approved.

A Dean is entitled to be referred to as "the Very Reverend", e.g. the Very Reverend June Osborne is Dean of Salisbury .

Westminster Abbey is not the seat of any bishop and is not a cathedral but it has a similar status and, like a cathedral, its senior clergyman is called the Dean. The seat of the diocese of London is St Paul's Cathedral and, amongst well-known former Deans of St Paul's, was John Colet , founder of St Paul's School .

In recent years, the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales has introduced the custom of designating Cathedral Deans, formally known as Cathedral Administrators. However, the term differs slightly from the Anglican usage as Catholic Deans do not necessarily preside over the cathedral chapter (this function belonging to the office of Provost ), and are not necessarily required even to be a member of the chapter. In many places, Catholics also use the term Rector for the one who administers the Cathedral Church.

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Dean (church)