Church of Nortend/Structure

The Church of Nortend has a highly hierarchical structure. From the lowest level down, the Church is structured as follows :

• Parish : A parish is the lowest level of ecclesiastical governance, with the benefice thereof being held by a minister who may be known as the parson, vicar or rector, depending on relevant legal circumstances. The parish possesses a church designated the parish church. The vestry of the church serves as the governing body of a parish, and is made up of representatives elected from the inhabitants of each manor which the parish overlaps with. A parish may have one or more chapelries, which may be either chapels of ease, oratories or chantries, served by chaplains.

• Archdeaconry : An archdeaconry is the principal subdivision of the diocese, being grouping of parishes administered by an archdeacon, who, despite the name, must normally be in priest's orders. An archdeaconry corresponds to a hundred. The archdeacon reports to the bishop, and there are usually multiple archdeaconries per diocese. The archdeacon is principally responsible for conducting quarterly visitations whereat offenders against the canon law are tried. They are also responsible for conferring the sacrament of confirmation.

A dean forane (not to be confused with a dean capitular) is responsible for the archdeaconry church. He holds quarterly chapter meetings of the beneficed clergy within the deanery. The dean forane reports to the archdeacon and is responsible for inspecting the parish churches and chapels within the deanery, as well as other ecclesiastical buildings, to ensure that they are free of defects, and also to ensure sufficient books, vessels, vestments, furnishings, ornaments, utensils, incense, candles and other supplies necessary are provided.

• Diocese : A diocese is territorial jurisdiction under the control of a bishop whose cathedra is situated in a cathedral. A diocese has the power to hold diocesan synods, and consistory courts. The bishop is assisted by archdeacons who are the commissioners of the dignitary of the provost of the diocesan cathedral chapter. The archdeacons manage diocesan land and estates, manage diocesan finances, and generally assist their bishop.

• Province : A province is a collection of dioceses under the jurisdiction of an archbishop. There are three provinces : Sulthey, Limmes and Rhise, and senior-most being Sulthey.

• Primacy : All three provinces in Great Nortend come under the ecclesiastical control of the Archbishop of Sulthey, who is Primate of Nortend.

• Peculiers : A peculier is an ecclesiastical jurisdiction located outside of the usual episcopal structure. Most are monastic or religious houses, and the rest either are usually associated with the Crown or were historically so associated.

Order of Precedence

• Primate : The ecclesiastical head of the Church of Nortend is the Archbishop of Sulthey, who has the title of “Primate of Nortend”. He is formally styled “(His Grace) The Most Rev'd and Rt Hon'ble (Father in God,) A. B., (by Divine Providence) L. Archbishop of Sulthey and Primate of Erbonia” or alternatively, “(His Grace) The Most Rev'd and Rt Hon'ble the Lord Archbishop of Sulthey”, and addressed “Your Grace” and “Sire”.
• Archbishop : The three archbishops of the Church of Nortend, the Archbishops of Sulthey, Limmes and Rhise, are the metropolitans for their respective provinces. Their style and address is the same as that for the Primate, mutatis mutandis.

• Bishop suffragan : A bishop suffragan is the senior bishop of a diocese who exercises ecclesiastical, pastoral and juridical jurisdiction over his see or diocese. They are styled “(His Lshp) The Rt Rev'd and Rt Hon'ble (Father in God,) A. B., (by Divine Providence) Lord Bishop of X.” or alternatively, “(His Lshp) The Rt Rev'd and Rt Hon'ble the Lord Bishop of X., A. B.”, and addressed “My Lord (Bishop)” and “Sire”.
• Abbot/Abbess : Abbots and abbesses are the religious superiors of the abbeys of certain religious foundations. The often rank equally with bishops, and are styled “(His/Her Lshp) The (Rt) Rev'd (and Rt Hon'ble) (Father/Mother in God), A. B., Lord/Lady Abbot/Abbess of X." or alternatively, “(His/Her Lshp) The (Rt) Rev'd (and Rt Hon'ble) (Father/Mother in God), the Lord/Lady Abbot/Abbess of X.”, and addressed “My Lord/Lady (Abbot/Abbess)”, “Father Superior/Mother Superior” or “Father Abbot/Mother Abbess”, depending on the Order.
• Bishop coadjutor : A bishop coadjutor is an auxiliary or assistant bishop to a bishop suffragan, who holds a titular see. For example, the Bishop of Tow is the bishop coadjutor of the Lord Bishop of St Cleaves. He is styled “(His Lshp) The Rt Rev'd and Rt Hon'ble (Father in God,) A. B., (by Divine Providence) Bishop of X.” or alternatively, “(His Lshp) The Rt Rev'd and Rt Hon'ble the Bishop of X., A. B.”, and addressed “My Lord (Bishop)” and “Sire”.

• Archdeacon : Archdeacons assist in the running of a diocese and their own archdeaconries. They are styled “The Very Rev'd (Father in God,) Archdeacon (of X.), A. B.” and addressed “Mr. Archdeacon”, “Your Reverence”, or “Mr./Dr. B”.
• Dean : Both a dean capitular or dean forane is responsible for holding Chapter and for the canons or priests under his charge. He is styled “The (Very) Rev'd (Father in God,) Dean (of X.), A. B.” and addressed “Mr. Dean”, “Your Reverence” or “Mr./Dr. B”.
• Prior/Prioress : A prior or prioress is the superior of a priory, and in many cases are subordinate to a mother abbey. They are styled “The (Very) Rev'd (Father/Mother in God), A. B., Prior/Prioress of X.” or alternatively, “The (Very) Rev'd (Father/Mother in God), the Prior/Prioress of X.”, and addressed “Father/Mother Prior/Prioress”, “Your Reverence” or “Father B./Mother Mary A.”.
• Parson : A parson is the incumbent of a parochial benefice entrusted with the cure of souls. He and other priests, are styled “The Rev'd (Father in God,) A. B.” and addressed “Your Reverence”, “Mr. Rector/Vicar/Parson”, or “Mr./Dr. B.”.
• Curate : A curate is a clerk entrusted with the cure of souls. Generally he is a deacon and is subordinate to his parish priest. He and other deacons are styled “The Rev'd (Deacon), A. B.” and addressed “Your Reverence”, “Mr. Curate/Deacon”, or “Mr./Dr. B.”.
• Clerk : A clerk in minor orders is the lowest level of clergyman. There are many clerks, such as chaunting clerks, organist clerks, parish clerks, academical clerks and law clerks. They are styled “(The Learned) A. B.” and addressed “Mr./Dr. B.”. A clerk serving as sub-deacon may be titled “The Rev'd Sub-deacon, A. B.”.

N. B. that “Father/Mother in God” is usually shortened to simply “Father” or “Mother”.

Cardinals

The cardinalate is a personal dignity conferred upon either a bishop or a priest who is particularly distinguished by royal favour. This originated in the mediaeval custom of using the title of cardinal to refer to the senior priests of a city permanently attached to and thereby „incardinated” to a cathedral church, being the „cardo” or hinge of the diocese. To this day, all priests are said to be incardinated to a diocese, albeit not called cardinals by that reason only.

The title of cardinal was thence transferred to the prebendaries of the cathedral chapter and slowly restricted to only the more senior prebends of the cathedral called cardinalates. By the early 15th century, it had become limited to the senior prebends attached to the colleges of the archepiscopal cathedral of Sulthey and the important cathedral of Lendert. Finally, in 1567, by a decree of Pius V, the title of cardinal was reserved for those priests incardinated to the Roman College of Cardinals.

After the Small Schism, however, as a reward for loyalty, Alexander II granted the title in 1618 to those former cardinals, or those who would have hitherto been entitled to the dignity, who recognised the King's supremacy over the Church. In order to keep royal control over the title, the cathedral prebends were appropriated from the cathedral chapters to the Royal Chapel of St. Giles in Lendert-with-Cadell.

Thus nowadays it is a title conferred by the King as head of the church, associated with cardinal prebendaries of the Royal Chapel of St. Giles over titular churches. The holder of such a cardinalate is the Cardinal Rector of such church, and appoints a vicar, either to perform his collegiate duties, or to perform his parochial duties as appropriate, or two to perform both. Senior bishops are always appointed cardinals. Royal chaplains and other distinguished clergymen are also often appointed cardinals.

A cardinal is styled „The Most Honourable Cardinal A. B.” and addressed „my Lord [Cardinal]”. Any territorial titles are attached as appropriate. For example, the present Archbishop of Sulthey is fully styled “His Grace The Most Rev'd and Rt Hon'ble Father in God, Cardinal Doctor Sebastian John Martin Williams, by Divine Providence Lord Archbishop of Sulthey and Primate of Erbonia, Cardinal Rector of the Church of Allhallows, Grenham”. A cardinal is entitled to wear a red cassock.

Church titles

• Cathedral Abbey = Cathedral and Abbey Church
• Cathedral Priory = Cathedral and Priory Church
• Cathedral Minster = Cathedral and Minster Church (secular cathedral with a chapter of canons)
• Cathedral = Cathedral Church (cathedral without chapel; none exist)
• Abbey = Abbey Church
• Priory = Priory Church
• Minster = Minster Church (churches with a chapter of canons)
• Church = Church (parish)
• Chapel = Chapel