Suffragan Bishops Act 1534
Act
ParliamentParliament of England
Year1534
Citation26 Hen. 8. c. 14
Territorial extentEngland and Wales
Royal assent18 December 1534
Commencement3 November 1534[a]
StatusAmended
Original texthttps://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=pst.000017915533&seq=565
Revised texthttps://www.legislation.gov.uk/aep/Hen8/26/14/contents
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The Suffragan Bishops Act 1534[d] (26 Hen. 8. c. 14) is an act of the Parliament of England that authorised the appointment of suffragan (i.e., assistant) bishops in England and Wales. The tradition of appointing suffragans named after a town in the diocese other than the town the diocesan bishop is named after can be dated from this act.

The act named Thetford, Ipswich, Colchester, Dover, Guildford, Southampton, Taunton, Shaftesbury, Molton, Marlborough, Bedford, Leicester, Gloucester, Shrewsbury, Bristol, Penrydd,[1] Bridgwater, Nottingham, Grantham, Hull, Huntingdon, Cambridge, Penrith, Berwick-upon-Tweed, St Germans and the Isle of Wight[2][3] as specific suitable suffragan sees.

This act was partly in force in Great Britain at the end of 2010.[4]

The repeal by the Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1969 of section 2 of the Act of Supremacy (1 Eliz. 1. c. 1) (1558) does not affect the continued operation, so far as unrepealed, of the Suffragan Bishops Act 1534.[5]

Suffragan Bishops Act 1534
Act
ParliamentParliament of the United Kingdom
Year1898
Citation61 & 62 Vict. c. 11
Territorial extentUnited Kingdom
Royal assent1 July 1898
Commencement1 July 1898[b]
StatusCurrent
Original texthttps://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/61-62/11/contents/enacted
Revised texthttps://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/61-62/11/contents
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Collapsedyes

Since 1898, notwithstanding anything contained in the Suffragan Bishops Act 1534 it has been lawful to nominate, present and appoint as suffragan bishop persons already consecrated as a bishop and, in that case, the letters patent presenting them do not require their consecration.[6] The Dioceses Measure 1978 concerns petitions to make appointments under this act.[7] Until 1898, men already in episcopal orders were sometimes made assistant bishops instead.

Provisions

Section 2

In section 2 of the act, the words from "and have such capacitie" to the end were repealed by section 15(2)(a) of the Dioceses Measure 1978. This repeal does not invalidate any commission given to a suffragan bishop which was in force immediately before the commencement of that Measure (s. 15(3)). Section 15(4) provides for such commissions to continue in force until the date on which the suffragan bishop to whom the commission was given ceases to hold that office, or the date on which the commission is revoked by the bishop of the diocese, whichever first occurs. So long as any such commission remains in force so much of section 2 of the Suffragan Bishops Act 1534 as is repealed by 15(2)(a) of that Measure continues, notwithstanding the repeal, to apply to the suffragan bishop to whom the commission was given (s. 15(5)).

Section 4

In section 4 of the act, the words from "nor use" to the end were repealed by section 15(2)(b) of the Dioceses Measure 1978. This repeal does not invalidate any commission given to a suffragan bishop which was in force immediately before the commencement of that Measure (s. 15(3)). Section 15(4) provides for such commissions to continue in force until the date on which the suffragan bishop to whom the commission was given ceases to hold that office, or the date on which the commission is revoked by the bishop of the diocese, whichever first occurs. So long as any such commission remains in force so much of section 2 of the Suffragan Bishops Act 1534 as is repealed by 15(2)(b) of that Measure continues, notwithstanding the repeal, to apply to the suffragan bishop to whom the commission was given (s. 15(5)).

Section 6

In section 6 of the act, the words "of the bishop to whom he shall be suffragan" were substituted for the words "where he shall have comyssyon" by section 15(6) of the Dioceses Measure 1978.

Section 7

Section 7 of the act was repealed by part V of schedule 1 to the Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1977.

1534 titles

Those titles mandated by the 1534 act currently in use as suffragan sees today are indicated in bold type:

SeeDioceseYearsSeeDioceseYears
Bishop of BedfordDiocese of London1537–1560, 1879–1898Bishop of the Isle of WightNo evidence of use (now in Portsmouth)
There is an application to revive underway as of November 2024.[8][9]
Diocese of St Albans1935–presentBishop of LeicesterDiocese of Peterborough1888–1927
Bishop of BerwickDiocese of Durham1537–1571Diocesan title1927–present
Diocese of Newcastle2016–presentBishop of MarlboroughDiocese of Salisbury1537–1568
Bishop of BridgwaterNo evidence of use (now in Bath & Wells)Diocese of London1888–1918
Bishop of BristolDiocese of Worcester1538–1542Bishop of MoltonNo evidence of use (now in Exeter)
Diocesan title1542–presentBishop of NottinghamDiocese of York1567–1570
Bishop of CambridgeNo evidence of use (now in Ely)Diocese of Lincoln1870–1884
Bishop of ColchesterDiocese of Ely1536–1541, 1592–1608Diocese of Southwell1884–1893
Diocese of St Albans1882–1914Diocesan title2005–present
Diocese of Chelmsford1914–presentBishop of PenryddDiocese of Llandaff1537–1539
Bishop of DoverDiocese of Canterbury1536–1597, 1870–presentBishop of PenrithDiocese of Ripon1888–1889
also "Bishop in Canterbury" since c. 1999Diocese of Carlisle1939–present
Bishop of GloucesterNo evidence of use as suffragan seeBishop of St GermansDiocese of Truro1905–1918, 1974–present
Diocesan title1541–presentBishop of ShaftesburyDiocese of Salisbury1539
Bishop of GranthamDiocese of Lincoln1905–presentBishop of ShrewsburyDiocese of Llandaff (probably)1537–1561
Bishop of GuildfordDiocese of Winchester1874–1927Diocese of Lichfield1888–1905, 1940–present
Diocesan title1927–presentBishop of SouthamptonDiocese of Winchester1895–present
Bishop of HullDiocese of York1538–1579, 1891–presentBishop of TauntonDiocese of Bath and Wells1538–1559, 1911–present
Bishop of HuntingdonDiocese of Ely1966–presentBishop of ThetfordDiocese of Norwich1536–1570, 1894–1926, 1945–present
Bishop of IpswichDiocese unclear1536–1538
Diocese of Norwich1899–1909
Diocesan title1914–present

Other suffragan titles

Suffragan Bishops Act 1534
Act
ParliamentParliament of the United Kingdom
Year1888
Citation51 & 52 Vict. c. 56
Territorial extentUnited Kingdom
Royal assent24 December 1888
Commencement24 December 1888[c]
StatusAmended
Original texthttps://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/51-52/56/enacted
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Collapsedyes

Since the passage of the Suffragans Nomination Act 1888, it has been lawful to create suffragan sees named for other towns. These have so far included (those titles currently in use as suffragan sees today are indicated in bold type):

In 2015, research by the Church's Legal Office on behalf of the Dioceses Commission uncovered fourteen "forgotten" suffragan Sees which had been erected by Orders-in-Council in 1889 but never filled.[11] The Dioceses Commission has advised that these may be revived and filled just as any other dormant See might.[42] The see of Oswestry was filled by the consecration of Paul Thomas on 2 February 2023, and the see of Wigan was filled by the translation of Ruth Worsley from Taunton on 4 April 2025;[43] but the others remain unfilled.

By Order-in-Council dated 6 April 1889:

By Order-in-Council dated 5 July 1889:

Further — besides that of Penrydd (now in St David's diocese), erected by the 1534 Act — six further Welsh Sees were erected following the 1888 Act: at Cardiff (in Llandaff diocese), Carnarvon (Bangor), Holyhead (Bangor), Monmouth (then in Llandaff, now a diocesan See), Wrexham (St Asaph)[11] and Swansea (then in St Davids, now a diocesan See as Swansea and Brecon).[44][45]

Notes

  1. ^ Start of session.
  2. ^ The Acts of Parliament (Commencement) Act 1793.
  3. ^ The Acts of Parliament (Commencement) Act 1793.
  4. ^ The citation of this act by this short title was authorised by section 5 of, and the second schedule to, the Statute Law Revision Act 1948. Due to the repeal of those provisions, it is now authorised by section 19(2) of the Interpretation Act 1978.

References

  1. ^ Parish of Penrhudd in Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales. An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Wales and Monmouthshire: VII – County of Pembroke (Google Books)
  2. ^ Bray, Gerald, 2004. Documents of the English Reformation. ISBN 0-227-17239-6. p.115.
  3. ^ The Suffragan Bishops Act 1534, as amended, from Legislation.gov.uk.
  4. ^ The Chronological Table of the Statutes, 1235 - 2010. The Stationery Office. 2011. ISBN 978-0-11-840509-6. Part I. p. 44, read with pages viii and x.
  5. ^ The Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1969, section 4(2)
  6. ^ The Suffragan Bishops Act 1898, section 1
  7. ^ [of the .http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukcm/1978/1/section/18 section 18(1) legislation.gov.uk]
  8. ^ "Diocesan Synod, November 2024". Diocese of Portsmouth. Archived 13 December 2024 at the Wayback Machine.
  9. ^ "An Application to the Dioceses Commission to revive the Suffragan See of the Isle of Wight". Diocese of Portsmouth. Archived 13 December 2024 at the Wayback Machine.
  10. ^ No. 40235. 20 July 1954. p. 4257.
  11. ^ Church of England — Dormant Suffragan Sees (Archived 30 May 2016, which accessed 4 March 2020)
  12. ^ No. 49649. 16 February 1984. p. 2217.
  13. ^ No. 44479. 21 December 1967. p. 14052.
  14. ^ No. 51444. 18 August 1988. p. 9349.
  15. ^ No. 28776. 25 November 1913. p. 8496.
  16. ^ No. 45607. 24 February 1972. p. 2299.
  17. ^ No. 34596. 7 February 1939. p. 835.
  18. ^ No. 46113. 26 October 1973. p. 12738.
  19. ^ No. 34079. 17 August 1934. p. 5251.
  20. ^ No. 53585. 11 February 1994. p. 2143.
  21. ^ No. 45124. 11 June 1970. p. 6515.
  22. ^ No. 33129. 2 February 1926. p. 763.
  23. ^ No. 34181. 19 July 1935. p. 4666.
  24. ^ No. 32871. 16 October 1923. p. 6962.
  25. ^ No. 34308. 24 July 1936. pp. 4735–6.
  26. ^ Privy Council Office — Orders, 12 April 2017 (Accessed 27 April 2017)
  27. ^ No. 48749. 29 September 1981. p. 12329.
  28. ^ No. 43041. 28 June 1963. p. 5533.
  29. ^ No. 33190. 10 August 1926. p. 5287.
  30. ^ No. 32769. 21 November 1922. p. 8186.
  31. ^ No. 43654. 18 May 1965. p. 4859.
  32. ^ No. 34582. 23 December 1938. p. 8143.
  33. ^ No. 33019. 10 February 1925. p. 942.
  34. ^ No. 33299. 2 August 1927. p. 4979.
  35. ^ No. 41495. 12 September 1958. p. 5597.
  36. ^ No. 33657. 31 October 1930. p. 6719.
  37. ^ No. 48063. 8 January 1980. p. 315.
  38. ^ No. 28266. 2 July 1909. p. 5049.
  39. ^ No. 32849. 31 July 1923. p. 5211.
  40. ^ No. 28520. 8 August 1911. p. 5909.
  41. ^ No. 47765. 8 February 1979. p. 1737.
  42. ^ Church of England Dioceses Commission — Annual Report 2015 (Accessed 28 April 2016)
  43. ^ No. 64704. 8 April 2025. p. 7574.
  44. ^ "Death of Bishop Lloyd" in Carmarthen Journal, 18 June 1916, p. 5 (Archive accessed 7 October 2017)
  45. ^