Tag Archives: Church of England

The Prime Minister, The Queen, And Ecclesiastical Appointments

Posted on October 20, 2021 by jasonloch

Earlier this year, there was some debate over whether or not Boris Johnson had run afoul of section 18 of the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829. There were reports that he’d converted to Roman Catholicism, and Roman Catholics are barred … Continue reading →

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Boris Johnson And Section 18 Of The Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829

Posted on May 31, 2021 by jasonloch

Boris Johnson married his partner Carrie Symonds at Westminster Cathedral over the weekend. According to a statement from the cathedral, he is now, in fact, a Roman Catholic. This simple statement raises awkward constitutional questions. The Sovereign is formally responsible … Continue reading →

Posted in British Constitution | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Bishops And Homage

Posted on July 21, 2020 by jasonloch

Today, the new Archbishop of York formally did homage for the temporalities of his new see. Because of the pandemic, the ceremony took place via video link. In normal times, it would involve a small ceremony at Buckingham Palace or … Continue reading →

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The Prime Minister’s Appointments Secretary And Episcopal Appointments

Posted on July 20, 2020 by jasonloch

My recent post on Tony Blair and the Bishopric of Liverpool has highlighted the role of the Prime Minister’s Appointments Secretary in the process of choosing bishops. Blair’s Appointments Secretary, John Holroyd, clearly played an active role in influencing Blair’s … Continue reading →

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Tony Blair And The Bishopric Of Liverpool

Posted on July 16, 2020 by jasonloch

A little more than a month after taking office, Tony Blair precipitated a miniature constitutional crisis when he vetoed the Church of England’s nominee for the Bishopric of Liverpool. The incident has largely faded from the public consciousness, but thanks … Continue reading →

Posted in Church of England | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

When The Queen Appoints Your Parish Priest

Posted on February 28, 2020 by jasonloch

In addition to appointing the Church of England’s senior ecclesiastics, the Queen appoints several hundred parish clergy scattered throughout England. As with many things in the United Kingdom, the rules governing the Crown’s parochial patronage are complicated to say the … Continue reading →

Posted in Monarchy in Britain, The Monarchy | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

The Vicar Who Claimed A Seat In The Commons

Posted on July 17, 2018 by jasonloch

On November 30, 1965, a Church of England vicar named Christopher Wansey tried to enter the chamber of the House of Commons. Although he wasn’t an MP,[1] he was a proctor for the Diocese of Chelmsford in the Convocation of … Continue reading →

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Do Royal Spouses Have To Be Anglicans?

Posted on December 31, 2017 by jasonloch

The news of Prince Harry’s forthcoming nuptials led a reader to ask the following question: I saw that Meghan Markle is going to be baptized and confirmed in the Church of England before she marries Prince Harry. Is that a … Continue reading →

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A Labyrinth of Words

Posted on November 18, 2014 by jasonloch

In honor of the Queen giving her Royal Assent and License to Amending Canon No. 33, I thought I’d post this delightfully arcane example of similar instrument from Queen Victoria’s reign. It is, without a doubt, one of the most grandiloquent documents … Continue reading →

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The Curious Case of the Anglican Cardinals

Posted on September 3, 2014 by jasonloch

When most people hear the word ‘cardinal,’ they think of the bird, the baseball team, or the guys with the funky red hats who elect the Pope. But there’s another type of cardinal—Anglican cardinals. So why does the Church of … Continue reading →

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