Dear Folks Does anyone know the difference between a chapter, as in dean and chapter (government of a cathedral) and an open chapter. I have a possibility in mind that it may be that the open chapter would be an open meeting of the chapter that would be available to the laity to attend. Anyone any ideas or knowledge? Audrey

Hi Again! CHAPTER: "The collective body or a meeting of the canons of a cathedral" Open Chapter seems to indicate that the collective body may not be fully subscribed, and in need of more members to be a full meet? Kind Regards June & Roy http://www.btinternet.com/~roy.cox/index.htm -----Original Message----- From: norman.lee1 [mailto:norman.lee1@virgin.net] Sent: Wednesday, April 07, 2004 8:34 AM To: OLD-ENGLISH-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [OEL] church government Dear Folks Does anyone know the difference between a chapter, as in dean and chapter (government of a cathedral) and an open chapter. I have a possibility in mind that it may be that the open chapter would be an open meeting of the chapter that would be available to the laity to attend. Anyone any ideas or knowledge? Audrey ==== OLD-ENGLISH Mailing List ==== OLD-ENGLISH Web Page http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~oel/

Hello, As Audrey says, the dean and chapter of a cathedral form a sort of "Bishop's Committee". The "Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature" by Rev. John McClintock and James Strong (published 1895) says: "In England the chapter of a cathedral church consists of persons ecclesiastical, canons and prebendaries, whereof the dean is chief, all subordinate to the bishop, to whom they are as assistants in matters relating to the church, for the better ordering and disposing the things thereof, and for confirmation of such leases of the temporalities and officers relating to the bishopric as the bishop from time to time shall happen to make" I couldn't find a reference to "open chapter", but I seem to remember reading it in one of the "Brother Cadfael" mediaeval whodunit books. Certainly in a monastery, the chapter was a "business meeting" of the monks and canons. Possibly a full meeting, with all monks and canons attending, would be an "open chapter", as opposed to a meeting which only the "top brass" attended ("closed chapter"?) but I am only guessing. David Lamb (Paignton, Devon, UK) ----- Original Message ----- From: "norman.lee1" <norman.lee1@virgin.net> To: <OLD-ENGLISH-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, April 07, 2004 8:33 AM Subject: church government > Dear Folks > > Does anyone know the difference between a chapter, as in dean and chapter (government of a cathedral) and an open chapter. I have a possibility in mind that it may be that the open chapter would be an open meeting of the chapter that would be available to the laity to attend. Anyone any ideas or knowledge? > > Audrey > > ______________________________