THE DEAN AND CHAPTER.
THE PRECINCTS of the late priory of Christ-church,
and the church itself, having remained in the king's
hands for more than the space of one year, he at last
thought proper, by his letters patent, dated April 8,
in the 32d year of his reign, anno 1541, to establish a
new foundation here, (fn. 1) consisting of a dean and twelve
canons or prebendaries, with other inferior members,
and incorporated them by the name of the dean and
chapter of the cathedral and metropolitical church of
Christ, in Canterbury; (fn. 2) to them he committed the solemn celebration of divine service in this church, and
at the same time ordained and declared this church to
be the mother church of the province, and the see of
the archbishops of Canterbury for ever, confirming to
them all jurisdictions belonging to their church, and regranting them this church, the scite of the late monastery, and all buildings, gardens and places whatsoever,
within the precinct, circuit, and compass of the wall,
of the same, excepting the palace of the archbishop
and the cellarer's hall and lodgings (afterwards granted
to the archbishop). At the same time he ordained for
them a body of statutes or canons, which they were to
be sworn to the due observance of; these were compiled and particularly inspected, for the use of this
church, by archbishop Cranmer, and contain rules and
precepts, excellently well drawn up and adapted for the
well regulating of such a collegiate society as this, and
for the due attendance on and decent performing of the
sacred offices of religion in a cathedral church.
The members of the cathedral, according to the
foundation, consist of a dean, twelve prebendaries, six
preachers, (nominated by the archbishop) six minorcanons, six substitutes, twelve lay-clerks or singing
men, one of which is organist, a master of the choris
ters, which are in number ten, a chapter clerk, two
masters of the grammar school, fifty scholars, twelve
alms-men (nominated by the crown) two virgers, two
vestry keepers, with other inferior officers, as bell
ringers, &c.
In the same year (though the next of his reign) the
king, by a dotation charter, dated on May 26, endowed
this new founded dean and chapter with several manors,
lands, rectories, and advowsons, partly belonging to
the late priory here, and partly to other suppressed religious houses, which, though he afterwards by some
disadvantageous exchanges forced on them, in some
measure lessened, (fn. 3) yet by the increased value of lands,
they now produce an ample and splendid revenue for
the support of this foundation, and the members of it. (fn. 4)
When the king erected and founded this and several
other cathedral churches about this time, he appointed,
that the deans and chapters of them should distribute
and give in alms yearly, among poor householders and
other poor people, the sum of one hundred pounds
sterling; and yearly in and upon making and repairing
of highways, the sum of forty pounds sterling. To the
success therefore and better proceedings in this intent,
the king granted a commission in his 37th year, anno
1545, to certain bishops, to call these deans and chapters before them, and all other persons, to enquire into
the bestowing and ordering of the same; and if they
should think the same could be better bestowed elsewhere, and in other places than the same then was, that
they should have full power and authority to order and
appoint the same otherwise, and in other places, as they
should think fit and judge more expedient, &c. (fn. 5) and a
like commission was directed by Edward VI. in his
1st year, to Sir Edward North, and others. (fn. 6)
The statutes (fn. 7) or canons, which the dean and chapter
had received when they were incorporated, admitting,
through the different alterations made in the forms of
religious worship, of some interpretations and additional amendments, such were added by archbishop
Parker, being called his injunctions, and were published
in the chapter-house on October 7, 1573; in which
state the statutes of this church remained till the time
of archbishop Laud, who having the king's licence for
the purpose under his great seal, reviewed them; and
having, with great care and pains, made such alterations as appeared to him necessary for making them
more absolute and complete, he presented them to the
king, who confirmed them by his letters patent, dated
January 3d, in the twelfth year of his reign. (fn. 8) These
statutes, which still continue in force, the several members of this church, at their entrance into it, are sworn
to obey, and by them they are at this time in a great
measure governed.