Ecclesiastical Household Explained

The Ecclesiastical Household is a part of the Royal Household of the sovereign of the United Kingdom.[1] Reflecting the different constitutions of the churches of England and Scotland, there are separate households in each nation.

England

The Church of England Ecclesiastical Household comprises the College of Chaplains, and the associated Chapel Royal, the Royal Almonry Office, various Domestic Chaplains, and service Chaplains.

The College of Chaplains is under the Clerk of the Closet, an office dating from 1437. It is normally held by a diocesan bishop, who may however remain in office after leaving his see. The current clerk is Richard Jackson, Bishop of Hereford. The Deputy Clerk of the Closet, a new office dating only from 1677, is Paul Wright, Domestic Chaplain to the Sovereign and Sub-dean of the Chapel Royal and the sole full-time clerical member of the household. The sub-dean is assisted by Priests-in-Ordinary to the Sovereign.

The Clerk of the Closet is responsible for advising the Private Secretary to the Sovereign on the names for candidates to fill vacancies in the Roll of Chaplains to the Sovereign. He presents bishops for homage to the sovereign; examines any theological books to be presented to the sovereign; and preaches annually in the Chapel Royal, St James's Palace. He receives a salary of £7 a year.

Some three or four chaplains are appointed annually, and one is kept vacant for the sovereign's own choosing.

List of Chaplains in the Household in England

The College of Chaplains consists of those appointed chaplain to the monarch. They are honorary chaplains who do not fulfill any formal duties. They preach once a year in the Chapel Royal.

During the reign of Queen Victoria, there were 36 Chaplains-in-Ordinary and a number of honorary chaplains. A new appointment as chaplain would traditionally be made among the honorary chaplains. Upon his accession in 1901, Edward VII reduced the number of chaplains-in-ordinary to 12 and removed the prerequisite that a chaplain need previously have been appointed an honorary chaplain.

Chaplains appointed as a bishop or to other senior church positions leave the household.

Chaplains in Ordinary

Queen Victoria
King Edward VII
Queen Elizabeth II

Honorary chaplains

Queen Victoria
King Edward VII
King George V
King George VI
Queen Elizabeth II

Priests in Ordinary

Queen Victoria
King Edward VII
Queen Elizabeth II

Honorary Priests in Ordinary

King Edward VII

Scotland

Her Majesty's Household in Scotland (Ecclesiastical) consists of chaplains who are all ministers of the Church of Scotland.[11]

The current Dean of the Chapel Royal (since 2019) is Professor David Fergusson, who was also appointed Dean of the Thistle at the same time. Other members are the Dean of the Thistle (where held by another individual), and two Domestic Chaplains: the minister at Crathie Kirk (by Balmoral Castle) and the minister at the Canongate Kirk (by the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh). There are ten "Chaplains in Ordinary". Upon retirement the chaplains may be appointed "Extra Chaplains".

List of Chaplains in the Household in Scotland

Chaplains-in-Ordinary to HM in Scotland

King George II
Queen Victoria
King Edward VII
King George V
King Edward VIII
King George VI
Queen Elizabeth II

Extra Chaplains-in-Ordinary to HM in Scotland

King Edward VII
King George V
Queen Elizabeth II
King Charles III

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Chaplains to the Queen . Gavin . Ashenden . Gavin Ashenden . 14 December 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130817115950/http://ashenden.org/page1/page1.html . 17 August 2013 .
  2. Forster, Henry Rumsey. (1852) The Pocket Peerage of Great Britain and Ireland p. 430 London:D. Bogue https://books.google.com/books?id=_bEKAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22mary+elizabeth+emily+fitzroy%22+phipps&pg=PA430
  3. Obituary - Canon Ellison . 26 December 1899 . 7 . 36022.
  4. The London Gazette. 31 December 1895. 26694. 7529.
  5. News: In the Days of My youth - Chapters of Autobiography - CCLXIV . . Thomas Power . O'Connor . Thomas . Teignmouth-Shore . 4 July 1903 . 18 . . 4 September 2019 . T. P. O'Connor.
  6. Obituary – Rev. John Cawston. 7 March 1900 . 6 . 36083.
  7. Obituary - Canon Gee . 15 March 1902 . 12 . 36716.
  8. The London Gazette. 26 July 1901. 11324. 835.
  9. News: The Right Reverend Noël Jones. 30 March 2017. The Daily Telegraph. 10 September 2009.
  10. Obituary - John Swire . 17 May 1902 . 8 . 36770.
  11. Book: The Church of Scotland Year Book. St Andrew Press.
  12. Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae; by Hew Scott
  13. Whitaker's Almanack, 1934
  14. Court Circular, 28 March 2001.
  15. Court Circular, 22 October 2010.
  16. Court Circular, 28 March 2001.
  17. Court Circular, 2 March 2004.
  18. Court Circular, 29 May 2008.
  19. Court Circular, 2 March 2004.
  20. Court Circular, 1 April 2018.
  21. Court Circular, 27 April 2006.
  22. Court Circular, 27 June 2007.
  23. Court Circular, 29 May 2008.
  24. Court Circular, 13 June 2008.
  25. Court Circular, 22 October 2010.
  26. Court Circular, 12 December 2010.
  27. Court Circular, 7 July 2013.
  28. Court Circular, 20 December 2001.
  29. Court Circular, 1 July 2015.
  30. http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/news_and_events/news/news_archive/2015/university_principal_appointed_chaplain_to_the_queen Church of Scotland website, 5 November 2015.
  31. Court Circular, 1 July 2015
  32. https://chqdaily.wordpress.com/2011/06/25/minister-to-queen-will-preach-week-one/ Chautauquan Daily, 25 June 2011.
  33. Court Circular, 26 April 2017.
  34. http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/news_and_events/news/2017/by_royal_appointment_-_minister_becomes_queens_chaplain Church of Scotland website, 27 April 2017.
  35. Court Circular, 26 April 2017.
  36. Court Circular, 6 May 2022.
  37. http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/news_and_events/news/2018/charity_co-founder_appointed_chaplain_to_the_queen Church of Scotland website, 2 April 2018.
  38. http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/news_and_events/news/2018/charity_co-founder_appointed_chaplain_to_the_queen Church of Scotland website, 2 April 2018.
  39. http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/news_and_events/news/2019/principal_clerk_appointed_as_a_chaplain_to_the_queen Church of Scotland website, 20 May 2019.
  40. Court Circular, 20 May 2019
  41. https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/news-and-events/news/2022/articles/two-new-chaplains-to-the-queen-appointed Church of Scotland website, 9 May 2022.
  42. Court Circular, 6 May 2022.
  43. https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/news-and-events/news/2022/articles/two-new-chaplains-to-the-queen-appointed Church of Scotland website, 9 May 2022.
  44. Court Circular, 8 May 2022.
  45. Court Circular, 9 May 2022.
  46. Court Circular, 1 September 2014.
  47. Court Circular, 2 July 2019.
  48. Court Circular, 10 June 2022.
  49. Appendix to the Court Circular, 22 September 2023