Archbishop - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition archbishop

Definition :

Archbishop [fr. apxletlokotos, Gk., fr. apxwv, chief, and emokotos, bishop], the chief of the clergy in his province; he has supreme power under the king in all ecclesiastical causes, and superintends the conduct of other bishops, his suffragans. The archbishops are said to be enthroned when they are vested in the archbishopric, whereas bishops are said to be installed. An archbishop, if promoted from a bishopric, as is usually the case, does not require any further consecration, but all archbishops require both election and confirmation, similarly to bishops. England has two archbishops, Canterbury and York. The Archbishop of Canterbury, in granting licenses and dispensations, has taken the place of the Pope before 25 Hen. 8, c. 21, by virtue of s. 3 of that Act. He is styled Primate of all England, the Archbishop of York being styled Primate of England. And see BISHOP; CONFIRMATION.