Bishop - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition bishop

Definition :

Bishop [fr. 'plokopoV, Gk. Biscop, Sax.], an overseer or superintendent. The chief of the clergy in his diocese or jurisdiction in England, Wales, or Ireland, and the archbishop's suffragan or assistant. A bishop is elected by the king's cong' d' 'lire, or license to elect the person named by the king, accompanied, by virtue of 25 Hen. 8, c. 20, by a letter-missive, addressed to the dean and chapter; and if they fail to make election in twelve days, the king, by letters-patent, may nominate whom he pleases. A bishop is said to be installed, and there are four things necessary to his complete title: (1) election, which resembles the presentation of a clerk to an ecclesiastical benefice; (2) confirmation, which cannot be opposed on doctrinal grounds: see Reg. v. Archbishop of Canterbury, 1902 KB 503, under title CONFIRMATION OF BISHOPS; (3) consecration, similar to institution; (4) installation, answering to induction. The bishop are the lords spiritual in Parliament: see HOUSE OF LORDS. A bishop has three powers: (1) a power of ordination, gained on his consecration, by which he confers orders, etc., in any place throughout the world; (2) a power of jurisdiction throughout his see or his bishopric; (3) a power of administration and government of the revenues thereof, gained on confirmation. He has, also, a Consistory Court, to hear ecclesiastical causes, and visits and superintends the clergy of his diocese. He consecrates churches and institutes priests, confirms, suspends, excommunicates, and grants licenses for marriages. He has his archdeacon, dean and chapter, chancellor who holds his Court and assists him in matters of ecclesiastical law, and vicar-general.

As to the resignation of archbishops and bishops when incapacitated by age or other infirmities, and appointment of bishop co-adjuctor where bishop incapacitated by reason of permanent mental infirmity, see (English) Bishops Resignation Act, 1869 (32 & 33 Vict. c. 111), a continued by 35 & 36 Vict. c. 40, and made perpetual by 38 & 39 Vict. c. 19.

As to Indian bishops, see 37 & 38 Vict. c.77, s. 13; and as to bishops suffragan, see SUFFRAGAN. As to the position of bishops in Parliament, see Hall. Mid. Ages, ch. Viii.; Lord Selborne's Defence of the Church against Disestablishment, 5th 3d., 24-26 (45); and the Welsh Church Act, 1914, s. 2.