COURT CHRISTIAN

The ecclesiastical courts are so designated. In the Church of England there are six spiritual courts. 1. The Archdeacon’s Court , which is the lowest, and is held in such places where the archdeacon, either by prescription or composition, has jurisdiction in spiritual or ecclesiastical causes within his archdeaconry. The judge of this court is called the official of the archdeaconry. 2. The Consistory Courts of the archbishops and bishops of every diocese, held in their cathedral churches, for trial of all ecclesiastical causes within the diocese. The bishop’s chancellor or commi ary is the judge. 3. The Prerogative Court , held at Doctors’ Commons, in London, in which all testaments and last wills are proved, and administrations upon the estates of intestates granted, where the party dies beyond seas or within his province, leaving bona notabilia . 4. The Arches Court , (so called because anciently held in the arched church of St. Mary, in Cheap side, London,) is that which has jurisdiction upon appeal in all ecclesiastical causes, except what belong to the Prerogative Court. The judge is the official principal of the archbishop. 5. The Court of Peculiars , of the archbishop of Canterbury, subservient to, and in connexion with, that of the Arches. 6. The Court of Delegates , so called because the judges are delegated and sit in virtue of the king’s commi ion, under the great seal, pro hac vice , upon appeals to the king on ecclesiastical matters. The powers of this court are now in England transferred to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. It remains in Ireland. (See Delegates , and Appeal .)