A canon (from the Latin canonicus, itself derived from the Greek κανωνικος 'relating to a rule') is a priest who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule (canon).
Originally, a canon was a cleric living with others in a clergyhouse or, later, in one of the houses within the precinct or close of a cathedral and ordering his life according to the orders or rules of the church. This way of life began to become common (and be referred to in manuscripts) in the eighth century. In the eleventh century, some churches required clergy thus living together to adopt the rule first proposed by Saint Augustine that they renounce private property. Those who embraced this change were known as Augustinian or regular canons, whilst those who did not were known as secular canons.
One of the functions of the cathedral canons in the Roman Catholic Church is to elect a Vicar Capitular to serve during a sede vacante period of the diocese.
Secular canons
In the Catholic Church the members of the chapter of a cathedral or of a collegiate church (so called after their chapter) are canons. Depending on the title of the church, several languages use specific titles, i.e. in German Domherr in a Dom (i.e. cathedral), Stiftsherr in a prelature that has the status of a Stift (notably under a Prince of the church).
All canons of the Church of England have been secular since the Reformation. Mostly, however, they are ordained (that is, priests or members of the clergy). Today, the system of canons is retained almost exclusively in connection with cathedral churches. A canon is a member of the chapter of (for the most part) priests, headed by a Dean, which is responsible for administering a cathedral or certain other churches that are styled collegiate church. The Dean and Chapter are the formal body which has legal responsibility for the Cathedral and for electing the (arch)bishop.
Honorary canons
Canon is still used as a largely honorary title in many dioceses to senior parish priests.
This is usually awarded as a recognition of long and dedicated service to the Diocese. These priests are entitled to call
themselves Canon and still have a role in the administration of the cathedral. Honorary canons are members of the Chapter in name
but are non-residential and receive no
Generally speaking, the canons in the Episcopal Church or the Anglican Church in the United States are of this sort, and thus are equivalent to a monsignor in the Catholic Church, often wearing the violet or violet-trimmed cassock which is associated with that rank.
Lay canons
In addition to canons who are Clerks in Holy Orders, cathedrals in the Anglican Communion may also appoint lay persons as canons. The rank of Lay Canon is especially conferred upon Diocesan Chancellors (the senior legal officer of the diocese, who is usually, though not exclusively, a lay person).
Canon-Professors at Oxford
§2 of The Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure 1995[1] was passed for the express purpose of enabling Christ Church, Oxford to appoint not more than two Lay Canons. One of the motivations for this provision was the fact that, under the Ecclesiastical Commissioners Act 1840 (§6), the position of Regius Professor of Ecclesiastical History in the University of Oxford was annexed to a Residentiary Canonry of the Cathedral, meaning that the Regius Professorship could be held only by an Anglican priest. Following the death of Peter Hinchliff in 1995 the Regius Professorship has been held by Henry Mayr-Harting, a Roman Catholic layman, from 1997 until 2003, and is due to be taken up by another lay person, Sarah Foot, in Michaelmas Term 2007. Three other Statutory Professorships, the Regius Professorship of Divinity, Lady Margaret Professorship of Divinity, and Regius Professorship of Moral and Pastoral Theology, are annexed to canonries of Christ Church and must be held by Anglican priests.
Minor canons
Minor canons are those clergy who are members of the cathedral's establishment and take part in the daily services but are not part of the formal Chapter. These are generally more junior clergy, who in a parish church would be serving a curacy.
Canons regular
The members of certain religious orders in the Roman Catholic church (not to be confused with clerics regular), composed of priests and some choir canons who live in community, together in the past with lay brothers. There are a variety of Congregations of Canons some of whom are part of the Confederation of Canons Regular of St. Augustine.
- Canons Regular of the Lateran or St. Saviour, who seem to date back to Pope Alexander II (1063)
- Canons Regular of the Immaculate Conception a congregation of Canons Regular founded in France in 1871
- Canons Regular of the Order of the Holy Cross (The Crosiers) founded at Clair-lieu, near Huy, in Belgium, in 1211
- Order of the Canons Regular of Premontre; Norbertines founded by St. Norbert (1120)
- Order of the Holy Cross (Canons Regular) founded in Portugal in 1131 and re-founded in 1977
- Swiss Congregation of Canons Regular of Saint Maurice of Agaune
Many bishops endeavoured to imitate St. Augustine and St. Eusebius, and to live a common life with the clergy of their Church. Rules taken from the sacred canons were even drawn up for their use, of which the most celebrated is that of St. Chrodegang, Bishop of Metz (766). In the tenth century, this institution declined; the canons, as the clergy attached to a church and living a common life were called, began to live separately; some of them, however resisted this relaxation of discipline, and even added poverty to their common life. This is the origin of the canons regular. Pope Benedict XII by his Constitution "Ad decorem" (15 May, 1339) prescribed a general reform of the canons regular. The Canons Regular ex professo united Holy orders with religious life, and being attached to a church, devoted themselves to promoting the dignity of Divine worship. With monks, Holy orders are accidental and secondary, and are superadded to the religious life; with canons as with the clerks regular, Holy orders are the principal thing, and the religious life is superadded to the Holy orders.
Notes and references
Sources and Further Information
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