The Suffragan Bishops Act 1534 (26 Hen. 8. c. 14) is an Act of the Parliament of England that authorised the appointment of suffragan (i.e., assistant) bishops in England and Wales. The tradition of appointing suffragans named after a town in the diocese other than the town the diocesan bishop is named after can be dated from this act.

Suffragan Bishops Act 1534[1]
Act of Parliament
Long titleAn Acte for nominacion and consecracyon of Suffragans wythin this Realme.[2]
Citation26 Hen. 8. c. 14
Dates
Royal assent18 December 1534
Other legislation
Amended byStatute Law Revision Act 1888
Relates toSuffragan Bishops Act 1898
Status: Amended
Text of statute as originally enacted
Text of the Suffragan Bishops Act 1534 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

The act named Thetford, Ipswich, Colchester, Dover, Guildford, Southampton, Taunton, Shaftesbury, Molton, Marlborough, Bedford, Leicester, Gloucester, Shrewsbury, Bristol, Penrydd,[3] Bridgwater, Nottingham, Grantham, Hull, Huntingdon, Cambridge, Penrith, Berwick-upon-Tweed, St Germans and the Isle of Wight[4][5] as specific suitable suffragan sees.

This act was partly in force in Great Britain at the end of 2010.[6]

The repeal by the Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1969 of section 2 of the Act of Supremacy (1 Eliz. 1. c. 1) (1558) does not affect the continued operation, so far as unrepealed, of the Suffragan Bishops Act 1534.[7]

Suffragan Bishops Act 1898
Act of Parliament
Long titleAn Act to explain the Act as to Suffragan Bishops.
Citation61 & 62 Vict. c. 11
Dates
Royal assent1 July 1898
Commencement1 July 1898
Other legislation
Relates toSuffragan Bishops Act 1898
Status: Current legislation
Text of the Suffragan Bishops Act 1898 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

Since 1898, notwithstanding anything contained in the Suffragan Bishops Act 1534 it has been lawful to nominate, present and appoint as suffragan bishop persons already consecrated as a bishop and, in that case, the letters patent presenting them do not require their consecration.[8] The Dioceses Measure 1978 concerns petitions to make appointments under this act.[9] Until 1898, men already in episcopal orders were sometimes made assistant bishops instead.

Provisions

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Section 2

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In this section, the words from "and have such capacitie" to the end were repealed by section 15(2)(a) of the Dioceses Measure 1978. This repeal does not invalidate any commission given to a suffragan bishop which was in force immediately before the commencement of that Measure (s. 15(3)). Section 15(4) provides for such commissions to continue in force until the date on which the suffragan bishop to whom the commission was given ceases to hold that office, or the date on which the commission is revoked by the bishop of the diocese, whichever first occurs. So long as any such commission remains in force so much of section 2 of the Suffragan Bishops Act 1534 as is repealed by 15(2)(a) of that Measure continues, notwithstanding the repeal, to apply to the suffragan bishop to whom the commission was given (s. 15(5)).

Section 4

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In this section, the words from "nor use" to the end were repealed by section 15(2)(b) of the Dioceses Measure 1978. This repeal does not invalidate any commission given to a suffragan bishop which was in force immediately before the commencement of that Measure (s. 15(3)). Section 15(4) provides for such commissions to continue in force until the date on which the suffragan bishop to whom the commission was given ceases to hold that office, or the date on which the commission is revoked by the bishop of the diocese, whichever first occurs. So long as any such commission remains in force so much of section 2 of the Suffragan Bishops Act 1534 as is repealed by 15(2)(b) of that Measure continues, notwithstanding the repeal, to apply to the suffragan bishop to whom the commission was given (s. 15(5)).

Section 6

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In this section, the words "of the bishop to whom he shall be suffragan" were substituted for the words "where he shall have comyssyon" by section 15(6) of the Dioceses Measure 1978.

Section 7

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This section was repealed by Part V of Schedule 1 to the Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1977.

1534 titles

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Those titles mandated by the 1534 Act currently in use as suffragan sees today are indicated in bold type:

See Diocese Years See Diocese Years
Bishop of Bedford Diocese of London 1537–1560, 1879–1898 Bishop of the Isle of Wight No evidence of use (now in Portsmouth)
Diocese of St Albans 1935–present Bishop of Leicester Diocese of Peterborough 1888–1927
Bishop of Berwick Diocese of Durham 1537–1571 Diocesan title 1927–present
Diocese of Newcastle 2016–present Bishop of Marlborough Diocese of Salisbury 1537–1568
Bishop of Bridgwater No evidence of use (now in Bath & Wells) Diocese of London 1888–1918
Bishop of Bristol Diocese of Worcester 1538–1542 Bishop of Molton No evidence of use (now in Exeter)
Diocesan title 1542–present Bishop of Nottingham Diocese of York 1567–1570
Bishop of Cambridge No evidence of use (now in Ely) Diocese of Lincoln 1870–1884
Bishop of Colchester Diocese of Ely 1536–1541, 1592–1608 Diocese of Southwell 1884–1893
Diocese of St Albans 1882–1914 Diocesan title 2005–present
Diocese of Chelmsford 1914–present Bishop of Penrydd Diocese of Llandaff 1537–1539
Bishop of Dover Diocese of Canterbury 1536–1597, 1870–present Bishop of Penrith Diocese of Ripon 1888–1889
also "Bishop in Canterbury" since c. 1999 Diocese of Carlisle 1939–present
Bishop of Gloucester No evidence of use as suffragan see Bishop of St Germans Diocese of Truro 1905–1918, 1974–present
Diocesan title 1541–present Bishop of Shaftesbury Diocese of Salisbury 1539
Bishop of Grantham Diocese of Lincoln 1905–present Bishop of Shrewsbury Diocese of Llandaff (probably) 1537–1561
Bishop of Guildford Diocese of Winchester 1874–1927 Diocese of Lichfield 1888–1905, 1940–present
Diocesan title 1927–present Bishop of Southampton Diocese of Winchester 1895–present
Bishop of Hull Diocese of York 1538–1579, 1891–present Bishop of Taunton Diocese of Bath and Wells 1538–1559, 1911–present
Bishop of Huntingdon Diocese of Ely 1966–present Bishop of Thetford Diocese of Norwich 1536–1570, 1894–1926, 1945–present
Bishop of Ipswich Diocese unclear 1536–1538
Diocese of Norwich 1899–1909
Diocesan title 1914–present

Other suffragan titles

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Suffragans Nomination Act 1888
Act of Parliament
 
Long titleAn Act to make further provision for the Nomination of Bishops Suffragans.
Citation51 & 52 Vict. c. 56
Status: Amended
Text of statute as originally enacted
Text of the Suffragans Nomination Act 1888 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

Since the passage of the Suffragans Nomination Act 1888, it has been lawful to create suffragan sees named for other towns. These have so far included (those titles currently in use as suffragan sees today are indicated in bold type):

In 2015, research by the Church's Legal Office on behalf of the Dioceses Commission uncovered fourteen "forgotten" suffragan Sees which had been erected by Orders-in-Council in 1889 but never filled.[11] The Dioceses Commission has advised that these may be revived and filled just as any other dormant See might.[42]

Further — besides that of Penrydd (now in St David's diocese), erected by the 1534 Act — six further Welsh Sees were erected following the 1888 Act: at Cardiff (in Llandaff diocese), Carnarvon (Bangor), Holyhead (Bangor), Monmouth (then in Llandaff, now a diocesan See), Wrexham (St Asaph)[11] and Swansea (then in St David's, now a diocesan See as Swansea and Brecon).[43][44]

References

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  1. ^ The citation of this act by this short title was authorised by section 5 of, and Schedule 2 to, the Statute Law Revision Act 1948. Due to the repeal of those provisions, it is now authorised by section 19(2) of the Interpretation Act 1978.
  2. ^ These words are printed against this Act in the second column of Schedule 2 to the Statute Law Revision Act 1948, which is headed "Title".
  3. ^ Parish of Penrhudd in Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales. An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Wales and Monmouthshire: VII – County of Pembroke (Google Books)
  4. ^ Bray, Gerald, 2004. Documents of the English Reformation. ISBN 0-227-17239-6. p.115.
  5. ^ The Suffragan Bishops Act 1534, as amended, from Legislation.gov.uk.
  6. ^ The Chronological Table of the Statutes, 1235 - 2010. The Stationery Office. 2011. ISBN 978-0-11-840509-6. Part I. p. 44, read with pages viii and x.
  7. ^ The Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1969, section 4(2)
  8. ^ The Suffragan Bishops Act 1898, section 1
  9. ^ [of the .http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukcm/1978/1/section/18 section 18(1) legislation.gov.uk]
  10. ^ "No. 40235". The London Gazette. 20 July 1954. p. 4257.
  11. ^ a b c Church of England — Dormant Suffragan Sees (Archived 30 May 2016, which accessed 4 March 2020)
  12. ^ "No. 49649". The London Gazette. 16 February 1984. p. 2217.
  13. ^ "No. 44479". The London Gazette. 21 December 1967. p. 14052.
  14. ^ "No. 51444". The London Gazette. 18 August 1988. p. 9349.
  15. ^ "No. 28776". The London Gazette. 25 November 1913. p. 8496.
  16. ^ "No. 45607". The London Gazette. 24 February 1972. p. 2299.
  17. ^ "No. 34596". The London Gazette. 7 February 1939. p. 835.
  18. ^ a b "No. 46113". The London Gazette. 26 October 1973. p. 12738.
  19. ^ "No. 34079". The London Gazette. 17 August 1934. p. 5251.
  20. ^ a b "No. 53585". The London Gazette. 11 February 1994. p. 2143.
  21. ^ "No. 45124". The London Gazette. 11 June 1970. p. 6515.
  22. ^ "No. 33129". The London Gazette. 2 February 1926. p. 763.
  23. ^ "No. 34181". The London Gazette. 19 July 1935. p. 4666.
  24. ^ "No. 32871". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 October 1923. p. 6962.
  25. ^ "No. 34308". The London Gazette. 24 July 1936. pp. 4735–6.
  26. ^ Privy Council Office — Orders, 12 April 2017 (Accessed 27 April 2017)
  27. ^ "No. 48749". The London Gazette. 29 September 1981. p. 12329.
  28. ^ "No. 43041". The London Gazette. 28 June 1963. p. 5533.
  29. ^ "No. 33190". The London Gazette. 10 August 1926. p. 5287.
  30. ^ "No. 32769". The London Gazette. 21 November 1922. p. 8186.
  31. ^ a b "No. 43654". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 May 1965. p. 4859.
  32. ^ "No. 34582". The London Gazette. 23 December 1938. p. 8143.
  33. ^ "No. 33019". The London Gazette. 10 February 1925. p. 942.
  34. ^ "No. 33299". The London Gazette. 2 August 1927. p. 4979.
  35. ^ "No. 41495". The London Gazette. 12 September 1958. p. 5597.
  36. ^ "No. 33657". The London Gazette. 31 October 1930. p. 6719.
  37. ^ "No. 48063". The London Gazette. 8 January 1980. p. 315.
  38. ^ "No. 28266". The London Gazette. 2 July 1909. p. 5049.
  39. ^ "No. 32849". The London Gazette. 31 July 1923. p. 5211.
  40. ^ "No. 28520". The London Gazette. 8 August 1911. p. 5909.
  41. ^ "No. 47765". The London Gazette. 8 February 1979. p. 1737.
  42. ^ Church of England Dioceses Commission — Annual Report 2015 (Accessed 28 April 2016)
  43. ^ "Death of Bishop Lloyd" in Carmarthen Journal, 18 June 1916, p. 5 (Archive accessed 7 October 2017)
  44. ^ "in memoriam: The Bishop of Swansea and Brecon". Church Times. No. 3707. 9 February 1934. p. 171. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 7 October 2017 – via UK Press Online archives.
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