DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6914#0042
10
ARCHITECTURAL ANTIQUITIES.
Having thus described the introduction of the Christian religion into England, '
and noticed the cathedral and parochial churches as established by its ministers, it
will be next expedient to inquire into the constitution of the church, and give some
account of the distinctions which prevailed among those officers who were devoted
to its service.
The primitive Christians applied the term Clerici, clergy, to all persons who
were publicly employed in the church ; and consequently bishops, priests, and
deacons, were at first so denominated. But in the third century the inferior orders
of sub-deacons, acolythists, readers, &c. were instituted, and the clerical title was
then extended to those orders.26 From the Greek word kxvov, signifying the roll
or catalogue of the church, wherein the names of the ecclesiastics were registered,
the clergy were also denominated Canonici, or canons. Many of these resided with
their respective bishops in buildings contiguous to their cathedrals, which were
frequently denominated, in the incorrect language of the times, monasteries.17 The
clergy were employed in the celebration of the divine offices, or service, and in
the education of such youth as were designed for the choir. But some canons
having assembled in convents, and subjected themselves to certain rules framed by
Augustine for the government of such societies, obtained the name of regular
canons; while the rest of the clergy were distinguished by the epithet of secular.
In the primitive ages of the church, Monks'"* were considered as laymen.
Previously to the Saxon conversion, they had been admitted to orders for the
purpose of performing divine service in their own monasteries; and from this
commencement they advanced their pretensions gradually until they engrossed
almost all ecclesiastical preferments and spiritual influence. The profession of
monachism originated in the ascetic system, but differed from it in several important
particulars. The ascetics lived in solitude :—their austerities were voluntary, and
they were always at liberty to abandon their miserable way of living. But the
monks, who succeeded them, were collected into societies, bound by irrevocable
vows, and governed according to specific rules.29 The first community of monks is
said to have been established by St. Anthony, about the middle of the fourth
" Origines Ecclesiastics. Bingham's Works, vol. i. p. 13.
17 Monasterium originally meant the habitation of a monk or monks ; but was afterwards occasionally
used for a convent of canons. Du Cange.
*8 From |Mo»a%<>5, monachus, solitary.
19 Origines Eccles. ut sup. p. 246, 248, 249.
ARCHITECTURAL ANTIQUITIES.
Having thus described the introduction of the Christian religion into England, '
and noticed the cathedral and parochial churches as established by its ministers, it
will be next expedient to inquire into the constitution of the church, and give some
account of the distinctions which prevailed among those officers who were devoted
to its service.
The primitive Christians applied the term Clerici, clergy, to all persons who
were publicly employed in the church ; and consequently bishops, priests, and
deacons, were at first so denominated. But in the third century the inferior orders
of sub-deacons, acolythists, readers, &c. were instituted, and the clerical title was
then extended to those orders.26 From the Greek word kxvov, signifying the roll
or catalogue of the church, wherein the names of the ecclesiastics were registered,
the clergy were also denominated Canonici, or canons. Many of these resided with
their respective bishops in buildings contiguous to their cathedrals, which were
frequently denominated, in the incorrect language of the times, monasteries.17 The
clergy were employed in the celebration of the divine offices, or service, and in
the education of such youth as were designed for the choir. But some canons
having assembled in convents, and subjected themselves to certain rules framed by
Augustine for the government of such societies, obtained the name of regular
canons; while the rest of the clergy were distinguished by the epithet of secular.
In the primitive ages of the church, Monks'"* were considered as laymen.
Previously to the Saxon conversion, they had been admitted to orders for the
purpose of performing divine service in their own monasteries; and from this
commencement they advanced their pretensions gradually until they engrossed
almost all ecclesiastical preferments and spiritual influence. The profession of
monachism originated in the ascetic system, but differed from it in several important
particulars. The ascetics lived in solitude :—their austerities were voluntary, and
they were always at liberty to abandon their miserable way of living. But the
monks, who succeeded them, were collected into societies, bound by irrevocable
vows, and governed according to specific rules.29 The first community of monks is
said to have been established by St. Anthony, about the middle of the fourth
" Origines Ecclesiastics. Bingham's Works, vol. i. p. 13.
17 Monasterium originally meant the habitation of a monk or monks ; but was afterwards occasionally
used for a convent of canons. Du Cange.
*8 From |Mo»a%<>5, monachus, solitary.
19 Origines Eccles. ut sup. p. 246, 248, 249.