Collegiate church

A collegiate church is a Christian church building. It has special daily worship services led by a group of priests called a college of canons. These priests do not live in a monastery. They work together as a self-governing group. They are led by a leader called a dean or a provost.

Unlike some other big churches, a collegiate church is not where a bishop has their main office. So it does not have certain important church duties that a bishop’s church has.

These churches often get money from land or special payments called tithe. These payments come from certain church jobs known as appropriated benefices. The building usually has special areas for people to gather for worship and for the canons to sing their services.

History

In the early days of Christianity in Europe, many new churches were run by groups of priests who lived together. In England, these were called minsters. By the 9th and 10th centuries, these churches started using formal rules and were called "collegiate" churches.

Over time, these churches were supported by money and land. Some richer churches gave each priest their own share of income, called a prebend. As time went on, many of these churches followed strict rules.

From the 13th century, people began leaving money to support prayers for their families, leading to new collegiate churches. Some of these were linked to universities, where teachers and students lived together and worshipped in special chapels. This style of church continued even after big changes in religious practices.

Contemporary examples

Three traditional collegiate churches have survived in England since the Middle Ages. These are at Westminster Abbey in London, St George's Chapel of Windsor Castle, and the Church of St Endelienta, St Endellion in Cornwall.

Today, similar churches continue in places like New York City. These include the Marble Collegiate Church, founded in 1628, and the Middle Collegiate, Fort Washington Collegiate, and West End Collegiate churches. They are part of the Reformed Church in America.

In the Catholic Church, many cathedrals have groups of clergy called chapters and are considered collegiate churches. There are also a few special collegiate churches, such as St. Peter and St. Mary Major in Rome, and others in Germany, Portugal, and the Czech Republic.

Historical examples

Belgium

Historical Collegiate Churches include:

• Antwerp: Saint James' Church
• Bruges: Church of Our Lady
• Kortrijk: Church of Our Lady
• Liège: see: Seven collegiate churches of Liège.
  • Church of St John the Evangelist
  • Church of St. Denis
  • Collegiate Church of St. Bartholomew
• Mons: Saint Waltrude Collegiate Church; Chapter of Noble Canonesses.
• Nivelles: Collegiate Church of Saint Gertrude; Chapter of Noble Canonesses.

England

Main article: List of collegiate churches in England

In pre-Reformation England there were many collegiate churches in each diocese. They were mostly closed during the time of Edward VI in 1547. Almost all of these churches continued to serve their communities with a local leader such as a rector, vicar or curate. Two major churches, Manchester and Southwell, were started again after this time. These three churches became cathedrals later. At the start of the 20th century, only the royal peculiars of Westminster and Windsor remained with a working group that was not a cathedral.

The colleges of Oxford and Cambridge universities, and the schools of Eton and Winchester, managed to stay open during the Reformation. The chapel of Merton College, Oxford served as a collegiate church until 1891. The chapel of Christ Church, Oxford also serves as the cathedral of Oxford. The chapel of Eton College is still the church for the town of Eton today.

Otherwise, twelve colleges stayed open in England and Wales. Some of these were started again under Queen Mary. Unlike Manchester, Ripon and Southwell, these churches did not keep regular services, but they kept some roles. However, most of these roles ended in 1840. Two churches in Shropshire – St Mary's, Burford and St George's, Pontesbury; and the college of Saint Endellion in Cornwall, still keep some of their old roles today.

Ireland

In Ireland, there are several old churches still used that are collegiate churches. The most well-known is St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin. St Mary's Collegiate Church in Youghal is another example, as is St Nicholas' Collegiate Church in Galway. The Collegiate Church of St Peter and St Paul is in Kilmallock.

Scotland

Main article: List of collegiate churches in Scotland

The church now called 'St Giles Cathedral', in Edinburgh, became a collegiate church in 1466.

Wales

St Peter's Collegiate Church, Ruthin was built by John de Grey in 1310. From 1310 to 1536 it was served by a leader and seven priests. After the college closed, its work started again in a new way by Gabriel Goodman. Since then, St Peter's has kept its roles as both a local church and a collegiate church.

St Padarn's Church, Llanbadarn Fawr was founded as a church by Saint Padarn. The church later became a group of priests. The old Bishop's Palace at Abergwili was home to the Bishop of St David's since 1542. It was known as a college until it joined with another group in the 1500s.

St. Cybi's Collegiate and Parish Church, Holyhead, was another collegiate church, as is the Collegiate and Parish Church of St Mary, St Mary's Square, Swansea, along with St Beuno's Church, Clynnog Fawr