Search London, Court Of The Peculiar Of The Dean And Chapter Of St Paul's Cathedral

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The Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul’s Cathedral was an ecclesiastical court with jurisdiction over certain parishes and matters that fell outside the authority of the diocesan bishop of London. The term "peculiar" refers to its unique status, as it was exempt from the usual ecclesiastical oversight and instead operated under the authority of the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul’s Cathedral.

This court primarily handled cases related to church law, including issues like wills, marriages, and disputes involving church property within its peculiar jurisdiction. Its authority stemmed from historical arrangements that granted St. Paul’s Cathedral a level of autonomy within the Church of England.

Peculiar jurisdictions like this one were remnants of medieval church governance, where some cathedrals, monasteries, or influential church institutions were granted special privileges by the Crown or the Pope. The Court of the Peculiar of St. Paul’s, like others, became largely obsolete following the church reforms of the 19th century, which sought to simplify and standardise ecclesiastical administration in England.