Читать книгу The Legal Position of the Clergy - Philip Vernon Smith - Страница 17

11. The archdeacon is in his archdeaconry next in point of dignity after the bishop and the suffragans (if any) and the chancellor of the diocese.[18] He is sometimes called oculus episcopi, being the bishop's vicar, charged with the duty of inspecting that portion of the diocese which is under his charge and of reporting to the bishop anything which is amiss. Besides this general supervision, he holds an annual visitation of his archdeaconry, and admits the churchwardens and sidesmen, except in years of episcopal visitation, when he is inhibited from performing his functions, and these are exercised instead by the bishop in person, or, as regards the admission of churchwardens and sidesmen, by the chancellor.[19] At his annual visitation, and at other times, as occasion arises, it is the business of the archdeacon to satisfy himself that churches, and especially chancels, are in a proper condition, and to require that any necessary repairs be executed; to take note of the ornaments and utensils of churches, and to ascertain that the services and offices of the Church are everywhere duly performed and administered. The clergy are bound to assist the archdeacon in his inspection and inquiries and to attend his visitations.[20] Various duties assigned to him by statute are noticed in subsequent chapters.