College of Minor Canons

The Minor Canons of St Paul's Cathedral, London, whose origins predate the Norman conquest of England, unusually were independent of the senior canons and, as priests, of higher status than the lay vicars choral. Medieval Hereford furnishes the only other example of such a structure. The College of Minor Canons of St Paul's Cathedral, and the two historic titles "Senior Cardinal" and "Junior Cardinal", were abolished with effect from 1 February 2016.

The College of Minor Canons (up to 12 in number) lived according to a Rule and from 1353 possessed a hall where they gathered daily for an evening meal. In 1378 the minor canons petitioned Pope Urban VI for a grant confirming their ‘ancient’ privileges, and in 1396 King Richard II authorised statutes to govern the college of minor canons at St Paul's.

The 1396 statutes (which probably reflected contemporary practice) provided for the election by the minor canons each June of a warden, who was to govern the college in association with his senior brethren, among them the Junior and Senior Cardinals. Whenever a vacancy arose in the college, the remaining members were to nominate two persons, from whom the dean and chapter made their selection. Prospective minor canons were to be "worthy, sufficient and meet men, not only in reading and singing, but also and especially in honesty of life and godliness of conversation". Upon election each new minor canon was to present the college with a silver spoon worth at least five shillings. To avoid scandal, canons were forbidden to bring women into the college precincts or to visit taverns in their company. Transgressors faced expulsion for a third offence. Hospitality was limited, for any legitimate guests at dinner were to pay a sum set by the warden "as the dearth or plenty of victuals then requires". Tranquillity was also important, for there was to be no noise in minor canons' residences after 9 pm. Sanitation was a constant concern, with a ha’penny fine for any minor canon who did "cast filth . . . [or] make water within the gates except it be in the place appointed for that purpose". These statutes of 1396 were confirmed by successive monarchs, as by Henry VII in 1487 and Elizabeth I in 1566. In 1840 an Act of Parliament, known as the St Paul's Cathedral Minor Canonries Act reduced the number of Minor Canons to six, with a Warden, and a Senior and Junior Cardinal among them. The College of Minor Canons of St Paul's Cathedral continued to exist until 2016, with three serving priests, as Chaplain (the role recently re-cast as Priest Vicar, not a Minor Canon), Sacrist and Succentor. Despite the abolition of the College of Minor Canons, St Paul's Cathedral retains two Minor Canons (Succentor and Sacrist) who take part in and organise services in the cathedral.

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