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Jason Loch

@jasonloch.bsky.social

77 followers 28 following 100 posts

I am a historian of the British constitution whose work focuses on the Crown, the House of Lords, and the Church of England. You can read my blog here: venerablepuzzle.wordpress.com.

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Jason Loch @jasonloch.bsky.social · 2h

These figures come from "Return of Fees paid by Archbishop of Canterbury on his Promotion to Primacy," House of Commons Papers, LIII.7, (1883). 2/2

Jason Loch @jasonloch.bsky.social · 2h

Becoming Archbishop of Canterbury used to be an expensive proposition. Edward White Benson had to pay a total of £885/5/6. According to The National Archives' currency converter, that is the equivalent of approximately £58,591.66! 1/2

Jason Loch @jasonloch.bsky.social · 1d

Yes; if you DM me your email address, I'll send it to you. I can also send you the Vicar-General's judgment from the Bishop of Gloucester's confirmation if you like.

Jason Loch @jasonloch.bsky.social · 1d

Before the Church Commissioners, the Crown's guardianship of the temporalities could be quite lucrative. There were a number of cases in the middle ages and early modern period where the Monarch deliberately prolonged a vacancy in order to benefit from the diocese's revenues. 3/3

Jason Loch @jasonloch.bsky.social · 1d

Under s. 2 of the Vacancies in Suffragan Sees and Other Ecclesiastical Offices Measure 2010, the Crown’s sede vacante patronage is exercised on behalf of the Monarch by whichever bishop is tending to the diocese. 2/3

Jason Loch @jasonloch.bsky.social · 1d

Nowadays, the property assets of a diocese are vested in the Church Commissioners so the only temporalities the Monarch controls during a vacancy are the rights of patronage belonging to the vacant See. In practice, they don't even control that anymore. 1/3

Jason Loch @jasonloch.bsky.social · 1d

Mullally's public ministry as Archbishop will begin after her enthronement in Canterbury Cathedral. And although she was a member of the House of Lords as Bishop of London, she'll be reintroduced after her translation to Canterbury. 17/17

Jason Loch @jasonloch.bsky.social · 1d

After the homage, the King will issue sign a Warrant for the restitution of the archbishopric's temporalities. This involves several different instruments, including a mandate to the tenants of the archbishopric and writs to the relevant escheators. 16/17

Jason Loch @jasonloch.bsky.social · 1d

However, the Crown will retain the temporalities of the See of Canterbury until Mullally does homage to the King. This involves her kneeling in front of the King while the Lord Chancellor administers an oath to her wherein she acknowledges the King's supremacy. 15/17

Jason Loch @jasonloch.bsky.social · 1d

At the end, the Commissioners will hand down a sentence which commits the spiritualities of the See of Canterbury to Mullally (here an excerpt from the sentence in the Bishop of Bristol's confirmation proceedings). At this point, Mullaly will legally be Archbishop. 14/17

Jason Loch @jasonloch.bsky.social · 1d

The confirmation ceremony is both a legal proceeding and a church service. The legal portion has several components, but the main purpose is establishing the legal validity of the election and the consent of the Archbishop-Elect to her election. 13/17

Jason Loch @jasonloch.bsky.social · 1d

Generally speaking, opposing an episcopal election is a futile task, as the courts have ruled that there are only a few valid grounds for challenge (e.g., claiming that the person purporting to be elected is not actually the Crown's nominee). 12/17

Jason Loch @jasonloch.bsky.social · 1d

The Vicar-General of Canterbury will probably still hear any objections, however. And there may well be objections. Someone showed up to oppose Mullally's election as Bishop of London, but the Vicar-General dismissed the matter in a brief 2-page judgment. 11/17

Jason Loch @jasonloch.bsky.social · 1d

Here's an example of such a Mandate. Note that it was issued in the name of the Archbishop of Canterbury, but for the confirmation of an archbishop's election, it will probably be issued in the Commissioners' names. 10/17

Jason Loch @jasonloch.bsky.social · 1d

Before the election is confirmed, the Commissioners will issue a Mandate giving public notice of the proceedings and requiring anyone who would oppose the election to appear at the day and time specified to present their case. 9/17

Jason Loch @jasonloch.bsky.social · 1d

The King will then issue Letters Patent giving Royal Assent to Mullally's election and directing a commission led by the Archbishop of York to confirm the election. Here's the Warrant for the Letters Patent assenting to Rowan Williams' election. 8/17

Jason Loch @jasonloch.bsky.social · 1d

After the election is complete, the College of Canons will certify Mullally's election to the King. Here's an example of a certification from the See of Hereford. 7/17

Jason Loch @jasonloch.bsky.social · 1d

Canterbury Cathedral may have had a custom of nominating a member of the Chapter to be a pro forma opponent to the Crown's nominee. I've only seen this custom mentioned once, and I don't know if it endures to the present day. 6/17

Jason Loch @jasonloch.bsky.social · 1d

By law, the College of Canons of Canterbury have 12 days to elect the Crown's nominee. If they fail to do so, the King could appoint her by Letters Patent. Formerly, the Dean and Chapter would also incur the penalties of praemunire, but this is no longer the case. 5/17

Jason Loch @jasonloch.bsky.social · 1d

The license will be accompanied by Letters Missive signed by the King and countersigned by the Justice Secretary which formally recommend Sarah Mullally. Here's an example from York. 4/17

Jason Loch @jasonloch.bsky.social · 1d

As late as 1848, the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury were still nominally entrusting several of their brethren with the duty of imploring Queen Victoria's "grace and favour in this behalf." The supplication appears to be omitted nowadays despite the wording of the license. 3/17

Jason Loch @jasonloch.bsky.social · 1d

Formerly, the Dean and Chapter used to formally request the royal license to elect. This could involve traveling to the royal court to make the request in person (as happened in 1228). 2/17

Jason Loch @jasonloch.bsky.social · 1d

After the King approves the Prime Minister's submission recommending Sarah Mullally, the Crown Office will prepare a Warrant to pass a congé d'élire under the Great Seal authorizing the College of Canons to elect a new Archbishop. 1/17

Jason Loch @jasonloch.bsky.social · 22d

Many of us saw Penny Mordaunt preside over the Accession Council. But was she actually Lord President? This post unpacks the constitutional ambiguity behind her role, and why it matters. venerablepuzzle.wordpress.com/2025/09/16/a...

A very British fudge

On September 10, 2022, Penny Mordaunt presided over the King’s Accession Council. Since then, there has been some confusion regarding the nature of her role. Was she Lord President or merely Acting…

venerablepuzzle.wordpress.com

Jason Loch @jasonloch.bsky.social · 26d

Before the computer age, Docquet Book entries were made with pen and paper. Here's an example from 1966, courtesy of CrownOfficeFOIDs. 6/6

Photo of entries from the Crown Office's Docquet Book from September 1966.