The Capitular Records of Manchester Cathedral

Mancath/2

The Capitular Records of Manchester Cathedral

1361-21st century

The records of the Dean and Chapter of Manchester Cathedral and before them, the Warden and Fellows of the Collegiate Church of Manchester. Includes minutes of Chapter meetings, financial records, and title deeds and related papers of the Chapter Estates. Also contains service sheets and printed ephemera.

English

63 linear metres

The Parish Church of St Mary in Manchester was converted into a Collegiate foundation by licence of Henry V in 1421. Thus a secular college of priests was attached to the Church, housed in the college buildings which now form Chetham's Library and School. The Chapter in 1421 comprised a Warden and eight fellows, to whom the royal licence granted a perpetual corporate seal. The foundation was called the Collegiate Church of St Mary, St George and St Dennis in Manchester. The College was dissolved in 1548 under Edward VI, but reconstituted as the College of the Blessed Virgin Mary under Philip and Mary. The College was again dissolved and refounded by Elizabeth I in 1578, renamed as the College of Christ in Manchester and the number of fellows was reduced from eight to four. The College was refounded once more by Charles I in 1635. This charter is still in effect today, with some amendments. By the Dean and Chapter Act of 1840, the Warden and Fellows became Dean and Canons of Manchester, although Manchester did not become a Cathedral until 1847. The Dean of Manchester still retains his title as Warden of the Collegiate Church and Rector of the Residual Parish. The pattern for the Manchester Cathedral Chapter differed from the mediaeval pattern of dean, precentor, chancellor and treasurer. Instead the Manchester Chapter comprised dean, sub-dean, bursar and collector of rents, and registrar. There has never been a chancellor and the post of precentor has invariably been held by a minor canon until the late twentieth century. The junior canon was registrar, keeping the minutes of Chapter instead of the Chapter Clerk well into the 20th century.