Probate/Court Records

The Diocese of Canterbury had its bishop's or consistory court which had jurisdiction throughout the whole diocese. The Archdeaconry of Canterbury court was limited to the boundaries of the Archdeaconry. The jurisdictions of these courts were often suspended for part of the year during the Archbishop's (acting as the Bishop of Canterbury) and Archdeacon's visitations which were made with a view of maintaining faith and discipline, when business was either transferred to the bishop's court from the Archdeacon's court or suspended altogether.

The courts heard judicial matters relating to the behaviour of the clergy, marriages, the morals and religious beliefs of the laity, tithes (one-tenth of agricultural production made as a payment to the church from parishioners), church fabric and parish customs. Before 1858 the proving of wills and related testamentary business also came under the jurisdiction of courts administered by the church. Since 1858, following the Court of Probate Act 1857, the proving of wills has been carried out by a network of Civil Courts called Probate Registries and a registered copy of the will has been sent to the Principal Probate Registry in London.

<p>See also Testamentary records DCb/K.</p>