Chancellor (ecclesiastical)

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See also: Chancellor (disambiguation)

Two quite distinct officials of some Christian churches have the title Chancellor.

• In some churches, the Chancellor of a diocese is a lawyer who represents the church in legal matters.
• In Church of England cathedrals, the Canon Chancellor is one of the canons of the cathedral who has a particular responsibility for matters of education and scholarship, often acting as the cathedral librarian and archivist.
• In the Roman Catholic Church a chancellor is the chief record-keeper of a diocese or eparchy or their equivalent. Normally a priest, sometimes a deacon or rarely a layperson, the chancellor keeps the official archives of the diocese, as a notary certifies documents, and generally manages the administrative offices (and sometimes finances and personnel) of a diocese. He may be assisted by vice-chancellors. Though he manages the paperwork and office (called the "chancery"), has no actual jurisdictional authority: the bishop of the diocese exercises decision-making authority through his judicial vicar, in judicial matters, and the vicar general for administrative matters.