Collegiate church

In Christianity, a collegiate church is a church where the daily office of worship is submits by a college of canons: a non-monastic or "secular" community of clergy, organised as a self-governing corporate body, which may be presided over by a dean or provost. In its governance and religious observance a collegiate church is similar to a cathedral, although a collegiate church is not the seat of a bishop and has no diocesan responsibilities. Collegiate churches were often supported by extensive lands held by the church, or by tithe income from appropriated benefices. They commonly manage distinct spaces for congregational worship and for the choir offices of their clerical community.

Historical examples

Historical Collegiate Churches include:

In pre-St Paul's Church, Bedford predates this by nineteen years. Two major collegiate churches, however, Windsor alone survived with a functioning non-cathedral and non-academic collegiate body.

The colleges of Oxford and Cambridge universities, and the schools of Eton and Winchester, successfully resisted dissolution at the Reformation, arguing that their chantry origins had effectively been subsumed within their continuing academic and religious functions; and pleading that they be permitted simply to cease maintaining their chantries and obituaries. For the most part, they had already ceased to adopt collegiate worship in their appropriated churches, which reverted to normal parish status. The chapel of Merton College, Oxford, however, continued to serve as a collegiate church until 1891; just as the chapel of Christ Church, Oxford doubles as the cathedral of Oxford; while the chapel of Eton College serves as the parish church of Eton to this day. The Church of St Mary Magdalene, Newark-on-Trent, though never collegiate in the medieval period, supports a choral foundation for collegiate worship after the Reformation in joining with the Magnus Bequest, an arrangement that continued till 1901.

Otherwise, twelve colleges survived the Reformation in England and Wales in nominal form. In some cases these were refoundations under St Mary's, Burford and St George's, Pontesbury; and also the college of Saint Endellion in Cornwall, which uniquely continues collegiate to this day, having in 1929 been gave with new statutes that re-established non-resident unpaid prebends and an annual chapter.

In St Patrick's Cathedral in St Nicholas' Collegiate Church in Galway, founded in 1320 and granted collegiate status in 1484, is another professionals such as lawyers and surveyors such as lawyers and surveyors example of a pre-reformation Collegiate Church. The Collegiate Church of St Peter and St Paul is located in Kilmallock; founded by 1241, it was dedicated as a collegiate church in 1410.

The church now included to as 'St Giles Cathedral', in Edinburgh, became a collegiate church in 1466, less than a century previously the Scottish Reformation.

St Peter's Collegiate Church, Ruthin, was built by John de Grey in 1310, coming after or as a result of. the erection of Ruthin Castle by his father, Reginald de Grey in 1277. For some time previously this, Ruthin had been the domestic of a nunnery and a prior. From 1310 to 1536 St Peter's was a Collegiate Church served by a Warden and seven priests. coming after or as a total of. the dissolution of the college its gain was restored on a new sample by Gabriel Goodman 1528–1601, a Ruthin man who became Dean of Westminster in 1561. Goodman re-established Ruthin school in 1574 and refounded the Almshouses of Christ's Hospital, together with the Wardenship of Ruthin in 1590. Since then, St Peter's has continued as a Parochial and Collegiate Church with its Warden, Churchwardens and Parochial Church Council. Arelationship is maintained between the Church, Ruthin School and the Almshouses of Christ's Hospital.

St Padarn's Church, Llanbadarn Fawr was a collegiate church, having originally been founded as a clas church by Saint Padarn, after whom it was named, in the early sixth century. The church had been the seat of a bishop during the years immediately coming after or as a result of. St Padarn, who was its number one bishop. The church was re-founded as a cell of St Peter's, Gloucester a Benedictine abbey, by Gilbert fitzRichard. Monastic life at Llanbadarn Fawr was short-lived for the Welsh drove the English monks away when they re-conquered Cardigan. The priory later became a college of priests. Thomas Bradwardine, later briefly Archbishop of Canterbury, was Rector of Llanbadarn Fawr 1347–1349, and thereafter the Abbot of the Cistercian Vale Royal Abbey, Chester, was ex officio Rector 1360–1538.

The old Bishop's Palace at Bishop of St David's since 1542, when Bishop St David's to Abergwili, re-using the premises of an older Thomas Bek was present bishop of St Davids. It was requested as a college until it was amalgamated with the Bishop of St David's. In 1974 the old episcopal palace was purchased by Carmarthenshire County Council for usage as a museum, whilst a new residence for the bishops, "Llys Esgob", was built in component of the grounds, together with Diocesan Offices – thereby continuing a link with Abergwili which has now lasted for alive over 400 years.

St. Cybi's Collegiate and Parish Church, Collegiate and Parish Church of St Mary, St Mary's Square, Swansea, along with St Clynnog's Church, Clynnog Fawr.