Cathedral, from a Greek word cathedra, signifying a seat. Thus, 'to speak ex cathedrā,' is to speak as from a seat of authority. The cathedral city is the seat of the bishop of the diocese, and his throne is placed in the cathedral church, which is the parish church of the whole diocese. The diocese was, in fact, anciently called parochia, until the application of this name to the smaller portions into which it was divided. Cathedrals vary in rank with the dignity of the see to which they belong, and may be episcopal, archiepiscopal, metropolitan, or patriarchal. Anciently only a cathedral was styled matrīx ecclesia, but now this title is applied to all churches, even parochial only, which have other churches or chapels dependent on them. When two cathedrals are found in the same town (as is sometimes the case), they are called 'con-cathedrals.' In the Roman Church the establishment, suppression, or union of cathedrals is reserved to the pope alone. A cathedral town has generally been understood to be entitled to the honours of a city, even although the town be not a borough incorporate; but in the case of Manchester the claim was disallowed by a court of law. The distinction between cathedral and collegiate churches consists principally in the see of the bishop being at the former. The governing body of a cathedral is called the dean and chapter—i.e. the dean and canons who meet for corporate purposes in the chapter-house of the cathedral. The property of the cathedral vests in this body. In England they elect the bishop of the diocese on the issue of a congé d'élire from the crown, but as the person to be elected is always named, and they may be compelled by a mandamus to elect that person and no other, the election is merely a form.
The bishop is 'visitor' of the dean and chapter, and the metropolitan is visitor of all cathedrals within his province; while the crown holds that office during the vacancy of the archbishopric. In England, all cathedrals are distinguished as being either of the old or the new foundation. The cathedrals of the old foundation are those which have from the first been served by secular canons; those of the new foundation were originally monastic churches, and served by monks. These were dissolved at the Reformation, being then refounded on the footing of the secular churches. By the Act of 1840, all members of cathedrals, except the dean, are styled canons. Their seat in the cathedral is called their stall. They are no longer called prebendaries in most cathedrals, but this title is retained in the cathedrals of York, London, Wells, Chichester, Exeter, Hereford, Lichfield, St Davids, and St Asaph. In two cathedrals, Lincoln and Salisbury, both titles are used simultaneously, and the holders are styled 'canons and prebendaries.' In all these cases, however, the prebendaries rank below the canons residentiary, and save for their slender prebends, are on almost the same footing as the 'honorary canons' of recent institution, who have no share in the cathedral revenues or government. At St Davids the first 'cursal prebend' vests in the crown, and the sovereign is senior prebendary of that cathedral. The French kings enjoyed similar privileges in six chapters, and the German emperor was ex officio canon of St Peter's at Rome. Canons must reside three months in each year. The Act of 1840 allows to the canons of Durham, Manchester, St Paul's, and Westminster, an income of £1000 per annum; to those of every other cathedral in England, £500. The bishop was always considered of common right to have the patronage of canonries, but formerly there were exceptions. Now, the appointment to all canonries is vested either in the bishop or in the crown. Where the bishop is patron, he 'collates,' and the dean and chapter 'induct,' by placing the new canon in a stall in the church. The crown appoints by letters-patent, and the canon is installed without collation. Honorary canons have no emoluments, but rank after the canons residentiary. Minor canons, of whom there are from two to six in each cathedral, perform the daily choral services; see SERVICE (MUSICAL). For the general plan of cathedral buildings, see CHURCH. The English and Welsh cathedrals, some forty in number, are noticed under their respective cities.
See Dean Goulburn's Cathedral System (1871); F. H. Allen, The Great Cathedrals of the World (Boston, 1888); W. J. Loftie, The Cathedrals of England and Wales (1892); Mrs Rensselaer, English Cathedrals (1892).