Primate

Primate (Lat. primus), anciently a bishop holding a position of pre-eminence. Thus the bishop of Rome was called primate of the whole church. In modern times the title belongs only to such sees as had formerly the dignity of vicar of the holy see annexed—Armagh, Arles and Lyons, Mainz, Toledo, Pisa and Salerno, &c. But none of these possess any special primatial jurisdiction. For the primates in the Church of England, see the article ARCHBISHOP. The name primus is applied in the Scottish Episcopal Church to the presiding bishop. He is chosen by the bishops out of their own number, without their being bound to give effect to seniority of consecration or precedence of diocese.