Deanery

DE'ANERY, n.
1. The office or the revenue of a dean.
2. The house of a dean.
3. The jurisdiction of a dean.
Each archdeaconry is divided into rural deaneries, and each deanery is divided into parishes.
Rural dean, or arch-presbyter, had originally jurisdiction over ten churches; but afterwards he became only the bishop's substitute, to grant letters of administration, probate of wills, etc. His office is now lost in that of the archdeacon and chancellor.
Dean of a Monastery, a superior established under the abbot, to ease him in taking care of ten monks. Hence his name.
Dean and Chapter, are the bishop's council, to aid him with their advice in affairs of religion, and in the temporal concerns of his see.

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