ARCHBISHOP (Gr. arch-, and episcopos, overseer) is the title given to a metropolitan bishop who superintends the conduct of the suffragan bishops in his province, and also exercises episcopal authority in his own diocese. The title arose, in the 3d and 4th centuries, from the provincial synods being held once or twice a year in the chief t. of the province under the presidency of tile bishop of the place. Another cause of the origin of the title is said to be the custom of new bishoprics as Christianity spread, a slight supremacy being still retained by the original over the newly-appointed chief pastors. In the oriental church, the archbishops are still called "metropolitans." from the circumstance first mentioned. In the African church, on the other hand, the term used was " primus." The great archbishoprics of the early church were those of Jerusalem, Antioch, Ephesus, Alexandria, Constantinople, and Rome. Since the 6th c., the A. of Rome has assumed the name of pope (papa). There is an official letter by Justinian, addressed to " John A. of Rome and patriarch;" and several ecclesiastical constitutions are addressed to "Epiphanius A. of Constantinople and patriarch." The synod of Antioch; in 341, assigned to the A. the superintendence over all the bishoprics, and a precedence in rank over all the bishops of the church, who, on important matters, were bound to consult him and be guided by his advice. By degrees there arose, out of this superiority of rank, privileges which at length assumed the character of positive jurisdiction in ecclesiastical matters. Many of these rights passed to the patriarchs (q.v.) towards the end of the 4th and during the 5th centuries, and still more to the pope in the 9th. The archbishops still retained jurisdiction, iu the first instance, over their suffragans in matters which were not criminal, and over those who were subject to them they acted as a court of appeal. They possessed also the right of calling together, and presiding in, the provincial synods; the superintendence • and power of visitation over the bishops of the metropolitan see; the power of the laws of the church; the dispensation of indulgences, and the like. The archbishops further enjoyed the honor of having the cross carried before them in their own archiepiscopate, even in presence of the pope himself, and of wearing the palliuin. In England, there are two A., of whom the• one has his seat at Canterbury, the capital of the ancient kingdom of Kent; the other at York, the capital of Northumbria. But though, as ruling over a province in place of a single diocese, both have enjoyed the rank of metropolitans from the first, the A. of Canterbury has all along enjoyed, not merely precedence as the suc cessor of Augustine and the senior A., but as possessing a pre-eminent and universal authority over the whole kingdom. This pre-eminence is marked in the titles which they respectively assume—the A. of Canterbury being styled the primate of all England (metropolitanus et primus totius Anglia), whilst the A. of York is simply called primate
of England (primus et metropolitanus Anglia). It is also indicated by the places which they occupy in processions—the A. of Canterbury, who has precedence of all the nobility, not only preceding the A. of York, but the lord chancellor being interposed between them. Previous to the creation of an archbishopric in Ireland, the authority of the A. of Canterbury extended to that island. The amount of control which belongs to an A. over the bishops of his province is not very accurately defined; but if any bishop introduces irregularities into his diocese, or is guilty of immorality, the A. may call him to account, and even deprive him. In 1822, the A. of Armagh, who is primate of all Ireland, deposed the bishop of Clogher on the latter ground. To the A. of Can terbury belongs the honor of placing the crown on the sovereign's head at his coronation; and the A. of claims the like privilege in the case of the queen-consort, whose per petual chaplain be is. The province of the A. of York consists of the six northern counties, with Cheshire and Nottinghamshire. The rest of England and Wales form the province of the A. of Canterbury. The dioceses of the two A.—that is to say, the districts in which they exercise ordinary episcopal functions—were remodeled by 6 and 7 Will. IV. c. 77. The diocese of Canterbury comprises Kent, except the city and deanery of Rochester, and some parishes transferred by this act; a number of par ishes in Sussex called "peculiars;" with small districts in other dioceses, particularly London. The diocese of the A. of York embraces the co. of York, except that portion of it now included in the dioceses of Ripon and Manchester; the whole co. of Not tingham; and some other detached districts.
In Ireland there are two Protestant and four Roman Catholic archbishops. Of the former, the A. of Armagh is primate of all Ireland; the A. of Dublin being primate of Ireland. They formerly sat alternately in the house of lords; the three bishops who, along with them, represented the church of Ireland, being. chosen by rotation. The election of an A. does not differ from that of a bishop (see BIsuor), but when he is in vested with his office, he is said to be "enthroned," whereas a bishop is "consecrated." He also writes himself, " by divine providence;" a bishop being, " by divine permission ;" and has the title of "grace," and "most reverend father in God," whilst a bishop is styled "lord," and "right reverend father in God." The A. is entitled to present to all ecclesiastical livings in the disposal of diocesan bishops, if not filled up within six months; and every bishop, whether created or translated, was formerly bound to make a legal conveyance to the A. of the next avoidance of one such dignity or benefice be. longing to his see as the A. shall choose.