ARCHDEACON (Gr. arch-, and s, servant). An ecclesiastical dignitary whose jurisdiction is immediately subordinate to that of the bishop. The A. originally was simply the chief of the deacons, who were the attendants and assistants of the bishop in church affairs. His duties consisted in attending the bishop at the altar and at ordina tions, assisting him in managing the revenues of the church, and directing the deacons in their duties. From being thus mere assistants, archdeacons in the 5th c. began to share the bishop's powers, and step by step attained to the authority which they no enjoy, which from the 9th c. became in many respects distinct from that of the bishop. Several synods protested against the innovation, but it was continued in the 11th and 12th centuries, when the archdeacons were recognized as the most influential of prelates. In the 13th c., their powers were limited by the establishment of episcopal courts. Their dignity and influence is now very much reduced in the Catholic church. There were formerly 60 arehdeaconries in England, but their number has been considerably increased since the passing of the act for carrying into effect the report of the ecclesiastical com missioners (6 and 7 Will. IV. c. 77); and it is probable that under the provisions of that
act they may be still further increased. No person can be appointed an A. till he has been six years complete in priest's orders (3 and 4 Vict. c. 113, s. 27). The duty of paro chial visitation has long been regarded as belonging specially to the archidiaconakoffice, and it was by its exercise mainly that the archdeacons attained to the dignity of ordi nary instead of delegated jurisdiction. Even in performing this function, and in holding general synods or visitations, ordering repairs of churches, and the like, the A. is properly to be regarded as being what the canon law called him, " the bishop's eye./' The judge of the A.'s court, when he does not preside, is called "the official." There Is an appeal to the court of the bishop, or in the case of an A. of an archbishopric, to the court of arches. See DEACON, DEAN, PRIEST. See also Cripps's Law Relating to the Church and Clergy. Edinburgh, 1857.