PRIMATE (Lat. prinrus, Fr. primal, first) is the title of that grade in the hierarchy which is immediately below the rank of patriarch. The title strictly belongs to the Latin church. but in its general use it corresponds with that of exarch (Gr. exarehos) in the Greek church, although there were some exa•chs who were.not immediately subject (as were all primates) to a patriarch. This arose in the eastern church from time varia tion in the limits of the patriarchates, which were not of simultaneous origin; but in the west, wherc.the patriarch (i.e., the Roman bishop) was recognized as possessing universal jurisdiction, this exemption of any particular primate front superior jurisdiction could not of course arise. The primate, as such, was the head of a particular church or coun try, and held rank, and, in some churches, a certain degree of jurisdiction, over all bishops and srchhishops within the tuitional church. This jurisdiction, however, was confined to the right of visitation and of receiving appeals. In Africa, the bishop of Carthage, without the title, possessed all the rank and authority of a primate. The chief
primatial sees of the west were: in Spain, Seville and Tarragona, afterwards united iii Toledo; in France, Arles, Rheims, Lyons, and Rouen (among whom the archbishop of Lyons claims the title of primal des primats, of the primates"); in England. Canterbury; in Germany, Mainz, Salzburg, and Trier; in Ireland, Armagh, and for the Pale, Dublin; Scotland, St. Andrews; in Hungary, Gran; in Poland, Gnesen; and in the northern kingdoms, Lund. In the church of England the archbishop of Canterbury is styled primate of all England; the archbishop of York, primate of England.
In Ireland, the archbishop of Armagh is primate of all Ireland, and the archbishop of Dublin primate of Ireland. The title of primate in England and Ireland confers no jurisdiction beyond that of archbishop. The name primes 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 preced ency of dioceSe.