The church of England has three orders of clergy—bishops, priests, and deacons. Generally, a degree at one of the English universities, or of Dublin. is required in a candidate for orders; but in Wales and some of the more populous districts, this con dition is dispensed with. There are two archbishops (Canterbury and York) and 28 bishops in England; besides 2 archbishops and 10 bishops in Ireland. The arch deacons and rural deans assist the bishops in the management of their dioceses. The deans and canons rule the cathedrals with but slight power of interference on the part of the bishops.
The patronage of the church is in a great variety of hands—in the crown, the bish ops, the nobles, and the gentry, and incorporate bodies such as colleges and cathedrals. Advowsons and next presentations may be sold as property, but a presentation may not be sold when a living is vacant. A clergyman is "presented" to his living by the patron; he is admitted and inducted by the bishop or his appointee; he must "read himself in," i.e., he must read the Thirty-nine Articles after the morning or evening prayei within two months after induction. The bishop may refuse institution on the ground of false doctrine or immorality; but an appeal lies to the Arches court and the head court of appeal.
The Episcopal church in Scotland is not, politically speaking, in union with that of England. But an act of parliament, passed in 1864, has taken away many restrictions imposed on Scottish Episcopalians after the battle of Culloden; and clergy ordained by Scotch bishops may now, under some slight restrictions, be presented to benefices in England. Events connected with the colonies have also drawn these two communions into closer alliance; and some bishops, selected by English authorities for foreign parts, have been consecrated in Scotland.
The above sketch has been largely drawn from Short's excellent History of the Church of England; see also Marsden's able Dictionary of Christian Churches and Sects, and Hardwick; also Fuller's Church History, Collier, Strype, Mosheim, Burnet, and Claren don. Among the great divines whose works should be consulted for further informa tion regarding the views of the church, may be named Barrow, Pearson, Hooker, Jeremy Taylor, Lightfoot, Hammond, Sancroft, South, Tillotson, bishop Butler, Atterbury, Bull, Sherlock, and others.