CATHEDRAL SCHOOLS. All of the schools of western Europe were derived from bishop's schools (q.v.). The manifold duties of the bishop, however, which often caused his absence from his diocese, forced the con trol of the school to devolve on those members of the chapter who were bound to stationary residence. In the process of time, the cathe dral school developed into three or sometimes four schools: the theological school, the music or song school, the choristers' school, a com bined grammar and song school, and the grammar school itself, which became the cathedral school par excellence. These institu tions were the first public schools of the Mid dle Ages; and continued their high importance in England down to the 18th century. They were open to all students, and taught the classics in general, together with the rhetoric and logic of the scholastic trivium. The four principal dignitaries as the schools were organ ized at the end of the 1 1th century throughout Europe were the dean, precentor, chancellor and sacrist or treasurer (in order of rank, generally). The head of the school was gen erally a master of arts. When the monastic Cathedrals at Canterbury, Rochester, Durham, Worcester, Norwich, Ely and Carlisle were abolished in 1540, and replaced by secular canons, a master and an usher were added to each new grammar school; provision was made for the admission of fee students; and exhibits planned, to take the best scholars to the universities. This last provision was soon
canceled. The monastic cathedral schools meanwhile suffered through lack of funds and eventually became annexed to some other charitable enterprise of the cathedral or died out altogether. When in 1863 the great inquiry into the secondary schools was conducted for the purpose of revival, the old monastic schools were entirely overlooked and arrangements were made for the exten sive assistance of the newer secular cathe dral schools from the funds of the ecclesi astical commissioners. Westminster, through out the 17th and 18th centuries, con ducted the best and most famous of public schools; York had the chief school of the north; Durham has been the most uniformly successful; Canterbury, for many years deca dent, has increased recently; Norwich, Here ford and Ely have been fairly successful as local schools; Bristol and Chichester have declined notably. See ALMONRY Soto()Ls.