Letters Patent - Foundation of the Dean and Chapter of Saint Albans [1900-02-23]

Letters Patent - Foundation of the Dean and Chapter of Saint Albans [1900-02-23]

Cathedrals

Letters Patent of Queen Victoria founding the Dean and Chapter of Saint Albans Cathedral.

Queen Victoria

Kaihsu Tai, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

1900-02-23

Jason Loch

Saint Albans Cathedral

Victoria by the Grace of God

of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen Defender of the Faith TO The Right Reverend Father in God John Wogan by Divine permission Lord Bishop of Saint Albans and to all others whom it may concern Greeting: Whereas We have by Our Order in Council bearing date the thirtieth day of April One thousand eight-hundred and seventy seven made in pursuance of an Act of the thirty eighth and thirty ninth years of Our reign Chapter 34 founded the Bishopric of Saint Albans and have assigned The Abbey Church of Saint Albans in the County of Hereford as a Cathedral Church to the said Bishopric which Order came into operation on the fourth day of May One thousand eight hundred and seventy seven And whereas it has been represented to Us that it would be expedient to found a Dean and Chapter for the said Bishopric Now Know Ye that We of Our certain knowledge and mere motion Have founded and created and by these presents Do found and create a Dean and Chapter of the said Cathedral Church of Saint Albans And We do hereby constitute them a body corporate with all such rights and powers usually enjoyed by other Cathedral Chapters in England as We may from time to time provide by any Order in Council made by Us and such Order in Council may contain such provisions as may be necessary as to the number of the said Chapter and the revenues and endowment thereof and the enjoyment of incomes and other endowments in relation thereto And We do further declare that the said Deanery shall be in Our direct patronage and every Canonry in the said Chapter shall be in the patronage of the Bishop of Saint Albans for the time being. In witness whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent Witness Ourself at Westminster the twenty third day of February in the sixty third year of Our reign.

By Warrant under the Queen’s Sign Manual

Muir Mackenzie

Sign Manual Warrant

Wax Seal

Document is handwritten on a sheet with pre-printed decoration. Black and white Royal Arms at the top. In the left corner is a trio of female figures (Hibernia, Britannia, and Scota). In the right corner are three allegorical female figures (perhaps representing agriculture, navigation, and the sea). Border also has an elaborate garland of foliage and flowers. On the lefthand side there is an angel supporting a figure of Justice; on the righthand side there is an angel supporting a figure of Faith.

"Victoria by the Grace of God" is printed at the top in Gothic lettering.

Body of the document is handwritten in an ordinary cursive hand with incipits in Gothic script. Names are in larger lettering. Warranty and Clerk of the Crown in Chancery's name are in Gothic lettering.

Red rule lines.