Vicar General of Sodor and Man

The Vicar General of the Diocese of Sodor and Man is an ecclesiastical law officer appointed by the Bishop of Sodor and Man.

Formerly there were two vicars general in the diocese, but since 1846 only one has been appointed.^[1]

The Vicar General is the judge of the ecclesiastical courts in the Isle of Man, which comprise the Consistory Court, the Chapter Court and the Vicar General’s Court. The principal jurisdiction of the Consistory Court is to consider applications for faculties to works affecting consecrated land or buildings; its former matrimonial jurisdiction was transferred to the High Court of Justice in 1884,^[2] and its jurisdiction in clergy discipline to disciplinary tribunals in 2006.^[3] Churchwardens are sworn in before the Chapter Court.^[4] which may hear presentments against clergy or churchwardens; its former probate jurisdiction was transferred to the High Court in 1884.^[5] The Vicar General’s Court formerly dealt with affiliation (‘bastardy’) cases, but the jurisdiction was transferred to the High Bailiff in 1921^[6] and the court no longer sits.^[7]

Formerly the Vicar General retired on a vacancy in the See (i.e. on the retirement, death or translation of the bishop); a temporary appointment during the vacancy was made by the Lieutenant Governor, and a fresh appointment was made by the new bishop when he took office.^[8] The appointment is now made by the bishop alone, and the office is permanent, with an age limit of 70 (although the tenure may be extended to age 75).^[9]

The Vicar General is also Chancellor of the diocese, the titles being interchangeable,^[10] and the bishop’s Official Principal ^[11] The Vicar General was formerly a member of the Legislative Council and as such had a seat and vote in Tynwald. He ceased to be a member in 1919.^[12]

Vicars General

• Clare Faulds, 1996–2014
• Peter William Stanley Farrant, ? - 1995
• Ramsey Gelling Johnson, 1931-?
• Cyril Hughes-Games, 1906-1931
• Charles Thomas Cheslyn Callow, 1903-1905
• Samuel Harris, 1884-?
• Benjamin Philpot, 1828-1832^[13]

References

1. Evidence of Attorney General Sir James Gell: Report of the Royal Commission on the Ecclesiastical Courts (1883, C.3760) vol. ii p.322.
2. Ecclesiastical Civil Judicature Transfer Act 1884
3. Clergy Discipline Measure 2003
4. Churchwardens Measure (Isle of Man) 2013 s.9
5. Ecclesiastical Civil Judicature Transfer Act 1884
6. Isle of Man Judicature (Amendment) Act 1921
7. For further information on the functions of the Vicar General, see P W S Farrant, Some Observations on the History of and the Role and Duties of the Manx Vicar General, Chancellor & Official Principal, (1995) Ecclesiastical Law Journal vol.3 p.410
8. Evidence of Attorney General Sir James Gell: Report of the Royal Commission on the Ecclesiastical Courts (1883, C.3760) vol. ii pp.322-323.
9. Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Measure 1963 s.2(4) as extended to the Isle of Man by the Church Act 1969; age limit reduced from 72 to 70 by Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure 2010 s.5 as extended to the Isle of Man by the Church Offices Measure (Isle of Man) 2011.
10. Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Measure 1963 s.2(1)
11. 1963 Measure s.13.
12. Isle of Man Constitution Amendment Act 1919.
13. Bradley, A. G. (ca. 1900) Our Centenarian Grandfather, 1790-1890. London: John Bale ("From the MS. autobiography of the Rev. B. Philpot, Fellow of Ch. Coll., Camb., Vicar-General and Archdeacon of the Isle of Man, Rector of Gt. Cressingham, &c., &c.")