A Cathedral has a small team of full or part time clergy, led by a Dean (occasionally known as a Provost or some other title).
The full or part time clergy are referred to as residentiary Canons, although they may also have other names, titles varying from one Cathedral to another, e.g. Canon Treasurer, Canon Librarian, Canon Chancellor and so on.
Residentiary Canons will be appointed by the Bishop or by another patron, occasionally the Crown or the Lord Chancellor. In the latter cases Letters Patent will be received by the Registry, instructing the installation of the new Canon. The appointments process for Residentiary Canons can be found on the Church of England website at Appointment Process for Residentiary Canons
The papers to be prepared by the Registry will include:
- Declarations and Oaths in the usual form
- Deed appointing the candidate as Canon and licensing their ministry at the Cathedral and within the Diocese
- Mandate to the Dean of the Cathedral requesting the Dean to install the newly appointed Canon in their seat or stall within the Cathedral
- The mandate will include a subscription to be completed by the Dean to confirm to the Bishop that the new Canon has been duly installed.
- As well as the standard declaration and oaths, if the Canon is being installed a stall in the Cathedral, they will need to take an oath to comply with the Statutes of the Cathedral and to uphold its work. This is normally prepared by the Cathedral and administered during the installation service.
In addition to the Residentiary Canons, the College of Canons at the Cathedral will include a number of Honorary Canons, appointed by the Bishop. These will be clergy who are generally senior or experienced incumbents or priests in charge within the Diocese. Since they will already hold a stipendiary office elsewhere, they do not receive a stipend for their Honorary Canonry.
The role of the College of Canons is limited under the new Cathedrals Measure 2021 but includes the important role of electing a new Bishop following a vacancy in the Diocesan See.