In theCatholic Church and theAnglican Communion as well as someLutheran denominations, arural dean is a member ofclergy who presides over a "ruraldeanery" (often referred to as a deanery); "ruridecanal" is the corresponding adjective.
The adjectiverural does not mean the role is restricted to the countryside, but distinguishes them from thedeans of cathedral chapters, which were historically in cities. In someChurch of Englanddioceses rural deans have been formally renamed asarea deans.
The title "dean" (Latindecanus) may derive from the custom of dividing ahundred into tentithings, not least as rural deaneries originally corresponded with wapentakes,hundreds,commotes orcantrefi in Wales. Many rural deaneries retain these ancient names.[1]
The first mention of rural deans comes from a law made byEdward the Confessor, which refers to the rural dean being appointed by thebishop "to have the inspection of clergy and people from within the district to which he was incumbent... to which end [he] had power to convene rural chapters."[2] The first known rural dean is Robert de Eclesfield, who was appointed to the position in the diocese of York in 1148.[3]
In medieval times rural deans acted as officers of the diocesan bishop and prepared business for thearchdeacons to determine at their visitations. Archdeacons gradually took over most of the duties of rural deans and the office was allowed to become a sinecure by the 16th century.[2][4]
In the Roman Catholic Church, a dean or rural dean is a priest, usually pastor of a parish within the deanery area. The dean serves as a liaison between the diocesan bishop and the priests and parishes of the deanery, and chairs meetings of the clergy of the deanery. He serves many of the same functions, with somewhat less canonical authority, than anepiscopal vicar does.
In the Church of England, the office of rural dean was revived by the Bishop of Norwich in 1836/1837.[3][4] During the nineteenth century the office became more significant, and by the middle of the century rural deaneries were established in law,[2] which also made provision for the modification of deanery boundaries, through the provisions of theArchdeaconries and Rural Deaneries Act 1874 (37 & 38 Vict. c. 63).[4]
Canon C23 sets out the legal basis of the current role of rural deans. It sets out that rural deans will report to the bishop on significant matters, including illness and vacancies, and will investigate if there are problems in the parish. It also sets out that the rural dean will be joint chair, with the Lay Chair, of thedeanery synod.[5]
The current role of the rural dean has been summarised by theDiocese of Chichester as:
Rural deans also usually have a significant role during clergy vacancies, along with thechurchwardens and are often involved in the selection of new clergy.[6]
It is also becoming increasingly common to appoint assistant rural deans, to reduce the workload of rural deans.[7] The Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure 2000 2.12(4) allows the diocesan bishop to officially rename a rural dean as an area dean.[8]
