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{{Short description|Bishops who
{{Use British English|date = September 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
[[File:The Archbishop of Canterbury (51111275839).jpg|thumb|
{{PoliticsUK}}
The '''Lords Spiritual''' are the [[bishop]]s of the [[Church of England]] who
==Ranks and titles==
Of the remaining
Theoretically, the power to elect archbishops and bishops is vested in the diocesan cathedral's [[college of canons]]. Practically, however, the [[appointment of Church of England bishops|choice of the archbishop or bishop
{{anchor|Convenor}}One of the Lords Spiritual is appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury to be the ''convenor'' of the bench; he or she coordinates the work of the bishops in the House. [[Alan Smith (bishop)|Alan Smith]], [[Bishop of St Albans]], was appointed the current convenor on 23 September 2022.<ref>{{cite web |website=Church of England |title=Bishop of St Albans to be Convenor of the Lords Spiritual |date=23 September 2022 |url=https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/bishop-st-albans-be-convenor-lords-spiritual |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927180635/https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/bishop-st-albans-be-convenor-lords-spiritual |archive-date=27 September 2022 |access-date=20 October 2022 }}</ref>
==Status as peers==
Even during the early years of the [[Peerage]], the position of bishops was unclear. During the reign of King [[Richard II of England|Richard II]], the Archbishop of Canterbury declared, "of right and by the custom of the realm of England it belongeth to the Archbishop of Canterbury for the time being as well as others his suffragans, brethren and fellow Bishops, Abbots and Priors and other prelates whatsoever,
The Lords Spiritual at first declared themselves entirely outside the jurisdiction of secular authorities; the question of trial in the House of Lords did not arise. When papal authority was great, the King could do little but admit a lack of jurisdiction over the prelates. Later, however, when the power of the Pope in England was reduced, the Lords Spiritual came under the authority of the secular courts. The jurisdiction of the common courts was clearly established by the time of [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]], who declared himself head of the Church of England in place of the Pope, ending the constitutional power of the Roman Catholic Church in England.
Despite their failure to be tried as temporal peers in the House of Lords, it remained unclear whether the Lords Spiritual were indeed peers. In 1688, the issue arose during the trial of the [[Seven Bishops]]—[[William Sancroft]], Archbishop of Canterbury; [[Sir Jonathan Trelawny, 3rd Baronet]], Bishop of Winchester; [[Thomas Ken]], Bishop of Bath and Wells; [[John Lake (bishop)|John Lake]], Bishop of Chester; [[William Lloyd (bishop of Worcester)|William Lloyd]], Bishop of Worcester; [[Francis Turner (bishop)|Francis Turner]], Bishop of Ely; and [[Thomas White (bishop)|Thomas White]], Bishop of Peterborough—by a common jury. The charge was that a petition sent by the Bishops constituted [[seditious libel]]; the Bishops argued that they had the [[right to petition]] the Sovereign at any time, while the prosecution charged that such a right was only permissible when Parliament was in session (which, at the time of the delivery of the petition, it was not). If the bishops were only Lords of Parliament, and not peers, their right to petition would be vitiated while Parliament was dissolved. Peers, however, were and still are counsellors of the Sovereign whether Parliament is in session or not; therefore, if the bishops were indeed peers, they would be free to send petitions. Since there was no doubt that the petition was actually sent, while the Court still ruled the bishops not guilty, it appears that it was taken for granted that the bishops were counsellors of the Crown.
Nevertheless, the ''Standing Orders of the House of Lords'' provide, "Bishops to whom a writ of summons has been issued are not Peers but are Lords of Parliament."
==Number==
In the early history of the [[Parliament of England]], the Lords Spiritual—including the [[abbot]]s—outnumbered the Lords Temporal. Between 1536 and 1540, however, King Henry VIII [[Dissolution of the Monasteries|dissolved the monasteries]], thereby removing the seats of the abbots. For the first time, and
In addition to the 21 older dioceses (including four in Wales), Henry VIII created six new ones, of which five survived (see [[
Bishops, abbots, and priors
Bishops and archbishops of the [[Church of Ireland]] were entitled to sit in the [[Irish House of Lords]] as Lords Spiritual. They obtained representation in the Westminster House of Lords after the union of Ireland and Great Britain in 1801. Of the Church of Ireland's ecclesiastics, four (one archbishop and three bishops) were to sit at any one time, with the members rotating at the end of every parliamentary session (which normally lasted
The [[Bishop of Sodor and Man]], although a Bishop of the Church of England, has never been included among the English Lords Spiritual, as the [[Isle of Man]] has never been part of the Kingdom of England or of the United Kingdom. The Lord Bishop is the holder of the oldest office in [[Tynwald]] (the oldest continuous parliament in the world) and remains an ''ex officio'' member of [[Tynwald Court]] and of the island's [[Legislative Council (Isle of Man)|Legislative Council]], although this has recently (2020s) been the subject of some controversy.
In the early 19th century, as the
In 1920, with the independence of the [[Church in Wales]] from the Church of England and its [[Disestablishmentarianism|disestablishment]], the Welsh bishops stopped being eligible for inclusion.
The 26 seats for the Lords Spiritual
==Politics==
Although the Lords Spiritual have no [[Political party|party affiliation]], they do not sit on the [[Crossbencher|crossbenches]]
By custom, at least one of the Bishops reads prayers in each legislative day (a role taken by the [[Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons|Chaplain to the Speaker]] in the Commons).<ref name=shell1>{{cite book|last=Shell|first=Donald|title=The House of Lords|publisher=[[Manchester University Press]]|year=2007|edition=3rd|isbn=978-0-7190-5443-3|page=54}}</ref> They often speak in debates; in 2004 [[Rowan Williams]], then Archbishop of Canterbury, opened a debate into sentencing legislation.<ref name=shell1/> [[List of Church of England
==
Since 1928, retiring Archbishops of Canterbury have been created peers, enabling them to continue to sit in the House as [[Lords Temporal]] after their term as Lords Spiritual ended. Archbishops [[Randall Davidson|Davidson]] (1928) and [[Cosmo Gordon Lang|Lang]] (1942) were created [[hereditary peers]] (though both were without male heirs and their titles became extinct on their deaths). Archbishops [[Geoffrey Fisher|Fisher]] (1961), [[Michael Ramsey|Ramsey]] (1974), [[Donald Coggan|Coggan]] (1980), [[Robert Runcie|Runcie]] (1991), [[George Carey|Carey]] (2002) and [[Rowan Williams|Williams]] (2013) were created [[life peers]].
Other religious figures have sat in the House of Lords as Lords Temporal in recent times: [[Chief Rabbi]] [[Immanuel Jakobovits]] was appointed to the House of Lords (by the Queen, who acted on the advice of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher), as was his successor Chief Rabbi [[Jonathan Sacks]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chiefrabbi.org/ReadContent1849.aspx |title=Biography of the Chief Rabbi |publisher=Office of the Chief Rabbi |location=London, United Kingdom |access-date=16 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001042614/http://www.chiefrabbi.org/ReadContent1849.aspx |archive-date=1 October 2009 }}</ref> In recognition of his work at reconciliation and in the [[Northern Ireland peace process|peace process]] in Northern Ireland, [[Robin Eames]], the Church of Ireland (Anglican) [[Archbishop of Armagh (Church of Ireland)|Archbishop of Armagh]], was appointed to the Lords by [[John Major]]. ▼
Archbishops Lang, Ramsey and Coggan each served as Archbishop of York before translation to Canterbury. Successive retiring Archbishops of York after them have been created life peers:- Archbishops [[Stuart Blanch|Blanch]] (1983), [[John Habgood|Habgood]] (1995) [[David Hope, Baron Hope of Thornes|Hope]] (2005) and [[John Sentamu|Sentamu]] (2021).
[[Robin Eames]], the [[Church of Ireland]] [[Archbishop of Armagh (Church of Ireland)|Archbishop of Armagh]], was created a life peer in 1995 in recognition of his work for reconciliation and in the [[Northern Ireland peace process]].
There have been no Roman Catholic clergy appointed since the Reformation, though it was rumoured that Cardinal [[Basil Hume]], the [[Archbishop of Westminster]], and his successor, Cardinal [[Cormac Murphy O'Connor]], were offered peerages by [[James Callaghan]], Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair respectively, but declined. Hume later accepted the [[Order of Merit (Commonwealth)|Order of Merit]], a personal appointment of the Queen, shortly before his death. O'Connor said he had his maiden speech ready, but ordained Roman Catholics [[Catholic priests in public office|are prohibited]] by the [[Canon law (Catholic Church)|internal canon law of the Roman Catholic Church]] from holding major offices connected with any government other than the [[Holy See]].{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}▼
Less commonly, other retired diocesans have been created life peers:- Bishops [[David Sheppard]] of [[Bishop of Liverpool| Liverpool]] (1997), [[Richard Harries, Baron Harries of Pentregarth|Richard Harries]] of [[Bishop of Oxford|Oxford]] (2006) and [[Richard Chartres]] of [[Bishop of London|London]] (2017).
==Other religious figures as Lords Temporal==
Other Christian clergy have been appointed to the House of Lords:
* Anglican priests [[Timothy Beaumont|Lord Beaumont of Whitley]] (1967) and [[Peter Pilkington, Baron Pilkington of Oxenford|Lord Pilkington of Oxenford]] (1995).<!-- It was announced in late 2024 that [[Nigel Biggar]] and [[Russell Rook]] will be created life peers-->
* [[Church of Scotland]] minister and [[Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland|Moderator of the General Assembly]] [[George MacLeod|Lord MacLeod of Fuinary]] (1967)
* [[Methodist Church of Great Britain|Methodist]] ministers [[Donald Soper|Lord Soper]] (1965), [[Kathleen Richardson, Baroness Richardson of Calow|Baroness Richardson of Calow]] (1998) and [[Leslie Griffiths| Lord Griffiths of Burry Port]] (2004), each of whom served as [[ President of the Methodist Conference]].
* [[Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster]] ministers [[Ian Paisley|Lord Bannside]] (2010) and [[William McCrea, Baron McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown|Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown]] (2018).
▲There have been no Roman Catholic clergy appointed since the Reformation. However,
Jewish [[rabbis]] have also been appointed to the House of Lords:
▲
*[[Movement for Reform Judaism|Reform]] rabbi [[Julia Neuberger|Baroness Neuberger]] (2004)
==Reforms==
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=== 2015 change temporarily giving preference to women===
Under the [[Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015]] whenever a vacancy arises among the Lords Spiritual during the ten years following the Act coming into force (18 May 2015 – 18 May 2025), the vacancy has to be filled by a woman, if one is eligible. The Act does not apply to the sees of Canterbury, York, London, Durham and Winchester, the holders of which automatically have a seat in the House of Lords.
==Criticism==
The presence of the Lords Spiritual in the House of Lords has been criticised, with some media commentators and organisations arguing that the system is outdated and undemocratic.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2010/mar/14/lords-reform-bishops-reserved-benches |title=Goodbye to the bishops |first=Polly |last=Toynbee |author-link=Polly Toynbee |work=The Guardian |date=14 March 2010 |access-date=14 August 2013 |location=London}}</ref> [[Humanists UK]] has described it as "unacceptable" that "the UK is the only Western democracy to give religious representatives the automatic right to sit in the legislature".<ref>{{cite web |date=14 August 2013 |title=Report on bishops in Lords fails to address justice and equality |url=http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/news/UK/070212theosinjusticehol |access-date= |publisher=[[Ekklesia (think tank)|Ekklesia]]}}</ref><ref>[https://humanism.org.uk/campaigns/secularism/constitutional-reform/bishops-in-the-lords/ Bishops in the House of Lords]. Humanists UK. Retrieved 11 April 2018.</ref> There has also been criticism of the "anomaly of having religious representation from one of the four nations of the United Kingdom but not from the other three"; while the appointment procedures have been described as "secretive and flawed".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Peterson |first1=Scot |title=Lords Spiritual: a problem of transparency and legitimacy |url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/opendemocracyuk/lords-spiritual-problem-of-transparency-and-legitimacy/ |website
[[Richard Chartres]], then [[Bishop of London]], defended the bishops in 2007, saying they are "in touch with a great range of opinions and institutions", and suggesting the inclusion of "leading members in Britain's [other] faith communities".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Blake |first1=Daniel |last2=Mackay |first2=Maria |date=9 February 2007 |title=Bishop of London Defends Church's Position in House of Lords |work=[[Christian Today]] |url=http://www.christiantoday.com/article/bishop.of.london.defends.churchs.position.in.house.of.lords/9475.htm |access-date=}}</ref>
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==See also==
{{Portal|Christianity|United Kingdom}}
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
*[[Anti-clericalism]]
*[[Disestablishmentarianism]]
*[[Irreligion in the United Kingdom]]
*[[List of Lords Spiritual]]
*[[Lord Bishop]]
*[[Reform of the House of Lords]]
*[[Religion in politics]]
*[[Religion in the United Kingdom]]
*[[Sacerdotal state]]
*[[Secular state]]
*[[Secularism in the UK]]
*[[Separation of church and state]]
*[[State religion]]
{{div col end}}
==References==
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==External links==
* {{Cite Americana|wstitle=Lords Spiritual |short=x}}
*[https://churchinparliament.org/ Church in Parliament, the official website of the Lords Spiritual]
{{Current Lords Spiritual|state=expanded}}
{{UK legislatures|state=autocollapse}}
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