24 September 673 A.D. Synod/Council of Hertford
24
September 673 A.D. Synod/Council
of Hertford
The Council of Hertford was a synod of the Christian Church in England held in 673.[1] It was convened, either at Hertford or at Hartford,
Cambridgeshire,[2] by Theodore of Tarsus, Archbishop of
Canterbury. It is regarded as a key milestone in the process by
which the province of
Canterbury became a clearly defined unit of Church organization,
for the English bishops.[3]
Contents
·
2 Creed
·
4 Notes
Delegates
Besides Theodore, there were four other bishops present: Leuthere
of Wessex, Putta of Rochester, Bifus
of East Anglia and Winfrith of Mercia. A fifth bishop, Wilfrid
of Northumbria, sent proctors to represent him. Some
organizational changes were agreed to, including the subdivision of Mercia.[4]
Delegate
Creed
·
Chapter I. “That we all
unite in observing the holy day of Easter on the Sunday after the fourteenth
day of the moon of the first month.”
·
Chapter 2. “That no bishop
intrude into the diocese of another, but confine himself to the guidance of the
people committed to his charge.”
·
Chapter 3. “That no bishop
shall interfere in any way with monasteries dedicated to God, nor take anything
from them forcibly.”
·
Chapter 4. “That monks shall
not wander from place to place, that is, from monastery to monastery, except
with letters dimissory from their own abbot; and that they keep the promise of obedience which they made at the time
of their profession.”
·
Chapter 5. “That no clergy
shall leave their own bishop and wander about at will, nor be received anywhere
without letters of commendation from their own bishop. And should such a
person, once received, refuse to return when so directed, both receiver and
received shall incur excommunication.
·
Chapter 6. “That bishops and
clergy when traveling shall be content with whatever hospitality is offered
them; and that it is unlawful to exercise any priestly function without
permission from the bishop in whose diocese they are.”
·
Chapter 7. “That a synod be
held twice a year.” In view of various obstacles, however, it was unanimously
agreed that we should meet once a year on the first of August at Clofeshoch.
·
Chapter 8. “That no bishop
claim precedence over another out of ambition: seniority of consecration shall
alone determine precedence.”
·
Chapter 9. It was generally
determined, “That more bishops shall be consecrated as the number of the
faithful increases.” But we shall take no action in the matter for the present.
·
Chapter 10 On marriages:
“That lawful wedlock alone is permissible; incest is forbidden; and no man may
leave his lawful wife except, as the gospel provides, for fornication. And if a
man puts away his own wife who is joined to him in lawful marriage, he may not
take another if he wishes to be a good Christian. He must either remain as he
is, or else be reconciled to his wife.”[5] [6]
The Council confirmed the adoption of the Roman dating of
Easter (see synod of Whitby), the prohibition of
episcopal interference from one diocese to another or in monastic orders, and
imposed strictures on monks or clergy who wandered from diocese to diocese. The
now current practice of requiring clergy to obtain permission to officiate from
the diocesan bishop was introduced.
In view of the parlous state of the church in England,
more regular synodical meetings were proposed, and the expansion of dioceses
following growth through conversion. Finally, it ruled against divorce in most
cases, allowing only exceptions under what were regarded as scriptural rules.
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