Convocation

Details of Convocation business were originally entered in the archiepiscopal registers but from 1545 separate volumes record the formal minutes of the assembly. From the second half of the 19th century, the minutes and acts of the northern Convocation have been published in the York Journal of Convocation. The records of have been divided into 5 series as follows:

• Convocation Papers Including mandates and returns, poll books for the election of proctors, writs of summons and prorogation, petitions and gravamina, occasional lists of clergy and proctors, schedules of contumacy, convocation business, reports and printed pamphlets, royal licences to new and amended canons, correspondence and working notes. Isolated documents only have survived from the 15th and 16th centuries. 1460-1974 (arranged chronologically). Lists of Bishops, 1878-1964. Writs of summons 1661-1900. Unlisted papers relating to Convocation Elections (1971-1980), and other unlisted papers/correspondence. [CONV]
• Convocation Books 1545 - 1939. [Conv.Bk]
• Convocation Minute Book 1889-1896. [Conv.MB]
• York Journal of Convocation Printed reports of proceedings in convocation, 1859-1976 [PC 62.3 YOR]
• Joint Committee of the Convocations of Canterbury and York Records regarding Chaplains to Institutions c1925 - c1930. Partially listed. [CONV]

The archbishop of York, as metropolitan, presides over sessions of Convocation of the northern province, a body which has continued to meet since medieval times. Convocation is a meeting of bishops and clergy divided into the Upper and Lower houses, both overseen by the Archbishop, the lower having an appointed prolocutor acting as an intermediary between the two. Convocation is used to discuss matters of religious doctrine and legislation, and until 1664 was also concerned with the taxation of the clergy.

After the reformation the function and authority of convocation was severely restricted. The power to pass legislation was passed to the sovereign and convocation became subject to Royal Supremacy. Even today, convocation can only take place with the Sovereign's consent. From the early eighteenth to the mid nineteenth century, all business conducted by convocation was effectively suspended, convocation being summoned and almost immediately suspended after the assembly of Parliament. In York there was a meeting of the clergy in November 1837, but a full Convocation of York did not occur until 20 March 1861.

The individual convocations of York and Canterbury continue to meet, however the remaining functions and authority of the convocations were transferred to the General Synod in 1970. Convocation now meets to discuss issues regarding the Church of England, administrative business relating to the Province, matters to be taken to the General Synod and matters referred to the Convocations by the General Synod.

Hard copy finding aids are available at the Borthwick Institute.

• Dorothy Bruce Weske, Convocation of the Clergy (Church Historical Society, 1937)
• George William Kitchin, The Records of Northern Convocation (Surtees Society, CXIII, 1907)
• R.R. Pearce, The Law relating to Convocations of the Clergy with forms of proceedings in the Provinces of Canterbury and York (Sweet, 1848)
• Derek Andrew Jennings, The Revival of the Convocation of York, 1837-1861 (Borthwick Institute of Historical Research, 1975)