![Lackadaisical-Beadle-Punch-1850](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/77/Lackadaisical-Beadle-Punch-1850.png)
A beadle, sometimes spelled bedel, is an official of a
church
Church may refer to:
Religion
* Church (building), a building for Christian religious activities
* Church (congregation), a local congregation of a Christian denomination
* Church service, a formalized period of Christian communal worship
* C ...
or
synagogue who may usher, keep order, make reports, and assist in religious functions; or a minor official who carries out various civil, educational, or ceremonial duties on the manor.
The term has pre-
Conquest
Conquest is the act of military subjugation of an enemy by force of arms.
Military history provides many examples of conquest: the Roman conquest of Britain, the Mauryan conquest of Afghanistan and of vast areas of the Indian subcontinent, t ...
origins in
Old English
Old English (, ), or Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest recorded form of the English language, spoken in England and southern and eastern Scotland in the early Middle Ages. It was brought to Great Britain by Anglo-Saxon settlers in the mid-5th c ...
, deriving from the Old English ''bydel'' ("herald, messenger from an authority, preacher"), itself deriving from ''beodan'' ("to proclaim", which has a modern descendant in the
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
verb ''bid''). In Old English it was a
title
A title is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify either generation, an official position, or a professional or academic qualification. In some languages, titles may be inserted between the f ...
given to an
Anglo-Saxon officer who summoned householders to council. It is also known in
Medieval Latin
Medieval Latin was the form of Literary Latin used in Roman Catholic Western Europe during the Middle Ages. In this region it served as the primary written language, though local languages were also written to varying degrees. Latin functione ...
as ''bedellus''.
The Domesday Book refers to Beadles as ''bedelli'' or undersheriffs of manors.
In religion
![Mr Bumble 1889 Dickens Oliver Twist character by Kyd (Joseph Clayton Clarke)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/Mr_Bumble_1889_Dickens_Oliver_Twist_character_by_Kyd_%28Joseph_Clayton_Clarke%29.jpg)
In
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
, the word came to refer to a
parish constable A parish constable, also known as a petty constable, was a law enforcement officer, usually unpaid and part-time, serving a parish. The position evolved from the ancient '' chief pledge'' of a ''tithing'', and takes its name from the office of ''con ...
of the
Anglican Church
Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of the ...
, one often charged with duties of charity. A famous fictional constabulary beadle is
Mr. Bumble
Mr. Bumble is a fictional character and minor antagonist in the 1838 novel ''Oliver Twist'' by Charles Dickens.
Character
When the story was first serialised in ''Bentley's Miscellany'' in 1837 Mr. Bumble is the cruel and self-important bead ...
from
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian e ...
's classic novel ''
Oliver Twist'', who oversees the parish
workhouse
In Britain, a workhouse () was an institution where those unable to support themselves financially were offered accommodation and employment. (In Scotland, they were usually known as poorhouses.) The earliest known use of the term ''workhouse' ...
and
orphanage
An orphanage is a residential institution, total institution or group home, devoted to the care of orphans and children who, for various reasons, cannot be cared for by their biological families. The parents may be deceased, absent, or ab ...
of a country town more than 75 miles from London. The work of a real constabulary beadle of
Whitechapel
Whitechapel is a district in East London and the future administrative centre of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is a part of the East End of London, east of Charing Cross. Part of the historic county of Middlesex, the area formed ...
in that period may be exemplified by
Richard Plunkett
Richard Plunkett (c.1340-1393) was an eminent Irish judge and statesman of the fourteenth century, who held the offices of Lord Chief Justice of Ireland and Lord Chancellor of Ireland. His descendants held the titles Baron Dunsany, Baron Killeen ...
.
In the
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland ( sco, The Kirk o Scotland; gd, Eaglais na h-Alba) is the national church in Scotland.
The Church of Scotland was principally shaped by John Knox, in the Reformation of 1560, when it split from the Catholic Church ...
, the title is used for one who attends the
minister during
divine service as an assistant.
In Judaism, the term ''beadle'' or ''
sexton'' (in he, שמש, shammash) is sometimes used for the ''
gabbai'', the caretaker or "man of all work", in a
synagogue.
Moishe the Beadle, the caretaker of a synagogue in
Sighet in the 1940s, is an important character in ''
Night
Night (also described as night time, unconventionally spelled as "nite") is the period of ambient darkness from sunset to sunrise during each 24-hour day, when the Sun is below the horizon. The exact time when night begins and ends depends ...
'' by
Elie Wiesel.
In education
In the medieval universities, beadles were students chosen by instructors to act as assistants: carrying books, taking attendance, and assisting in classroom management.
![Cam degree ceremony](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/Cam_degree_ceremony.jpg)
In some universities in England the post of ''bedel'' or ''
esquire bedell'' still exists as a ceremonial role. At the
University of Oxford
, mottoeng = The Lord is my light
, established =
, endowment = £6.1 billion (including colleges) (2019)
, budget = £2.145 billion (2019–20)
, chancellor ...
there are six bedels whose role is defined as being to "attend upon the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, the Proctors and other participating dignitaries on such occasions, and assist them and other University members to carry out ceremonial duties" and to "deputise for the University Verger as necessary". At the
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209 and granted a royal charter by Henry III in 1231, Cambridge is the world's third oldest surviving university and one of its most pr ...
there are two esquire bedells who "have certain important responsibilities at congregations", including carrying the university's
ceremonial maces, the senior esquire bedell also having "general responsibility for the correct formulation and wearing of academical dress". At
Durham University there are two bedels; their roles are to lead the graduand and academic processions carrying the university mace and
Durham Cathedral's
verge, and to direct students and honorary graduates at graduation and matriculation ceremonies. The
University of London
The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degree ...
has an esquire bedell who carries the mace and a number of bedells who carry wands (poles with the university's coat of arms at the top), who also have the responsibility for controlling the line of graduates. Bedels are also used at
Newcastle University and the
University of Bath
(Virgil, Georgics II)
, mottoeng = Learn the culture proper to each after its kind
, established = 1886 (Merchant Venturers Technical College) 1960 (Bristol College of Science and Technology) 1966 (Bath University of Technology) 1971 (univ ...
, where they bear the university mace at graduation ceremonies, and at
Keele University
Keele University, officially known as the University of Keele, is a public research university in Keele, approximately from Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, England. Founded in 1949 as the University College of North Staffordshire, Keele ...
, where they bear a
ceremonial baton and are accompanied by a
mace bearer.
![Glasgow Caledonian University Mace](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/Glasgow_Caledonian_University_Mace.png)
Some universities in Scotland, including the
University of St Andrews
(Aien aristeuein)
, motto_lang = grc
, mottoeng = Ever to ExcelorEver to be the Best
, established =
, type = Public research university
Ancient university
, endowment ...
, the
University of Glasgow
, image = UofG Coat of Arms.png
, image_size = 150px
, caption = Coat of arms
Flag
, latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis
, motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita
, ...
and the
University of Dundee
, mottoeng = "My soul doth magnify the Lord"
, established = 1967 – gained independent university status by Royal Charter1897 – Constituent college of the University of St Andrews1881 – University College
, ...
, have a ceremonial ''bedellus'', who may also be the head janitor and be responsible for the maintenance of the university buildings. The bedellus traditionally carries or leads the mace in procession and may also be responsible for hooding graduates.
Some Commonwealth and US universities also have beadles in ceremonial roles, under a variety of different spellings. These include the bedel at
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in Atlanta, Georgia. Founded in 1836 as "Emory College" by the Methodist Episcopal Church and named in honor of Methodist bishop John Emory, Emory is the second-oldest private institution of ...
, who is traditionally the president of the Student Government Association, the esquire or madam bedel at the
University of Canterbury, the bedel at
McMaster University
McMaster University (McMaster or Mac) is a public research university in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main McMaster campus is on of land near the residential neighbourhoods of Ainslie Wood and Westdale, adjacent to the Royal Botanical Ga ...
, the esquire bedel at the
Australian National University
The Australian National University (ANU) is a public research university located in Canberra, the capital of Australia. Its main campus in Acton encompasses seven teaching and research colleges, in addition to several national academies an ...
, the esquire bedell at the
University of New England, and the beadle at the
University of Queensland
, mottoeng = By means of knowledge and hard work
, established =
, endowment = A$224.3 million
, budget = A$2.1 billion
, type = Public research university
, chancellor = Peter Varghese
, vice_chancellor = Deborah Terry
, city = B ...
.
At some Dutch universities, including the
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
The Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (abbreviated as ''VU Amsterdam'' or simply ''VU'' when in context) is a public research university in Amsterdam, Netherlands, being founded in 1880. The VU Amsterdam is one of two large, publicly funded research ...
,
University of Amsterdam
The University of Amsterdam (abbreviated as UvA, nl, Universiteit van Amsterdam) is a public research university located in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The UvA is one of two large, publicly funded research universities in the city, the other being ...
, and
Utrecht University
Utrecht University (UU; nl, Universiteit Utrecht, formerly ''Rijksuniversiteit Utrecht'') is a public research university in Utrecht, Netherlands. Established , it is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands. In 2018, it had an enrollme ...
the Office of the Beadle manages doctoral and other ceremonies.
Jesuit secondary schools formerly maintained the post of beadle—some still do. In each classroom, a student designated as beadle reports attendance to the teacher, acts as messenger, assists in distributing materials, and leads the class in activities.
The position of Beadle also exists at
the King's School, Canterbury
The King's School is a public school (English independent day and boarding school for 13 to 18 year old pupils) in Canterbury, Kent, England. It is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference and the Eton Group. It is Britain's ...
, where the beadle's task is making sure that pupils are dressed correctly and arrive at lessons on time.
Civic and other uses
Outside of religious and educational institutions, the designation of "beadle" is most often held by officers of secular bodies of some antiquity.
City of London
In the
City of London
The City of London is a city, ceremonial county and local government district that contains the historic centre and constitutes, alongside Canary Wharf, the primary central business district (CBD) of London. It constituted most of London f ...
the title is held by two distinct groups; both originated as "executors" or police for more senior persons.
Ward beadles
![Lord Mayor show 2007 (2082987057)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ea/Lord_Mayor_show_2007_%282082987057%29.jpg)
The first group are the ward beadles, who hold the oldest elected office in the City (as functionaries, not as representatives) in their
ward
Ward may refer to:
Division or unit
* Hospital ward, a hospital division, floor, or room set aside for a particular class or group of patients, for example the psychiatric ward
* Prison ward, a division of a penal institution such as a pris ...
s. Their duties today are largely ceremonial in that they accompany the
aldermen
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members the ...
in the eight major ceremonies of the civic calendar and open and close the
wardmote
A wardmote was a meeting of the inhabitants of a ward, or a court held in the ward, to try defaults in matters relating to the watch, police, and the like.
The term is used in York, London, and Faversham, and was also used by the Chartists.
Cit ...
s (the election meetings for members of the City's courts of Aldermen and Common Council). Previously (as described in the 15th-century ''
Liber Albus'') they were also responsible for preparing the register of the Freemen of their Wards, summoning them to the wardmotes and folk-motes
.e. Common Hall and administering fines for non-attendance. Elections in the City today are organised by specialist professionals and fines are no longer levied in this way.
Livery companies
![Lord Mayor's Show 2010 - 15](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/Lord_Mayor%27s_Show_2010_-_15.jpg)
The second group are paid employees of the
livery companies of the City. These beadles are usually assistants to the company's clerk, being responsible for attendance on the court and master of the company, originally to enforce its trade policy and uphold discipline (especially among the company's apprentices) but now to act as masters-of-ceremony at formal banquets and to accompany the master on civic occasions. The title "hall beadle" is sometimes used by the hall manager of a
livery hall responsible for the company's treasure and the efficient running of the hall, especially if let on a commercial basis.
Elsewhere
The
Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire
The Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire is a trade guild of metalworkers based in Sheffield, England. It was incorporated in 1624 by an Act of Parliament. The head is called the Master Cutler. Its motto is french: 1=Pour Y Parvenir a Bonne Foi, ...
employs a Beadle to perform ceremonial duties.
Sometimes the title is used by uniformed security guards. For example, security duties at the
Burlington Arcade
Burlington Arcade is a covered shopping arcade in London, England, United Kingdom. It is long, parallel to and east of Bond Street from Piccadilly through to Burlington Gardens. It is one of the precursors of the mid-19th-century European sh ...
, an upmarket shopping mall in
Piccadilly,
London
London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
, are carried out by staff called ''beadles'' wearing what appear to be nineteenth century uniforms. The beadles enforce the bylaws of the Arcade, which (among other things) forbid singing, running and carrying large parcels or open umbrellas. At one time the beadles were all old soldiers of the
10th Hussars
The 10th Royal Hussars (Prince of Wales's Own) was a cavalry regiment of the British Army raised in 1715. It saw service for three centuries including the First World War and Second World War but then amalgamated with the 11th Hussars (Prince Al ...
(the regiment of
Lord Chesham, the sometime owner of the Arcade).
References
External links
{{Wiktionary
Protective service occupations
Christian religious occupations
Jewish religious occupations
Ceremonial officers in the United Kingdom
City of London