The Clerk of the Chamber is a position within the
Crown Office
The Crown Office, also known (especially in official papers) as the Crown Office in Chancery, is a section of the Ministry of Justice (formerly the Lord Chancellor's Department). It has custody of the Great Seal of the Realm, and has certain ad ...
, a section of the
Ministry of Justice A Ministry of Justice is a common type of government department that serves as a justice ministry.
Lists of current ministries of justice
Named "Ministry"
* Ministry of Justice (Abkhazia)
* Ministry of Justice (Afghanistan)
* Ministry of Just ...
in the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
. It is nowadays held by the
Deputy Clerk of the Crown in Chancery.
History
The office was first established in that of Gentleman of the Chamber to the
Lord Chancellor
The lord chancellor, formally the lord high chancellor of Great Britain, is the highest-ranking traditional minister among the Great Officers of State in Scotland and England in the United Kingdom, nominally outranking the prime minister. The ...
, which was first held by two officers, which were appointed by the Lord Chancellor and retained their posts for the duration of that Lord Chancellor's term.
[
The office became vested in only one office in 1852.][
In 1874, the office of Pursebearer was abolished and its duties transferred to the Gentleman of the Chamber in 1874. This took effect upon the death of William Goodbody, who was the last Pursebearer; upon his death, the duties were transferred to the Clerk of the Chamber, which were those of the Chafewax and Sealer which had previously been vested in the Pursebearer on the abolition of the said offices in 1852.][
Since 1884, the office has been known as Clerk of the Chamber, and since 1915, the duties of messenger of the Great Seal, which was formed to replace the post of Messenger and Pursuivant of the Great Seal in 1874. The offices were held in conjunction until 1937, and the post of Messenger of the Greal Seal and Clerk of the Chamber have been associated ever since. The office of Messenger lapsed in 1943.]
Responsibilities
The Clerk of the Chamber holds the responsibilities of the former offices of Messenger of the Great Seal and Pursebearer, though those functions have virtually become extinct. The Clerk is now the Deputy Clerk of the Crown in Chancery, and as such holds administrative duties such as assisting the Lord Chancellor in his duties which fall under the authority of the Crown Office, and to act as Registrar of the Peerage and Baronetage.[
They are deputised by the Assistant Clerk of the Chamber, who is nowadays the Deputy Head of the Crown Office, and thus Assistant Registrar of the Peerage and Baronetage.][
]
List of Clerks of the Chamber
References
{{reflist
Crown Office
English law
Ministry of Justice (United Kingdom)
Civil Service (United Kingdom)
Clerks