The Vicar General of the

Diocese of Sodor and Man The Diocese of Sodor and Man is a diocese of the Church of England. Originally much larger, today it covers just the Isle of Man and its adjacent islets. Today, the bishop's office is in Douglas and the cathedral is in Peel. The diocese is ''not ...

is an ecclesiastical law officer appointed by the

Bishop of Sodor and Man The Bishop of Sodor and Man is the Ordinary (officer), Ordinary of the Diocese of Sodor and Man (Manx Gaelic: ''Sodor as Mannin'') in the Province of York in the Church of England. The diocese only covers the Isle of Man. The Peel Cathedral, Cath ...

. Formerly there were two vicars general in the diocese, but since 1846 only one has been appointed. The Vicar General is the judge of the ecclesiastical courts in the

Isle of Man ) , anthem = "O Land of Our Birth" , image = Isle of Man by Sentinel-2.jpg , image_map = Europe-Isle_of_Man.svg , mapsize = , map_alt = Location of the Isle of Man in Europe , map_caption = Location of the Isle of Man (green) in Europe ...

, which comprise the Consistory Court, the Chapter Court and the Vicar General’s Court. The principal jurisdiction of the

Consistory Court A consistory court is a type of ecclesiastical court, especially within the Church of England where they were originally established pursuant to a charter of King William the Conqueror, and still exist today, although since about the middle of th ...

is to consider applications for faculties to works affecting consecrated land or buildings; its former matrimonial jurisdiction was transferred to the High Court of Justice in 1884, and its jurisdiction in clergy discipline to disciplinary tribunals in 2006.

Churchwarden A churchwarden is a lay official in a parish or congregation of the Anglican Communion or Catholic Church, usually working as a part-time volunteer. In the Anglican tradition, holders of these positions are ''ex officio'' members of the parish b ...

s are sworn in before the Chapter Court, which may hear presentments against clergy or churchwardens; its former probate jurisdiction was transferred to the High Court in 1884. The Vicar General's Court formerly dealt with affiliation (bastardy) cases, but the jurisdiction was transferred to the

High Bailiff The High Bailiff ( gv, Ard-Vaylee) is a legal position held within the Isle of Man. The High Bailiff is the head stipendiary magistrate. The current High Bailiff is Her Worship Jayne Hughes, who took office on 11 March 2019. The High Bailiff a ...

in 1921 and the court no longer sits. Formerly, the Vicar General retired on a vacancy in the See (i.e. on the retirement, death or translation of the bishop); a temporary appointment during the vacancy was made by the

Lieutenant Governor A lieutenant governor, lieutenant-governor, or vice governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction. Often a lieutenant governor is the deputy, or lieutenant, to or ranked under a governor — a "second-in-comm ...

, and a fresh appointment was made by the new bishop when he took office. The appointment is now made by the bishop alone, and the office is permanent, with an age limit of 70 (although the tenure may be extended to age 75). The Vicar General is also Chancellor of the diocese, the titles being interchangeable, and the bishop's Official Principal. Until 1919, the Vicar General was a member of the Legislative Council and as such had a seat and vote in

Tynwald Tynwald ( gv, Tinvaal), or more formally, the High Court of Tynwald ( gv, Ard-whaiyl Tinvaal) or Tynwald Court, is the legislature of the Isle of Man. It consists of two chambers, known as the branches of Tynwald: the directly elected House of ...

Vicars General

* Howard Connell, since 2019 * Geoffrey Tattersall, 2014 - 2019 *

Clare Faulds Clare Faulds (born 1949/50) is a Manx lawyer and former Vicar General of Sodor and Man. She was the first woman admitted to the Manx bar, and has also worked in the Falkland Islands. Career Faulds qualified as an advocate of the Isle of Man ...

, 1996 – 2014 * Peter William Stanley Farrant, until 1995 *

Ramsey Gelling Johnson Ramsey may refer to: Geography British Isles * Ramsey, Cambridgeshire, a small market town in England * Ramsey, Essex, a village near Harwich, England ** Ramsey and Parkeston, a civil parish formerly called just "Ramsey" * Ramsey, Isle of Man, th ...

, from 1931 * Cyril Hughes-Games, 1906 – 1931 * Charles Thomas Cheslyn Callow, 1903 – 1905 * Samuel Harris, 1884 – 1903 *

Benjamin Philpot Benjamin Philpot, MA (b Laxfield 9 January 1790 – d Surbiton 28 May 1889) was Archdeacon of Man from 22 May 1832 until 25 June 1839. Philpot was educated at Christ's College, Cambridge. He held incumbencies in Walpole, Kirk Andreas, Gr ...

, 1828 – 1832 *

William Roper William Roper ( – 4 January 1578) was an English lawyer and member of Parliament. The son of a Kentish gentleman, he married Margaret, daughter of Sir Thomas More. He wrote a highly regarded biography of his father-in-law. Life William Roper ...

, 1824 – 1825; 1826 – 1828

References

{{reflist Anglican ecclesiastical offices Diocese of Sodor and Man