Arches Court

Arches Court, a Court of Appeal belonging to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the judge of which is called the Dean of the Arches, because his court was anciently held in the Church of St. Mary-le-Bow (Sancta Maria de arcubus). Provision was made for the appointment of a new Ecclesiastical Judge (who was appointed soon after the passing of the "Public Worship Regulation Act," 1874), it being enacted that whenever a vacancy should occur in the office of Official Principal of the Arches Court of Canterbury, the judge should become ex-officio such official Principal, and all proceedings thereafter taken before the Judge in relation to matters arising within the province of Canterbury should be deemed to be taken in the Arches Court of Canterbury. In the province of York the analogous office is termed "The Chancery Court."