| Description | The Chapter Act books are the minute books of the Dean and Chapter's meetings. They record the decisions made by the Chapter on all the subjects with which it was concerned. The books were written up by the auditors of the Dean and Chapter (until the suspension of that office in 1877).
Until the mid-nineteenth century the Chapter met only twice a year, at midsummer and late November, with additional meetings called at other times if it was deemed necessary. An order in the midsummer Chapter of 1869 determined that the meetings should occur monthly. This was changed to a weekly chapter in 1939.
All the volumes are indexed, but some of the indexes are more complete and comprehensive than others. The earlier books were partially burnt in the audit house fire of 1670, with some being more badly burnt than others. Several of the volumes have letters and other loose papers that were relevant to the Chapter meetings pasted into them.
Subjects which frequently arise in the Chapter Act books are the confirmation of leases, appointment of officers, presentations to ecclesiastical livings, sede vacante admisinistration, decisions about timber, alms and highway repairs and general administrative decisions concerning the running of the cathedral and its estates. |