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Bible Dictionaries
Convocation
Charles Buck Theological Dictionary
or An assembly of persons for the worship of God, Leviticus 23:1-44 : Numb. 28: Exodus 12:16 . An assembly of the clergy for consultation upon matters ecclesiastical. As the parliament consists of two distinct houses, so does this convocation. the one called the upper house, where the archbishops and bishops sit severally by themselves; the other the lower house, where all the rest of the clergy are represented by their deputies.
The inferior clergy are represented by their proctors; consisting of all the deans and archdeacons; of one proctor for every chapter, and two for the clergy, of every diocese
in all, one hundred and forty-three divines, viz. twenty-two deans, fifty-three archdeacons, twenty-four prebendaries, and forty-four proctors of the diocesan clergy. The lower house chooses its prolocutor, who is to take care that the members attend, to collect their debates and votes, and to carry their resolutions to the upper house. The convocations is summoned by the king's writ, directed to the archbishop of each province, requiring him to summon all bishops, deans, archdeacons, &c. The power of the convocation is limited by a statute of Henry VIII. they are not to make any canons, or ecclesiastical laws, without the king's license; nor, when permitted, can they put them in execution but under several restrictions.
They have the examining and censuring all heretical and schismatical books and persons, &c; but there lies an appeal to the king in chancery, or to his delegates. The clergy in convocation, and their servants, have the same privileges as members of parliament. In 1665, the convocation of the clergy gave up the privilege of taxing themselves to the house of commons, in consideration of their being allowed to vote at the election of members for that house. Since that period they have been seldom allowed to do any business; and are generally prorogued from time to time till dissolved, a new convocation being generally called along with a new parliament.
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Buck, Charles. Entry for 'Convocation'. Charles Buck Theological Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/cbd/c/convocation.html. 1802.
