Jason Loch
@jasonloch.bsky.social
I am a historian of the British constitution whose work focuses on the Crown, the House of Lords, and the Church of England.
You can read my blog here: venerablepuzzle.wordpress.com.
You can read my blog here: venerablepuzzle.wordpress.com.
@gro-tsen.bsky.social In light of our conversation about the lack of punctuation in Letters Patent, you might find this interesting. Here's an instrument that has had punctuation and paragraph breaks added, presumably for readability. You can see the whole thing here: cbaionline.org/corpus/items...
February 5, 2026 at 1:14 AM
@gro-tsen.bsky.social In light of our conversation about the lack of punctuation in Letters Patent, you might find this interesting. Here's an instrument that has had punctuation and paragraph breaks added, presumably for readability. You can see the whole thing here: cbaionline.org/corpus/items...
Those instruments include Writs to the relevant escheators as well as a Mandate to the Knights, Freeholders, and other tenants of the Archbishopric of Canterbury commanding them to obey her as their Archbishop and Lord (note: these examples relate to the See of Bath & Wells). 2/2
February 5, 2026 at 1:08 AM
Those instruments include Writs to the relevant escheators as well as a Mandate to the Knights, Freeholders, and other tenants of the Archbishopric of Canterbury commanding them to obey her as their Archbishop and Lord (note: these examples relate to the See of Bath & Wells). 2/2
Today, the Archbishop of Canterbury did homage for the temporalities of her See. Afterward, the King signed a Warrant like this one directing the Lord Chancellor to pass the necessary instruments under the Great Seal. 1/2
February 5, 2026 at 1:08 AM
Today, the Archbishop of Canterbury did homage for the temporalities of her See. Afterward, the King signed a Warrant like this one directing the Lord Chancellor to pass the necessary instruments under the Great Seal. 1/2
I guess the legislative solution isn't too difficult after all...
Of course, if they're going to do this for Mandelson, they should probably do it for Andrew, too. Last year's fudge seems increasingly untenable.
Of course, if they're going to do this for Mandelson, they should probably do it for Andrew, too. Last year's fudge seems increasingly untenable.
February 4, 2026 at 7:34 PM
I guess the legislative solution isn't too difficult after all...
Of course, if they're going to do this for Mandelson, they should probably do it for Andrew, too. Last year's fudge seems increasingly untenable.
Of course, if they're going to do this for Mandelson, they should probably do it for Andrew, too. Last year's fudge seems increasingly untenable.
Awkward [PREM 5/595/1].
February 4, 2026 at 7:33 PM
Awkward [PREM 5/595/1].
Note that in Dr. Temple's Case it was also held that the proper way to challenge a bishop-elect on theological grounds was to petition the Crown to withhold the Royal Assent to the election. 4/4
January 28, 2026 at 11:40 PM
Note that in Dr. Temple's Case it was also held that the proper way to challenge a bishop-elect on theological grounds was to petition the Crown to withhold the Royal Assent to the election. 4/4
They were: procedural defects in the election itself or if the person purporting to be the bishop-elect was not, in fact, the Crown's nominee. But procedural defects wouldn't derail a confirmation since the Archbishop also has the power to cure them. 3/4
January 28, 2026 at 11:40 PM
They were: procedural defects in the election itself or if the person purporting to be the bishop-elect was not, in fact, the Crown's nominee. But procedural defects wouldn't derail a confirmation since the Archbishop also has the power to cure them. 3/4
In R v Archbishop of Canterbury (1848), a divided Court of Queen's Bench had declined to grant a mandamus in similar circumstances. And in Dr. Temple's Case (1869), the Vicar-General of Canterbury held there were only two valid grounds for challenging a confirmation. 2/4
January 28, 2026 at 11:40 PM
In R v Archbishop of Canterbury (1848), a divided Court of Queen's Bench had declined to grant a mandamus in similar circumstances. And in Dr. Temple's Case (1869), the Vicar-General of Canterbury held there were only two valid grounds for challenging a confirmation. 2/4
Yeah; the applicants disagreed with the bishop-elect's theological views and sought a mandamus to compel the Archbishop of Canterbury or his Vicar General to hear their objections. However, the court held that the Archbishop had no jurisdiction to entertain those types of objections. 1/4
January 28, 2026 at 11:40 PM
Yeah; the applicants disagreed with the bishop-elect's theological views and sought a mandamus to compel the Archbishop of Canterbury or his Vicar General to hear their objections. However, the court held that the Archbishop had no jurisdiction to entertain those types of objections. 1/4
There were a number of contested confirmations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries which led to several cases with that name.
January 28, 2026 at 8:45 PM
There were a number of contested confirmations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries which led to several cases with that name.
In the ecclesiastical courts, a citation is essentially a summons. While the Public Notice posted ahead of the confirmation constituted a general citation, I imagine Holland may have been issued a special citation because he wouldn't normally have standing to oppose the confirmation.
January 28, 2026 at 8:43 PM
In the ecclesiastical courts, a citation is essentially a summons. While the Public Notice posted ahead of the confirmation constituted a general citation, I imagine Holland may have been issued a special citation because he wouldn't normally have standing to oppose the confirmation.
And here's a collection of instruments from the confirmation of Vivienne Faull's election as Bishop of Bristol, including the Summary Petition, the various Schedules, and the Vicar-General's Sentence. 3/3 cbaionline.org/corpus/colle...
Confirmation of Vivienne Faull's Election as Bishop of Bristol · Corpus of British Administrative Instruments
cbaionline.org
January 28, 2026 at 7:03 PM
And here's a collection of instruments from the confirmation of Vivienne Faull's election as Bishop of Bristol, including the Summary Petition, the various Schedules, and the Vicar-General's Sentence. 3/3 cbaionline.org/corpus/colle...
Here are the Letters Patent giving Royal Assent to Justin Welby's election as Archbishop of Canterbury. 2/3 cbaionline.org/corpus/items...
Letters Patent - Royal Assent to the Election of the Archbishop of Canterbury [2023-01-30] · Corpus of British Administrative Instruments
cbaionline.org
January 28, 2026 at 7:03 PM
Here are the Letters Patent giving Royal Assent to Justin Welby's election as Archbishop of Canterbury. 2/3 cbaionline.org/corpus/items...
The CBAI includes a number of documents relating to the confirmation of episcopal elections including the Public Notice regarding the confirmation of Hugh Nelson's election as Bishop of Worcester. 1/3 cbaionline.org/corpus/items...
Legal Instrument - Public Notice Regarding the Confirmation of Hugh Nelson's Election as Bishop of Worcester [2025-10-22] · Corpus of British Administrative Instruments
cbaionline.org
January 28, 2026 at 7:03 PM
The CBAI includes a number of documents relating to the confirmation of episcopal elections including the Public Notice regarding the confirmation of Hugh Nelson's election as Bishop of Worcester. 1/3 cbaionline.org/corpus/items...
First page of the Vicar-General of Canterbury's judgment dismissing an objection to the confirmation of Sarah Mullally's election as Bishop of London. For the full document, see the CBAI record: cbaionline.org/corpus/items...
January 28, 2026 at 6:22 PM
First page of the Vicar-General of Canterbury's judgment dismissing an objection to the confirmation of Sarah Mullally's election as Bishop of London. For the full document, see the CBAI record: cbaionline.org/corpus/items...
It's possible the lack of a possessive was an oversight. Since the letter was written just a few days before the event, everyone was probably quite preoccupied. Also, the wording of these dispensations may not have been as standardized as the Letters of summons.
January 28, 2026 at 4:47 PM
It's possible the lack of a possessive was an oversight. Since the letter was written just a few days before the event, everyone was probably quite preoccupied. Also, the wording of these dispensations may not have been as standardized as the Letters of summons.
Yesterday, I posted the text of a Royal Letter summoning a peer to a Coronation, but the Monarch could also dispense with a peer's attendance. For more information, check out the CBAI record: cbaionline.org/corpus/items...
January 27, 2026 at 6:16 PM
Yesterday, I posted the text of a Royal Letter summoning a peer to a Coronation, but the Monarch could also dispense with a peer's attendance. For more information, check out the CBAI record: cbaionline.org/corpus/items...
All peers and peeresses traditionally received one of these Letters. If they couldn't make it, the monarch would send them a Letter dispensing with their attendance.
January 27, 2026 at 2:47 AM
All peers and peeresses traditionally received one of these Letters. If they couldn't make it, the monarch would send them a Letter dispensing with their attendance.
Transcript of a Royal Letter summoning the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough to the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. The tone is rather peremptory ("Whereof you and she are not to fail"). For more information, check out the CBAI entry: cbaionline.org/corpus/items...
January 26, 2026 at 9:12 PM
Transcript of a Royal Letter summoning the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough to the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. The tone is rather peremptory ("Whereof you and she are not to fail"). For more information, check out the CBAI entry: cbaionline.org/corpus/items...
I find it baffling that HM Ambassador to The Hague thought that Comic Sans was the best choice here (PREM 49/3049).
January 9, 2026 at 9:50 PM
I find it baffling that HM Ambassador to The Hague thought that Comic Sans was the best choice here (PREM 49/3049).
Interestingly, it was envisioned that he might eventually join the new Supreme Court (side note: Lord Irvine was the last Lord Chancellor to sit as a judge since his successor recused himself from that role). Neither of these options would ultimately pan out. Minute is from PREM 49/3049. 2/2
January 9, 2026 at 7:23 PM
Interestingly, it was envisioned that he might eventually join the new Supreme Court (side note: Lord Irvine was the last Lord Chancellor to sit as a judge since his successor recused himself from that role). Neither of these options would ultimately pan out. Minute is from PREM 49/3049. 2/2
After deciding to give Lord Irvine of Lairg the sack, No. 10 debated what to do with him afterward. One option was to make him a senior judge of the European Court of Justice ("Derry could learn French between now and October"). Another was to let him sit as a Law Lord. 1/2
January 9, 2026 at 7:23 PM
After deciding to give Lord Irvine of Lairg the sack, No. 10 debated what to do with him afterward. One option was to make him a senior judge of the European Court of Justice ("Derry could learn French between now and October"). Another was to let him sit as a Law Lord. 1/2
Images of the full document along with a transcript can be found on its CBAI page. 2/2 cbaionline.org/corpus/items...
Letters Patent - Commission for the Custody of the Great Seal [1979-06-26] · Corpus of British Administrative Instruments
cbaionline.org
January 8, 2026 at 10:33 PM
Images of the full document along with a transcript can be found on its CBAI page. 2/2 cbaionline.org/corpus/items...
First page of a Commission for the custody of the Great Seal from 1979. Unlike subsequent examples, it entrusts the Great Seal to specific individuals rather than the holders of certain offices. It's also largely handwritten even though it's unlikely to have been displayed. 1/2
January 8, 2026 at 10:33 PM
First page of a Commission for the custody of the Great Seal from 1979. Unlike subsequent examples, it entrusts the Great Seal to specific individuals rather than the holders of certain offices. It's also largely handwritten even though it's unlikely to have been displayed. 1/2