Ruridecanal Chapter

Ruridecanal Chapter, a chapter consisting of the parish priests of a rural deanery, assembled for consultation under the presidency of a rural dean. These chapters are of considerable antiquity, and were commonly assembled in mediaeval times once a year, at or about Whitsuntide. After the Reformation they were seldom convened, and so for many generations they have practically ceased to exist. Since the Catholic revival in 1830, they have been restored in England according to ancient precedent, and in the great majority of English dioceses they are now in full working order. English Roman Catholics have likewise restored this ancient machinery, and now have their own ruridecanal chapters in several Anglo-Roman dioceses.