Lords Spiritual
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| Lords Spiritual | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Lords Spiritual |
| Caption | Chamber of the House of Lords, Palace of Westminster |
| Established | 1801 (Acts of Union); antecedents medieval |
| Membership | 26 (or by tradition 26 senior bishops) |
| Chamber | House of Lords |
| Country | United Kingdom |
Lords Spiritual
The Lords Spiritual are senior clerics of the Church of England who sit in the upper chamber of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, the House of Lords, as bishops and archbishops historically representing ecclesiastical interests alongside secular peers such as Barons and Baronets. Their presence reflects the historical establishment of the Church of England following the English Reformation and constitutional developments including the Act of Settlement 1701 and the Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949. Debates about their role intersect with matters concerning the Monarchy of the United Kingdom, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Cabinet of the United Kingdom, and wider public institutions like the Church Commissioners.
History
The institution traces roots to medieval parliaments where senior clerics such as the Archbishop of Canterbury and Archbishop of York sat with magnates in royal councils during the reigns of Henry II of England and Edward I of England. After the English Reformation under Henry VIII and the establishment of the Church of England, bishops continued to exercise seats in the legislature during episodes including the English Civil War, the Glorious Revolution, and the Act of Settlement 1701. The Union with Ireland Act 1800 and the Acts of Union 1707 affected Parliamentary composition, while 19th- and 20th-century reforms such as the Reform Act 1832 and the Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949 reshaped the chamber's powers and prompted discussion about ecclesiastical representation. Proposals for changes appeared in the Royal Commission on the Reform of the House of Lords (the Wakeham Commission) and the House of Lords Act 1999, which combined with debates involving figures like Tony Blair and Margaret Thatcher.
Composition and Appointment
The Lords Spiritual typically comprise 26 senior bishops: the two archbishops—Archbishop of Canterbury and Archbishop of York—plus 24 diocesan bishops selected by seniority among the bishops of the Church of England. Appointments to diocesan sees derive from Crown nomination via the Crown Nominations Commission and formal appointment by the Monarch of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Vacancies arise through resignation, translation, or death, and membership rules intersect with legislation such as the Life Peerages Act 1958 and the House of Lords Reform Act 2014 regarding retirement and disqualification. Historic exceptions include legislative provision for bishops from Wales and considerations connected to the Scottish Episcopal Church and Church in Wales after disestablishment.
Roles and Functions
Members take part in legislative scrutiny, debate, and committee work, contributing on matters touching Anglicanism, moral theology, social policy, and international relations, often alongside peers from parties like the Conservative Party (UK), the Labour Party (UK), and the Liberal Democrats (UK). Their voices are prominent in committees such as the Select Committees and in legislative stages involving bills on family law, education, health and welfare where bishops draw on diocesan experience from sees like Durham Cathedral, Canterbury Cathedral, and Westminster Abbey. Archbishops traditionally perform ceremonial duties at state occasions including coronations presided over by the Monarch of the United Kingdom and take part in advisory bodies such as the Privy Council of the United Kingdom. Individual bishops have sometimes taken ministerial posts in collaboration with Cabinets of Winston Churchill, Harold Wilson, and David Cameron.
Voting Rights and Precedence
Lords Spiritual hold full voting rights in the House of Lords chamber and subsist within the complex system of precedence that places archbishops above bishops, aligning with ecclesiastical hierarchies rooted in medieval practice and codified in instruments like the Order of Precedence in the United Kingdom. Their votes have influenced key divisions over constitutional measures such as the European Communities Act 1972 debates and later votes on Brexit-related statutes involving leaders like Boris Johnson and Theresa May. Precedence affects seating, speaking order, and ceremonial roles during events in the Palace of Westminster and at state functions alongside peers like Duke of Norfolk and officeholders such as the Lord Speaker.
Controversies and Reforms
The presence of church leaders in a legislative chamber has provoked recurring controversies: critics cite concerns raised by reformers including the Royal Commission on the Reform of the House of Lords, advocates for secularism like Humanists UK, and political figures across parties arguing for separation exemplified by debates involving Nick Clegg and Jeremy Corbyn. Reforms have ranged from proposals to replace bishops with elected representatives proposed in reports by the House of Commons Political and Constitutional Reform Committee to motions during the passage of the House of Lords Act 1999. Defenders point to contributions on social justice linked to campaigners such as William Wilberforce and pastoral expertise used in crossbench coalitions. Recent controversies involve gender and diversity questions within the Church of England—including the ordination of women bishops after synodical votes and conflicts mirrored in public disputes with figures like Justin Welby and debates around gay clergy—that have practical implications for rotation of seats and public legitimacy. Ongoing discussions about the chamber's future implicate constitutional actors such as the Lord Chancellor and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and institutions like the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom when adjudicating conflicts of law and privilege.