Archdeacon
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia · John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia
A ministerial officer subordinate to the bishop. In the primitive church, the archdeacons were employed by the bishop in the more servile duties of collecting and distributing alms and offerings. Afterwards they became, in effect, "eyes to the overseers of the Church;" Cowell. His jurisdiction is ecclesiastical, and immediately subordinate to that of the bishop throughout the whole or a part of the diocese. He is a ministerial officer; 1 Bla. Com. 383. He is addressed as Venerable.