Legal Definitions - Court of Peculiars

The Court of Peculiars was a part of the Court of Arches that had the power to hear cases related to the provincial parishes of Canterbury. These parishes were exempt from the authority of the diocesan bishop and were only responsible to the metropolitan. The Court of Peculiars was abolished in the 19th century.

One example of a parish that would have been under the jurisdiction of the Court of Peculiars is the parish of St. George's Chapel in Windsor. This parish was exempt from the authority of the Bishop of Oxford and was only responsible to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Another example is the parish of St. Mary-le-Bow in London. This parish was also exempt from the authority of the Bishop of London and was only responsible to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

These examples illustrate how the Court of Peculiars had jurisdiction over parishes that were exempt from the authority of the diocesan bishop and were only responsible to the metropolitan.