A large group of the King’s Chaplains were hosted on a visit to Hereford Diocese last week on behalf of Bishop Richard, who, as Clerk of the Closet, is the senior cleric of the Ecclesiastical Household of England. The itinerary included time for the King’s Chaplains to meet with members of the Bishop’s Staff and Diocesan team, and they were hosted by the Cathedral for tours, including viewing the Mappa Mundi.
All visiting chaplains were from the College of Chaplains of the Church of England Ecclesiastical Household of the King (there is another such Household for Scotland) and are supervised by the Bishop in his role as Clerk of the Closet (which dates from 1437 and carries the princely annual salary of £7!). The College is comprised of honorary chaplains to the monarch, who preach once a year in the Chapel Royal, at St. James Palace, but do not fulfil any formal duties.
Bishop Richard said, “The King’s Chaplains are appointed to serve the monarch after a long and distinguished career and it is both an honour and a pleasure to host them in our diocese, both here at the Bishop’s Palace and at our ancient and glorious Cathedral, home to the Mappa Mundi.”
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