ANGLICAN TITLES IN THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH - DR. GIL HAAS, ST. AUGUSTINE OF CANTERBURY EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Some dioceses within the Anglican communion can be very large while others are quite small.  The Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf covers several countries, while the Diocese of Sodor and Man covers just the Isle of Man (221 square miles).  Some populous dioceses are divided into areas with each assigned to a suffragan bishop who remain suffragans until the appointing bishop retires.  For example, the Bishop of Toronto has suffragans assisting him in four geographical divisions.  Another alternative is for a bishop to appoint an assisting coadjutor bishop who will become the diocesan bishop on the bishop’s retirement.  In some parts of the Anglican communion, archdeacons are named to assist the bishop in administrative functions, and they are the most senior clergy in that diocese.  In the Episcopal Church, the senior priest of a cathedral is called the dean.  Before 2000, some persons who held this position were called provosts.  Deans are assisted by canons or, formerly, prebendaries.  In the Scottish Episcopal Church, the senior priest of a cathedral is called provost.  In the Anglican Church of Canada, a cathedral’s senior priest is known as the rector of the cathedral and dean of the diocese.   

~Dr. Gil Haas, St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church