Provost (religion)

A provost is a senior official in a number of Christian churches.

Historical development

The word "praepositus" (Latin: "set over", from "praeponere", "to place in front") was originally applied to any ecclesiastical ruler or dignitary. It was soon more specifically applied to the immediate subordinate to the abbot of a monastery, or to the superior of a single cell, and it was defined as such in the Rule of St Benedict. The dean ("decanus") was a similarly ranked official. Chrodegang of Metz adopted this usage from the Benedictines when he introduced the monastic organization of cathedral chapters. The provostship ("praepositura") was normally held by the archdeacon, while the office of dean was held by the archpriest. In many cathedrals, the temporal duties of the archdeacons made it impossible for them to fulfil those of the provostship, and the headship of the chapter thus fell to the dean.

The title became "prevost" in Old French, and then "prévôt" in modern French, before being adopted as "provost" in English.

Anglican usage

In England, the title of provost in cathedrals was almost completely replaced by that of dean, although sometimes when a bishop nominated himself as dean of his own cathedral, a provost was appointed as his deputy.

In cathedrals which were also parish churches, however, especially the newly-created cathedrals of the 19th and 20th centuries, the senior priest (who was also the parish priest) continued to be known as the provost. This title was used by the head priests of Birmingham Cathedral, Blackburn Cathedral, Bradford Cathedral, Chelmsford Cathedral, Coventry Cathedral, Derby Cathedral, Leicester Cathedral, Newcastle Cathedral, Portsmouth Cathedral, St. Edmundsbury Cathedral, Sheffield Cathedral, Southwark Cathedral, Southwell Minster, and Wakefield Cathedral, but all were redesignated deans in 2000.

In the Scottish Episcopal Church tradition continues. The leading priests of the cathedrals, with the exception of the Cathedral of the Isles on Cumbrae, are called provost.

The usage is preserved in the title of the heads of some colleges in England formerly administered by the Church.

Germany

In Germany, the heads of certain Catholic chapters are still known as "Probst" or "Propst". The title is also used for a slightly different office in certain dioceses of the German Evangelical Church. German military chaplains, both Catholic and Protestant, have also used the title (e.g. "Feldpropst" in Prussia).

Furthermore, "Propstei" or "Propstei(pfarr)gemeinde" is the honorary title to some important, old Roman Catholic churches in Germany; most honorary titles date back to the 20th century. The provosts (see "Propst" in German), being ordinary parish priests, have the privilege to wear the prelate's dress (black-purple) and wear a pectoral cross on a ribbon.

Monastic usage

The heads of Augustinian and Dominican friaries are termed "provost or prior" ("praepositus vel prior"), and those of Cistercian monasteries "provost or warden" ("praepositus vel custos").