Minor canon

Portrait by Andrea del Sarto, Metropolitan Museum of Art

A minor canon is a member of staff on the establishment of a cathedral or a collegiate church. In at least one foundation the post may be known as "priest-vicar".[1]

Minor canons are clergy and take part in the daily services but are not part of the formal chapter.[2] They are sometimes, but not exclusively, more junior clergy, often chosen for their singing ability, who have already served a curacy, normally in a parish church.[3]

  1. ^ Lichfield Cathedral
  2. ^ "minor canon, n." OED Online. November 2010. Oxford University Press
  3. ^ "ABCD: a basic church dictionary" p52 Meakin, T: Norwich, Canterbury Press, 2001 ISBN 978-1-85311-420-5