Legal Definitions - Faculties, Master of the

The Master of the Faculties is a senior legal official within the ecclesiastical courts of the Church of England. This office is responsible for granting specific licenses, dispensations, and "faculties" – which are special permissions that allow individuals to act outside the usual legal or canonical rules in certain circumstances.

The Master of the Faculties exercises a unique jurisdiction, often dealing with matters that require an exception to general law or custom, particularly concerning marriage, the appointment of Notaries Public, and certain other professional and ecclesiastical matters.

Here are some examples of situations where the Master of the Faculties' role is relevant:

• Special Marriage Licenses: Imagine a couple who needs to marry very quickly due to a sudden, serious illness of a family member, or they wish to marry in a location that is not a registered place of worship, such as a private estate or a hospital chapel. In such cases, they cannot follow the standard legal requirements for marriage (like having banns read in church over several weeks). They would apply to the Master of the Faculties for a special license, which grants them permission to marry without these usual formalities, often with very short notice or in an unusual venue.

  This illustrates the term because the Master of the Faculties grants a specific dispensation (the special license) that allows an exception to the general rules governing where and how marriages can take place.

• Appointment of Notaries Public: An individual who wishes to become a Notary Public in England and Wales – a legal professional authorized to authenticate documents for international use – must be admitted to the profession by the Master of the Faculties. The Master oversees their training, examination, and formal appointment, ensuring they meet the necessary qualifications and ethical standards to practice.

  This demonstrates the term as the Master of the Faculties holds the authority to grant a specific professional license (to practice as a Notary Public), thereby allowing individuals to perform a specialized legal function.

• Ecclesiastical Dispensations: Consider a unique situation where a specific church rule or regulation needs to be waived for a particular reason, perhaps concerning the use of church property for a non-standard event, or a specific exemption for a cleric from a minor canonical requirement due to extraordinary circumstances. If no other authority can grant such a waiver, an application might be made to the Master of the Faculties for a specific "faculty" or dispensation.

  This example highlights the Master's role in granting special permissions or waivers (faculties/dispensations) for unique situations that fall outside standard ecclesiastical procedures, ensuring flexibility within the legal framework of the Church.