Chapter 14: Dioceses and peculiar jurisdictions

After the dissolution of Westminster Abbey as a monastery, Westminster became a new diocese in 1540, covering the county of Middlesex (apart from Fulham). This diocese only lasted until 1550 when it was re-incorporated into the Diocese of London, whose records are held at the Guildhall Library.

However, Westminster Abbey is a Royal Peculiar, which had its own jurisdiction over the probate of wills until 1829. The Peculiar included the Precincts of the Abbey and St Margaret Westminster (including St St John the Evangelist from 1728), part of St Martin-in-the-Fields until the late 17th century and Paddington until c1669. The Peculiar also had jurisdiction over areas outside the City of Westminster which had formerly been lands of Westminster Abbey. These included St Martin-le-Grand, part of St Anne and St Agnes within Aldersgate until c1670, and part of St Leonard Foster Lane until c1665. The Peculiar also had jurisdiction over the Essex parishes of Newport, Creshall and Good Easter until 1540 and St Mary Maldon until 1829. Additional records are held at Westminster Abbey Muniment Room. Probate records for other church courts which included Westminster are held at the Family Records Centre, the London Metropolitan Archives and the Guildhall Library. Information Sheet 10 - Wills (PDF file) provides further details.

Diocese of Westminster: Consistory court register of responsa personalia and depositions, 1541-1548; Also microfilm copy of bishops’ register, 1540-1559, including Bishop of Westminster, 1541-1549 (original at Guildhall Library) Acc 736

Peculiar jurisdiction of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster (formerly the Abbot of Westminster before 1540): Commissary court will registers, filed wills and act books, 1504-1829 (not complete coverage; mostly indexed); Acts re marriage licences etc, 1558-1678; Presentments in correction cases from Maldon, 1622-1632; Cash book, 1784-1797; Fee book for probate, marriage licences, etc, 1772-1804 Acc 120, Acc 1144, Acc 1284, Acc 1945

Paddington estate of the Bishop of London See Section 8, Section 23 and Section 24

Munimenta Antiqua Transcriptions of special marriage licences issued by the Archbishop of Canterbury, 1766-1891 (indexed in deeds index) Acc 142