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CHURCH NOTES
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This update sheet looks at different types of
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CHURCH
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Church buildings and the various roles held by
Any sanctified building for conducting Church
administrative and ecclesiastical members of the
rites. Parish churches have the right to collect
Third Reformation Church.
tithes. A parish church may encompass an entire
community (notably in rural areas) or part of a
large town or city, generally serving a given dis-
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CHURCH BUILDINGS
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trict.
Although Knights spend most of their time
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MONASTERY
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either at their Preceptory or on the battlefield,
there are times when they must deal with the
A building or complex inhabited and run by
local populace beyond its boundaries. In these
monks. Convents serve a similar function but
instances, they may have course to visit Church
house nuns (also known as a nunnery). Monas-
buildings.
teries are subservient to the local abbey of the
same order of monks or nuns.
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ABBEY
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A monastery or convent governed by an abbot
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ORATORY
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or abbess.
A prayer room, found in most places of wor-
ship.
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BASILICA
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A large or important church granted dispensa-
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tion to hold special rites, such as ordination of
A room where bones are stored. Most often
an archbishop or cardinal or the function of the
bishop s court. The title replaces the usual one the ossuary is within a larger religious building.
(so the Church of St. Boniface is referred to as
the Basilica of St. Boniface once granted special
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SHRINE
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dispensation).
A holy place containing the relics or image of a
saint or martyr and dedicated to that person. Most
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CATHEDRAL
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are located within other religious structures, but
A church which serves as seat of a bishop or
a small number are separate buildings. Shrines
archbishop. Though many are large, imposing
attract pilgrims and are considered good sources
churches, rural cathedrals may be nothing more
of revenue for the Church.
than parish churches afforded the higher title.
Many shrines in populous areas have devolved
into little more than tourist attractions, offering
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CHAPEL
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souvenirs, such as replica relics, postcards, and
A place of worship, often part of a larger
even mugs and T-shirts. Very few actual religious
structure or complex (including churches and
ceremonies are held in these places, though for a
Preceptories). They differ from churches in that
small donation pilgrims can say prayers with the
they are not counted as parish churches and
therefore collect no tithes. local priest.
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NECROPOLIS 2350
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CHURCH ROLES
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Head of a local Curial office situated in a bisho-
pric. Deans answer to the local archdean.
In addition to the roles referenced in Necropo-
lis, there are a number of other notable dignitaries
with whom Knights may come into contact during FATHER/MOTHER SUPERIOR
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a mission.
The head of a monastery or convent, subservi-
ent to the local abbot or abbess.
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ABBOT/ABBESS
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Head of a monastery or convent respectively.
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They hold no temporal or religious power out-
A Church diplomat within the Office of Cor-
side the monastery and its feudal lands, if any.
porate Liaison. The feminine form is nuncia.
Abbots answer to the local archbishop, as their
Diplomatic aides are accorded the title Nuncio-
rank places them on par with bishops.
Monsignor. Senior aides add the word  Senior.
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PRIMICERIUS
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Head of a local Curial office situated in an
While cardinals are overall head of a Curial
archbishop s seat of power.
department, the daily running is often left to the
primicerius, the cardinal s right-hand man.
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ARCHPRIEST
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SECRETARY
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A priest who governs multiple parishes. Typi-
cally these are found in rural areas.
Head of a Curial sub-office. First tier secretar-
ies are called First Secretary, heads of the next tier
Unsurprisingly, a CIS investigation has revealed
down are Second Secretaries, and so on.
heretical activity is higher in areas with an arch-
priest. Their report concludes this is down to a
For instance, the head of the Office of Public
 lack of constant spiritual supervision among the
Records is a cardinal. The heads of the Offices of
masses. Appropriate steps are being taken to
Births, Death, Marriages, and so on are first secre-
eliminating this position from the Church.
taries. Below each of these is a Second Secretary
for every archbishopric and Commanderie.
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CHAPLAIN
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