Lambeth Degrees

The Peter's Pence Act of 1533 gave the Archbishop of Canterbury the power to grant academic degrees (previously carried out by the Pope). It allowed the Archbishop to override the requirements of the only two universities at the time, Oxford and Cambridge, and dispense candidates from residency and, in some cases, examination, at a time when it was difficult to travel to the universities, often because of outbreaks of the plague. This power did, and still does, require confirmation by the Crown and so the degrees are known as 'degrees of the realm'. All recipients have to be able to swear an oath to the monarch since the act of 1533 speaks of the monarch conferring degrees to his subjects. The Archbishop's power to continue to grant these degrees is expressly set out in the Education Reform Act 1988.

These honorary degrees are full and 'real' degrees in that the recipient must have already done work worthy of the degree but the Archbishop dispenses him from residence and examination. The degrees are also given as a thanksgiving from the Church for distinguished service. They can be awarded in Divinity, Law, Arts, Medicine or Music. Of course all degrees are awarded entirely at the discretion of the Archbishop.

A possible recipient does not apply for a degree himself but is nominated by someone who knows him and his work very well. In order to make a nomination please send a full CV, together with letters of support from others who know of his work and can attest to his contribution, to:

The Archbishop's Awards Secretary
Lambeth Palace
London SE1 7JU