Canterbury and York Society facts for kids

The Canterbury and York Society is a British group that started in 1904. They publish old church records from England, especially from the Middle Ages (before the big changes of the Reformation). Think of them as history detectives who share their findings!

What is the Canterbury and York Society?

This society is a special kind of group called a text publication society. This means they find and publish old writings, like historical documents. Their main goal is to share important records from the English church. These records help us learn about how people lived and what happened in the past.

How Did the Society Start?

The Canterbury and York Society began in 1904. A person named W.P.W. Phillimore, who was a genealogist (someone who studies family histories) and a publisher, helped a lot to get it going.

The society's name comes from the two main areas of the Church of England: Canterbury and York. These are like big church regions. The two top leaders of the church, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, are the presidents of the society.

What Does the Society Publish?

The society tries to publish one new book every year. In 2010, they published their 100th book! Most of their books are copies of "registers" from bishops and archbishops. These registers are like official diaries or record books kept by church leaders long ago. They have published over fifty of these registers, and some are so big they fill several books! They also publish other types of church records.

Annual Meetings and Membership

The Canterbury and York Society holds a meeting once a year. At this meeting, a famous historian gives a talk about English church history.

Anyone can join the society, whether you are an individual or a library or school. If you become a member, you pay a yearly fee. In return, you get the new book they publish that year. You can also buy older books at a special lower price.