According to both Catholic and Anglican canon law, a cathedral chapter is a college of clerics (chapter) formed to advise a bishop and, in the case of a vacancy of the episcopal see in some countries, to govern the diocese during the vacancy. In the Catholic Church their creation is the purview of the Pope. They can be numbered, in which case they are provided with a fixed prebend, or unnumbered, in which case the bishop indicates the number of canons according to the rents. These chapters are made up of canons and other officers, while in the Church of England chapters now include a number of lay appointees.
Cathedral Chapter of the Holy Saviour in Bruges, Belgium
Cathedral chapter of Bruges, the bishop and three canons taking part in a procession
Canon, 16th century in Italy
Interior of the Chapter House at Southwell Minster in Nottinghamshire, England
Canon is a Christian title usually used to refer to a member of certain bodies in subject to an ecclesiastical rule.
Four canons with SS Augustine and Jerome by an open grave, with the Visitation. Master of the Spes Nostra [nl] (active c. 1500–1520, Northern Netherlands)
Petrus-Ludovicus Stillemans (1821–1902), brother of Antoon Stillemans and honorary canon of St Bavo's Cathedral, Ghent
Another Flemish canon in official clerical dress of canons
A canon ceremonially receives Cardinal Franc Rodé.
![Four canons with SS Augustine and Jerome by an open grave, with the Visitation. Master of the Spes Nostra [nl] (active c. 1500–1520, Northern Netherla](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/Memorietafel_Rijksmuseum_SK-A-2312.jpeg/640px-Memorietafel_Rijksmuseum_SK-A-2312.jpeg)
