It deals with morality, non-attendance (of church), non-payment of tithes, non conformists, and so on.
Within the Catholic Church a consistory refers to an assembly of prelates such as a session of the college of cardinals in Rome.
Within the Church of England a consistory refers to the spiritual court of a diocesan bishop before his chancellor or commissioner in an appointed place such as a cathedral.
The archaic English spelling is consistatory. Chaucer used the phrase to refer to a civil court of justice.
See also: Ecclesiastical court
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