Court of Peculiars

Peculiar \Pe*cul"iar\, n.
   1. That which is peculiar; a sole or exclusive property; a
      prerogative; a characteristic.
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            Revenge is . . . the peculiar of Heaven. --South.
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   2. (Eng. Canon Law) A particular parish or church which is
      exempt from the jurisdiction of the ordinary.
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   {Court of Peculiars} (Eng. Law), a branch of the Court of
      Arches having cognizance of the affairs of peculiars.
      --Blackstone.

   {Dean of peculiars}. See under {Dean}, 1.
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COURT OF PECULIARS, Eng. eccl. law. The name of a court, which is a branch 
of, and annexed to, the. court of arches. 
     2. It has jurisdiction over all those parishes dispersed through the 
province of Canterbury, in the midst of other dioceses. In the other 
peculiars, the jurisdiction is exercised by commissaries. 1 Phill. R. 202, 
n. 
     3. There are three sorts of peculiars 1. Royal peculiars. 3 Phill. R. 
245. 2. The second sort are those in which the bishop has no concurrent 
jurisdiction, and are exempt from his visitation. 3. The third are subject 
to the bishop's visitation, and liable to his superintendence and 
jurisdiction. 3 Phill. R. 245; Skinn. R. 589.