praepositus

Praepositus is a Latin ecclesiastical title used in Western Christianity to denote a person placed in charge of a church, a house of canons, or a collegiate community. The term derives from prae- “before” and ponere “to place,” literally meaning “one placed in front” or “one placed in charge.”

In medieval practice, a praepositus was typically a superior of a religious house who held governance over the community, especially in contexts where an abbot, prior, or other chief officer did not hold full authority. The duties varied by institution but commonly included administering property, directing liturgical life, overseeing discipline, and representing the community to external authorities. In cathedral chapters, a praepositus might be a senior officer who presided over meetings or served as administrator of the chapter’s affairs.

The office also appeared in various orders and local usages, sometimes functioning as a role equivalent to a provost or dean, other times as a more limited or ceremonial position. The practice diminished after the medieval period, but the title continues to appear in modern Latin documents and historical descriptions of church administration.

Translations into modern languages depend on context, with praepositus often rendered as provost, dean, or head of a priory or canonry.

See also: Provost, Prior, Canon, Cathedral chapter.