What is a secular canonry?
A canonry is another way of referring to a house of canons, just like a house of friars is called a friary. As to the meaning of secular, the Church distinguishes between priests who are in religious life and those who are not. The former are called religious priests, while the latter are called secular priests. In English we tend to refer to secular priests as diocesan priests. Secular canons were priests who lived together but did not share their property. They were primarily responsible for the liturgy of a large church. The common life was limited.
