In English law and the canon law of the Church of England, a monition, contraction of admonition, is an order to a member of the clergy to do or refrain from doing a specified act.[1][2] Other than a rebuke, it is the least severe censure available against clergy of the Church of England.[2] Failure to observe the order is an offence under the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Measure 1963.[3] A monition can be imposed in person by a bishop or by an ecclesiastical court.[2]
Historically, monitions of a disciplinary character were used to enforce residence on the holder of a benefice, or in connection with actions to restrain allegedly unlawful ritual practices under the Public Worship Regulation Act 1874. Disobedience to such monitions historically entailed the penalties of contempt of court.[4][5]