a term commonly used to denote a council-house of ecclesiastical persons, or place of justice in the spiritual court, and also a session or assembly of prelates.

Consistory, at Rome, denotes the college of cardinals, or the pope's senate and council, before which causes are pleaded. The word is derived from the post-classical Latin consistorium, which, according to Du Cange, is locus ubi consistitur; a vestibule, gallery, or ante-chamber, where courtiers wait for admission, and so called a consistente multitudine.

The consistory is the first court or tribunal of Rome, and only meets when convoked by the pope, who presides in person, seated on a magnificent throne, and habited in his pontifical robes. On the right are the cardinal-bishops and priests, and on the left the cardinal-deacons. It is held in a large hall in the apostolical palace where princes and ambassadors are received. The rest of the prelates, the protonotaries, auditors of the rota, and other officers, are seated on the steps of the throne. The courtiers sit below, ambassadors on the right, and consistorial and fiscal advocates behind the cardinals.

Besides the public, there is also a private consistory, held in a chamber called the chamber of papagay. None are admitted but cardinals, whose opinions are collected, and called sentences. Here are first proposed and passed all bulls for bishoprics, abbeys, &c.; and hence bishoprics and abbeys are said to be consistorial benefices. Anciently they were elective; but by the concordat, which abolishes elections, they are appointed to be collated by the pope alone, on the nomination of the prince.

Consistory is also used in the reformed church to signify a council or assembly of ministers and elders, convened in order to regulate matters of discipline, and other church affairs.

Consistory Court, in the English law, is a council of ecclesiastical persons, or the place of justice in an ecclesiastical or spiritual court. Every diocesan bishop has a consistory court, which is held before his chancellor or commissary, in their several cathedrals, or in some other convenient place of the diocese, for the trial of all ecclesiastical causes arising within their respective dioceses, and for granting probates and administrations. Under the 24th Hen. VIII., cap. 12, an appeal lies to the archbishop of the province from the decision of the consistory court.