national and provincial synods laid much stress on the creation of diocesan chanceries. in the united states, the first plenary council of baltimore (1852) expressed the wish that in every diocese there should be a chancery, to facilitate ecclesiastical administration and establish for its conduct a more or less identical system. in ireland, the national synod of thurles (1850) made provision for the establishment and preservation of diocesan archives. similarly for england the provincial synod of westminster (1852).