Ecclesiastical Benefice (Noun)
Meaning
An endowed church office giving income to its holder.
Classification
Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession.
Examples
- The bishop was pleased to bestow the ecclesiastical benefice of the local parish upon the new priest, ensuring his financial stability.
- Historically, the monarch reserved the right to appoint clergy to ecclesiastical benefices, a practice that led to numerous disputes over the centuries.
- The church's system of ecclesiastical benefices allowed for the support of clergy through the provision of income-generating properties and assets.
- As part of the reforms, the Catholic Church aimed to eliminate the practice of buying and selling ecclesiastical benefices, known as simony.
- By virtue of his position, the dean was entitled to the ecclesiastical benefice of the cathedral, which brought with it a sizeable annual stipend.