Glebe (Noun)
Meaning
Plot of land belonging to an English parish church or an ecclesiastical office.
Classification
Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession.
Examples
- The village church owned a glebe, a small plot of land on the outskirts of the settlement, which the vicar used to grow vegetables.
- Several centuries ago, a portion of the forest was designated as a glebe to provide firewood for the parish church.
- Historically, English parish churches relied on their glebe to provide an independent source of income for the clergy.
- The rector of the church was responsible for managing the glebe, which generated a modest income for the parish.
- Over time, the church sold off portions of the glebe to pay for repairs to the aging building.