( beneficium ecclesiae) an ecclesiastical office connected with income earned from financial holdings, land, or taxation.
A position in the church with lands a benefits attached.
a Church office yielding an income to its holder, or the revenue or property attached to that office.
an endowed church office giving income to its holder
an ecclesiastical estate consisting largely of tithes and glebe land given to the incumbent (the current minister) as a reward for services rendered
an ecclesiastical office which comes with the power to collect money in order to support the goals of that office
Grant of land given to a member of the aristocracy, a Bishop, or a monastery, for limited or hereditary use in exchange for services. In ecclesiastic terms, a benefice was a church office that returned revenue (ie a 'living' for a Rector or Vicar). Also known as a fee, feud, or fief coming from the Germanic feofum which comes from the Frankish "fehu" and "od" meaning livestock and movable possessions or property "chattel."
An ecclesiastical office usually in the form of a clergyman in receipt of an income for the purpose of implementing the duties of a church. The occupant of a benefice is often referred to as the incumbent.
beneficium (Latin)] A grant of land given to a member of the aristocracy, a bishop, or a monastery, for limited or hereditary use in exchange for services. In ecclesiastic terms, a benefice is a church office that returns revenue. (MEDIEV-L. Medieval Terms) The grant made by a lord, usually of land. (Gies, Joseph and Francis. Life in a Medieval Castle, 229) An endowed church office. (Lynch, Joseph H. The Medieval Church: A Brief History, 359) An ecclesiastical office, such as a parish church or prebend, to which specific duties and revenues are assigned. (Waugh, Scott. England in the Reign of Edward III, 237) Ecclesiastical appointment, with cure of souls, usually held by rector or vicar of parish church. (Sayles, George O. The King's Parliament of England, 143) Normally referring to the income, endowments and rights (or the living) of a parish church, but generally used of any church with income. Derived from beneficium, the feudal land given in return for service. (Heath, Peter. Church and Realm, 1272-1461, 359)
A benefice is an income, usually from a church office.
Originally a benefice was a gift of land (precaria) for life as a reward for services rendered. The word comes from the Latin noun beneficium meaning "benefit". Originally a concept in the Roman Catholic Church, it was abandoned by Protestantism (excepting the Church of England).
