a permanent Church appointment with an attached income, often in the form of land, an endowed Church office yielding an income to its holder

Formal and Informal Expressions of benefice

In different contexts, you can replace 'benefice' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'Church appointment, endowed office' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'Church job, paid position' is a commonplace synonym.

benefice: Explore its Definition & Usage

benefice Definition

1a permanent Church appointment with an attached income, often in the form of land
2an endowed Church office yielding an income to its holder

Using benefice: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "benefice" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
The benefice of St. Mary's Church was given to the new priest.
Example
He was appointed to a benefice in the diocese of York.
Example
The benefice was worth over $100,000 per year.

benefice Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for benefice

Phrases with benefice

lay impropriation
the right of a layman to receive the income from a benefice
Example
The lay impropriation of the benefice was granted to the local lord.
in commendam
the temporary holding of a benefice by a bishop or other high-ranking cleric
Example
The bishop held the benefice in commendam until a new priest could be appointed.
simony
the buying or selling of Church offices or benefices
Example
The bishop was accused of simony for selling a benefice to the highest bidder.

Origins of benefice

from Old French 'benefice', from Latin 'beneficium', meaning 'good deed'

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Summary: benefice in Brief

'Benefice' [ˈbɛnɪfɪs] refers to a permanent Church appointment that comes with an income, often in the form of land. It can also refer to an endowed Church office that yields an income to its holder. Examples include 'The benefice of St. Mary's Church was given to the new priest.' and 'The benefice was worth over $100,000 per year.' Phrases like 'lay impropriation' and 'in commendam' further describe the nuances of benefices.