What Did the Benefice System of the Medieval Church Provide?

The benefice land grant system was an important feature of the medieval church.

The benefice system of the Medieval Period Roman Catholic Church was written into canon law. It originally involved gifts of land to priests as a reward or payment for providing spiritual services to parishioners.

History

Originally the benefice was granted by a bishop or a lord to a priest occupying the land who performed stipulated duties attached to the parcel. Benefices were bestowed for life and provided for everyday expenses. Any extra revenue from the spiritualities was used for charitable donations or for good works.

Benefits

The benefice system allowed the early medieval Roman Catholic church to amass large land holdings contributed as a form of tithe by the faithful. Revenue from the benefice was often given to the Church, adding to its wealth. Income from performing the assigned ecclesiastical duties was often the only type of paying job available to medieval Church hierarchy members.

Abuses

Under canon law, pluralities, or more than one benefice, were forbidden. By special papal dispensation, this codicil was often skirted, allowing priests to get paid without performing their duties on multiple plots of land. Benefices were often conferred by royalty or feudal authorities for political considerations, leading to abuses of the system, which led in part to the Reformation.

References

• Word IQ: Benefice Definition
• Answers: Benefice