Impropriation facts for kids
Impropriation is a term from old English church law. It describes a situation where money meant for a church, like tithes (a kind of church tax), went to a person who wasn't a church leader. This person was called a layman (someone not a priest or cleric).
In England, when the church set up local parishes, each parish needed someone to look after it. This person, often called a parson or rector, would get money from the church's property. In return, they were supposed to take care of the spiritual needs of the people in that parish.
Over time, these church positions started to be seen like property. Sometimes, monasteries or other church groups would take over these positions. This was called appropriation. They would hire a deputy, often called a 'vicar', to do the actual church work. The monastery would then keep any extra money.
Impropriation was similar, but the money went to a layman or a non-church group. They also had to hire a cleric to serve the parish and pay for their upkeep. After the year 1200, laymen weren't supposed to be in charge of church duties. However, some impropriations still happened.
During the English Reformation, many church properties were taken from monasteries and given to lay people. This turned many appropriations into impropriations. By 1603, out of about 9,284 church positions, around 3,489 were held by impropriators. These lay owners were usually expected to keep the church building's chancel (the part near the altar) in good repair.
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Puritans Challenge Impropriation
Why Puritans Disliked Impropriation
The Puritans were a group of Protestants who wanted to make the Church of England simpler and more pure. They strongly disliked impropriations. They felt it was wrong for church money to go to lay people instead of directly supporting the church and its ministers.
Hampton Court Conference (1604)
The Puritans brought up their concerns about impropriations at the Hampton Court Conference in 1604. This was a meeting with James I of England, the king at the time. King James agreed that impropriations should be stopped. However, this change never actually happened.
The Feoffees for Impropriations
Since the king didn't act, a group of Puritans decided to take matters into their own hands. They formed an organization called the Feoffees for Impropriations. This group existed from 1625 to 1633.
They raised money to buy back impropriations and advowsons. An advowson was the right to choose a church's minister. By buying these, the Feoffees could make sure that Puritan ministers and lecturers were appointed to these church positions.
Suppression of the Feoffees
The Feoffees' actions were seen as a challenge by the Church of England's leaders, especially William Laud, who later became Archbishop of Canterbury. Laud and his supporters, known as Laudianism, wanted strict control over the church. They took legal action to shut down the Feoffees in 1633. This was an early step in Laud's efforts to control Puritan influence.
Later History of Impropriation
Quakers and Tithes
The issue of impropriation was also connected to the collection of tithes. In the 17th century, a religious group called the Quakers strongly refused to pay tithes. They believed it was wrong to support a church system they disagreed with. This refusal was a core part of their faith, especially between 1652 and 1700.
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