PREBEND, derived from the Latin word prmbro (to minister to, or yield), is an endowment in land, or pension in money given to a cathedral or conventual church in prabendam, that is, for a mainte nance of a secular priest or regular canon, who was a prebendary as supported by the prebend. It is named from the land or other source whence the profits attached to it are derived.
A simple prebend was one which had only its revenue for its support; a prebend with dignity, one to which a jurisdiction was annexed ; a prebendary holding the latter was styled a dignitary. Some prebends were donative, others in the gift of laymen, who, in case of vacancy, must have presented the future prebendary to the bishop ; on this the bishop instituted him, and the dean and chapter then inducted and placed him in a stall in the church. If a bishop were the patron, he collated. At Westminster the king collated by patent, by virtue of which the prebendary took possession without institution or induction. A mandamus lies to compel an election to fill a vacancy. During a vacancy the profits belonging to 6 prebendary as sole corporator went to his successor ; those which he held as member of the corporation aggregate were divided among the dean and chapter. A prebend being a benefice without cure of souls, was not formerly incompatible to be held with a parochial benefice, but one prebendary could not possess two prebends in the same church, though he might hold a second in any other. But now, by 1 & 2 Vic. c. 106, no spiritual person holding more benefices with 'cure of souls than one shall hold any cathedral preferment ; or, bolding any cathedral preferment and also any bene fice with cure of souls, shall hold any other cathedral preferment ; or, holding any preferment in any cathedral or collegiate church, shall hold any preferment in any other. (Comyns's Digest,' tit. Ecel,
Persons,' iii. 600; Burns, E. L 88, 90; Rogers, `On Ecclesiastical Law, tit.' Dean and Chapter.' [DEAN.] By the 3 & 4 Vic., c. 113, founded on the Report of Commissioners appointed to consider the state of the church with reference to its revenues, very important changes were made relative to cathedral preferment. The statute does not affect existing interests. Its pro visions, in general terms, are as follows :—Henceforth all the members of chapters are to be styled canons. Provision is made for the sup pression of many existing prebends, the creation of one additional for St. Paul's, and ultimately all cathedral and collegiate churches as to number of canons, are to be placed upon the following footing :— Canterbury, Durham, Ely and Westminster 6 each ; Winchester and Exeter 5; Bristol, Carlisle, Chester, Chichester, Gloucester, Hereford, Litchfield, Lincoln, Manchester, Norwich, St. Paul's, London, Peter borough, Ripon, Rochester, Salisbury, Wells, Windsor, Worcester, and York, 4 each ; and St. David's and Llandaff 2 each.
All bishops are authorised to confer honorary canonries, without emolument, to the number of twenty-four, in each cathedral church.
No canon is, by virtue of his canonry, for the future to possess any separate estate or income, all of which are to vest in the Ecclesiastical Commissioners appointed by 6 & 7 Wm. IV. c. 77. The profits of the suspended canonries are to be paid to the commissioners, in whom their estates, as well as those of non-resideutiary prebendaries, &c., are to vest. The animal incomes are also fixed by this statute. The separate patronage of members of chapters is' to be vested in the respective bishops. Provisions are made as to the exercise of the patronage of chapters. The minor canons are to be appointed by the chapter.