Pluralities Act 1838
Act repealed in part (E.) (1.7.2018) by Statute Law (Repeals) Measure 2018 (No. 1), s. 2(3), Sch. Pt. 2; S.I. 2018/718, art. 2
1838 c. 106
An Act to abridge the holding of Benefices in Plurality, and to make better provision for the Residence of the Clergy.

1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

28 Spiritual persons not to take to farm for occupation above eighty acres, without consent of the bishop, and then not beyond seven years, under penalty of £2 per acre.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

29 No spiritual person, beneficed or performing ecclesiastical duty shall engage in trade, or buy to sell again for profit or gain.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

30 Not to extend to spiritual persons engaged in keeping schools, or as tutors, &c. in respect of any thing done, or any buying or selling in such employment; or to selling any thing bona fide bought for the use of the family, or being a manager, &c. in any benefit or life or fire assurance society; or buying and selling cattle, &c. for the use of their own lands, &c.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

31 Spiritual persons illegally trading may be suspended, and for the third offence deprived.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

32 Penalties for non-residence on incumbent not having a licence or exemption, unless he be resident on another benefice.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

33 Licence to reside out of the usual house, if unfit.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

34 Houses purchased by governors of Queen Anne’s bounty to be deemed residences.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

35 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

36 Widow of any spiritual person may continue in the house of residence for two months after his decease.
From and after the decease of any spiritual person holding any benefice to which a house of residence is annexed, and in which such spiritual person shall have been residing at the time of his decease, it shall be lawful for the surviving spouse or surviving civil partner of such spiritual person to occupy such house for any period not exceeding two calendar months after the decease of such spiritual person, holding and enjoying therewith the curtilage and garden belonging to such house.
Words in s. 36 substituted (1.2.1994) by 1993 Measure No. 2, s. 10, Sch. 3 para. 1(a); Instrument dated 31.1.1994 made by Archbishops of Canterbury and York.
Words in s. 36 substituted (5.12.2005) by Civil Partnership Act 2004 (Overseas Relationships and Consequential, etc. Amendments) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/3129), art. 1, Sch. 3 para. 1(2)

37 Certain persons exempt from penalties for non-residence.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

38 Privileges for temporary non-residence.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

39 Performance of cathedral duties, &c. may be accounted as residence, under certain restrictions.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

41 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

42 Every petition for licence for non-residence to be in writing, and to state certain particulars.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

43 Bishop may grant licences for non-residence in certain enumerated cases. Appeal to archbishop in case of refusal.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

44 In cases not enumerated bishops may grant licences to reside out of limits of benefice, subject to allowance by the archbishop.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

46 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

47 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

48 Licences not to be void by the death or removal of the grantor.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

49 Licences may be revoked.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

50 Copies of licences or revocations to be filed in the registry of the diocese, and a list kept for inspection;
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

51 List of licences allowed by the archbishop, or granted in his own diocese, to be annually transmitted to her Majesty in council, who may revoke licences, &c. Licence, although revoked, to be deemed valid between the grant and revocation.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

52 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

53 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

54 Residence may be enforced by monition, or the living sequestered. Appeal against sequestration to the archbishop.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

55 Incumbents returning to residence on monition to pay the costs.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

56 Incumbent returning to residence on monition, but again absenting himself within 12 months, the bishop may without further monition, sequester.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

57 Reasons for remitting penalties for non-residence of a certain amount to be transmitted to the Queen in council.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

58 Benefice continuing so sequestrated one year, or being twice so sequestrated within two years, to become void.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

59 Contracts for letting houses in which any spiritual persons are required by bishop to reside shall be void. Penalty for holding adverse possession, £2 for every day.
Any agreement made for the letting of the house of residence, or the buildings, gardens, orchards, or appurtenances necessary for the convenient occupation of the same, belonging to any benefice, to which house of residence any spiritual person may be required, by order of the bishop as aforesaid, to proceed and to reside therein, or which may be assigned or appointed as a residence to any curate by the bishop, shall be made in writing, and shall contain a condition for avoiding the same, upon a copy of such order, assignment, or appointment being served upon the occupier thereof, or left at the house, and otherwise shall be null and void; and a copy of every such order, assignment, or appointment shall immediately on the issuing thereof be transmitted to one of the churchwardens of the parish, or such other person as the bishop shall think fit, and be by him forthwith served on the occupier of such house of residence, or left at the same; and any person continuing to hold any such house of residence, or any such building, garden, orchard, or appurtenances, after the day on which such spiritual person shall be directed by such order to reside in such house of residence, or which shall be specified in any such order, assignment, or appointment, and after such copy shall be so served or left as aforesaid, shall forfeit the sum of two pounds for every day he shall, without the permission of the bishop in writing under his hand for that purpose obtained, wilfully continue to hold any such house, building, garden, orchard, or appurtenances together with the expense of serving or leaving such order, assignment, or appointment, to be allowed by the bishop issuing the order or making such assignment or appointment; and it shall also be lawful for the spiritual person so directed to reside, or the curate to whom any such residence is assigned, to apply to any justice of the peace having jurisdiction in the place for a warrant for the taking possession thereof; and the justice to whom any such order for such possession is produced shall and he is hereby required, upon its being duly verified, to grant a warrant to some peace officer to deliver such possession, and possession may thereupon be taken of such house under such warrant at any time in the day time, by entering the same by force, if necessary, without any other proceeding by ejectment or otherwise, any law of statute to the contrary notwithstanding; provided that any person who shall have been in possession of any such house of residence or premises under a verbal agreement only, or under any agreement in which the condition aforesaid for avoiding the same shall not be inserted, and who shall be turned out of possession by virtue of this Act, shall be entitled to sue the person with whom he or she had entered into such agreement, for damages occasioned by his or her being so turned out of possession, to be recovered in any of her Majesty’s superior courts at Westminster.
S. 59 excluded (E.) (1.3.2019) by Church Property Measure 2018 (No. 8), ss. 6(4), 53(2); S.I. 2019/97, art. 2
S. 59 applied (E.) (1.4.1978) by Endowments and Glebe Measure 1976 (No. 4), ss. 38(2), 49(2)
Words substituted by virtue of Decimal Currency Act 1969 (c. 19), s. 10(1)

60 Incumbent not liable to penalty for non-residence while the tenant occupies.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

61 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

62 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

70 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

71 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

72 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

73 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

74 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

75 In case of non-resident incumbents neglecting to appoint curates, the bishop to appoint.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

76 Curate to reside on benefice, under certain circumstances.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

77 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

78 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

79 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

80 Bishop may enforce two services on Sundays in certain cases. Not to affect the provision of the Act 58 G.3.c. 45. s. 65.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

81 Statement of Particulars necessary to be given and declaration to be made, on application for a licence for a curate.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

82 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

83 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

84 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

85 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

86 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

87 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

90 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

91 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

92 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

93 Curate directed to reside in parsonage house, in case of non-residence of incumbent, may have certain portion of glebe land assigned to him by bishop.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

94 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

95 Curate to quit cure upon having six weeks notice from new incumbent within six months after his admission, and in other cases incumbent, with bishop’s permission, may dismiss curate on six months notice. Appeal.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

96 Curate to deliver up possession of house of residence, within six months, after notice or pay £2 per day.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

97 Curate not to quit curacy without three months notice to incumbent and bishop, under a penalty.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

98 Bishop may license curates employed without nomination; revoke any licence, and remove the curate, subject to appeal to the archbishop.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

99 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

100 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

101 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

102 Licences to curates, and revocations thereof, to be entered in the registry of the diocese.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

103 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

104 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

106 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

107 Provisions relating to bishops to apply to archbishops in their own dioceses.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

108 Power of archbishops and bishops as to exempt or peculiar benefices, &c.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

109 Where jurisdiction is given to bishop, &c, all concurrent jurisdiction to cease.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

110 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

111 The mode of appealing to the archbishop of the province.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

112 Regulations respecting monitions and sequestrations.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

113 Sequestration not to issue after monition to reside, until service of order.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

114 Recovery of penalties against spiritual persons.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

115 Recovery of fees, &c.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

116 Penalty on registrar for neglect.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

117 Recovery of penalties against lay-men or unbeneficed clergymen.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

118 Penalties not recoverable for more than one year.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

119 Application penalties.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

120 Commencement and conclusion of the year.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

121 How months to be calculated.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

122 Certified copy of entry of licence to be evidence.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

123 Statements how to be verified.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

124 Definition of the terms “cathedral preferment,” and “benefice”
... Where the term “benefice” is used in this Act, the said term shall be understood and taken to mean benefice with cure of souls, and no other (unless it shall otherwise appear from the context), and therein to comprehend all parishes, perpetual curacies, donatives, endowed public chapels, parochial chapelries, and chapelries or districts belonging or reputed to belong, or annexed or reputed to be annexed, to any church or chapel, anything in any other Act to the contrary notwithstanding.

125 Who to be considered patron.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

126 How consent of patron to be testified, &c. where patronage is in the crown.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

127 How where patron is an incapacitated person.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

128 How where patronage is attached to the duchy of Cornwall.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

129 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

130 Population how to be computed.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

131 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

132 Act not to affect powers of bishops.
Nothing in this Act contained shall be deemed, construed, or taken to derogate from, diminish, prejudice, alter, or affect, otherwise than is expressly provided, any powers, authorities, rights or jurisdiction already vested in or belonging to any archbishop or bishop under or by virtue of any statute, canon, usage, or otherwise howsoever.

133 Act not to extend to Ireland.
No provision in this Act contained shall extend or be construed to extend to Ireland.
FIRST SCHEDULE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SECOND SCHEDULE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sch. 2 repealed (1.4.1978) by Endowments and Glebe Measure 1976 (No.4), s. 49(2), Sch. 8