Glebe Land

Glebe Land, the portion of land which appertains to a parish church. If there be both a rector and a vicar, the glebe land in the occupation of either does not pay tithes, though if in the occupation of a tenant it does. The representatives of a deceased incumbent are entitled to the corn sown by him on the glebe. Various statutes have from time to time been passed in order to facilitate the exchange of glebe lands, which are often scattered in small parcels in different parts of the parish. In rectories the chancel and the churchyard also are the freehold of the rector, while in vicareeges the churchyard is the vicar's freehold, and the chancel is the freehold of the impropriator. Yet the disposal of the pews and seats in the church appertains by law to the ordinary and practically to the churchwardens, to whom the authority of the ordinary in this respect is delegated. Moreover, no monument can be set up without the ordinary's consent, and an aisle or side chapel in the church, or a pew in its nave, may be granted by faculty of the ordinary to an individual and his heirs as appurtenant to a particular, house in the parish. By a statute passed in the 5th and 6th years of the present reign the Tithe Commutation Commissioner may ascertain and define the boundaries of the glebe lands of any benefice, or, with consent of the ordinary and patron, may exchange the glebe lands for other lands within the same or any adjoining parish or otherwise conveniently situated.