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The incumbent of a benefice, usually the parish priest, in Anglican canon law holds the temporalities or assets and income. The incumbent has legal possession of the church and glebe for the term of his office, but shares with the churchwardens the responsibility for them. Formerly, an incumbent rector would enjoy the assets and receive all the tithes of a parish, but might appoint a vicar to discharge all the spiritual duties of the office at a lesser salary.

In the Church of England, an incumbent is admitted to office by institution and induction as provided in Canons C10 and C11. The bishop reads the sealed document of institution, committing the care or 'cure' of souls to the priest who kneels before the bishop and holds the seal; the bishop then instructs the archdeacon to perform the induction, which is done by placing the hand of the priest on the key or ring of the door and reciting a formula of words. The priest advertises his or her induction by ringing the church bell.[1] Induction is a vestige of the medieval legal practice of livery of seisin.

A parish priest who does not receive the temporalities may be a priest in charge or bishop's curate.

[edit] Bibliography

• Hart, A. Tindal (1959) The Country Priest in English History. London: Phoenix House

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