In the pre-Reformation church, a parson is the priest of an independent parish church, that is, a parish church not under the control of a larger ecclesiastical or monastic organization. The term is similar to rector and is in contrast to a vicar, a cleric whose revenue is usually, at least partially, appropriated by a larger organization.
Today the term is normally used for some parish clergy of non-Roman Catholic churches, in particular in the Anglican tradition in which a parson is the incumbent of a parochial benefice: a parish priest or a rector; in this sense a parson can be contrasted with a vicar. The title parson is also applied to clergy from other denominations. A parson is often housed in a church-owned home known as a rectory or parsonage.
Read more about Parson: Anglicanism, Ireland
Famous quotes containing the word parson:
“Dear Captain Smith, the ghost replied, youve used me ungenteelly.
The crowners quest goes hard with me because Ive acted frailly,
And Parson Biggs wont bury me, though I am dead Miss Bailey.”
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Had got to fifthly, and stopped perplexed
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“I will have no Parsons around me but such as drink deep, ride to Hounds and caress the Wives and Daughters of their Parishioners. A Virtuous Parson does nothing to test or exercise the Faith of his Flock.”
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