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Simple English definitions for legal terms
alms land
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A quick definition of alms land:
Term: Alms Land
Definition: Alms land is a type of land that was held by religious institutions in the past. The purpose of this land was to pray for the donor's soul. It was different from other types of land because it did not require specific church services, but rather a general promise to pray. This type of land was called frankalmoin or free alms, and it was a way for people to give to the church and ensure that their soul would be prayed for after they died.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: Alms land is a type of land tenure in which a religious institution holds land with a general duty to pray for the donor. It is a spiritual tenure that differs from the tenure by divine service, which requires specific church services.
Example: In medieval England, a wealthy landowner might donate land to a monastery or church as alms land. The religious institution would then hold the land and use it to generate income, but they would also have a duty to pray for the soul of the donor.
Explanation: The example illustrates how alms land worked in practice. The land was donated as a form of charity, and the religious institution would use it to support their activities. However, they also had a spiritual obligation to pray for the donor, which was seen as a way of ensuring their soul's salvation. This duty was less specific than the duty of divine service, which required the performance of specific religious rituals.