Legal Definitions - prebendary

A prebendary is a member of the clergy who holds a specific, often honorary or non-residential, position on the staff of a cathedral. Crucially, a prebendary receives a regular payment, known as a stipend, which is drawn from a dedicated endowment or fund belonging to the cathedral, rather than from its general operating budget or direct donations. This stipend typically comes from the income generated by the cathedral's invested assets.

• Example 1: Advisory Role and Endowment Income
  Reverend Dr. Eleanor Vance, a highly respected theologian, is appointed as a prebendary at St. Michael's Cathedral. Her role involves occasionally delivering lectures, advising the Dean on theological matters, and participating in special ceremonial services. As a prebendary, Dr. Vance receives a modest annual stipend from a specific fund within St. Michael's Cathedral's long-standing endowment, recognizing her contributions and allowing her to dedicate some time to these duties without relying on the cathedral's day-to-day operational funds.

• Example 2: Historical Context and Dedicated Fund
  In a historic English cathedral, the "Prebend of St. Cuthbert" was established centuries ago by a wealthy benefactor. Today, the income from the investments of this specific fund continues to provide a stipend for the current prebendary, who is responsible for overseeing the cathedral's archives and historical records. This illustrates how a prebendary's payment comes from a dedicated endowment, often with historical roots, rather than the cathedral's general income. The individual holds a specific role and is compensated directly from the returns of that invested capital.

• Example 3: Distinction from General Staff Salaries
  The Dean of a large cathedral is discussing the annual budget. While the salaries for the resident canons, vergers, and administrative staff come from the annual operating budget funded by donations and grants, the payments for the cathedral's two prebendaries are drawn separately from the interest generated by a specific trust fund established generations ago for that purpose. This example highlights the crucial distinction that a prebendary's stipend is sourced from a dedicated endowment—a separate pool of invested money—rather than the cathedral's general income used for most other staff salaries and operational expenses.