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A prebend is a form of beneficeOriginally used in feudal societies to describe a grant of land as a reward for services rendered. In modern usage it refers to a collection of parishes working together under a single incumbent. used to provide a fixed and independent income to those members of a cathedral’s chapter known as prebendaries, from the Latin praebere meaning “to provide”.[1]
The endowed prebend was developed in the early 12th century, giving prebendaries financial independence from their bishops, and creating positions that appealed to the younger sons of the nobility.[2] Historically a prebend usually consisted of the revenue from one manor of the cathedral’s estates, but by the 19th century prebendary was almost exclusively an honorary title only, with no income attached.[1]
Prebends in their original sense no longer exist, but the territorial names can still be seen attached to the prebendal stalls in many English cathedrals.[1]