Curate

[4] A vicar arises when a rectory was sold to lay rectors, which would often be a monastic house (such as abbey) or university college; a perpetual curacy where another priest or senior cleric has long-term control of the parish finances, granting an agreed stipend and general powers to the curate, albeit of theoretically of the same job security, below.

[5] Once in possession of their benefices, rectors and vicars enjoyed a somewhat locally varied array of rights, absolutely, a home in which to live without charge, and generally a generous income from the parish especially in the era of tithes, yet could be removed after due legal process and for a restricted number of reasons.

[6] Perpetual curates were placed on a similar footing in 1838 and were commonly styled "vicars", and this practice was legally recognised in 1868.

[9] With the 1968 Pastoral Measure and subsequent legislation, the Church of England has undergone a major process of reform which still continues today, and much of above no longer holds good.

[10] Terms like "rector" and "curate" were carried overseas with the spread of Anglicanism, but their exact meaning depends on local conditions and regulations.

[citation needed] In the Episcopal Church of the United States, the curacy may be a temporary place to continue training after ordination, similar to an internship,[11] or it may be a permanent, subordinant position, more akin to a perpetual curate.

The words perpetuus and temporalis distinguish their appointments but not the length of service, the apparent reference to time is accidental.

These are generally clergy who are nearer to the beginning than the end of their ministries, who have already served their curacy (title post) in a parish church.