Royal peculiar

A royal peculiar is a Church of England parish or church exempt from the jurisdiction of the diocese and the province in which it lies, and subject to the direct jurisdiction of the monarch.

The church parish system dates from the early Middle Ages, when most early churches were provided by the lord whose estate land coincided with that of the parish.

A donative parish (or "peculiar") was one that was exempt from diocesan jurisdiction.

[1] There are several reasons for peculiars but usually they were held by a senior churchman from another district, parish or diocese, and gave livings (salaries or use of property) to those clergy chosen by the donor or donor's heir.

[2][3] The majority of royal peculiars that remain are within the Diocese of London.