Are Churches/religous institutions given land or do they buy it?

Question

I'm especially thinking about France, before the French Revolution, and Catholicim.

Answer 1

From what I've read, there were several ways that religious institutions acquired land in those days. If they were wealthy enough, they could buy property outright.

Others were given land grants by the King, and some received gifts of land from the nobility.

Answer 2

Both. Don't forget that in most countries outside the US, there is no such thing as separation of church and state. Therefore, governments can give land to religious organizations. Some communities buy their land. Emporers -- especially Constantine back in the 4th century -- paid to have some of the great sites in the holy land built. Still at times property is donated by people who want the land to remain in good use (beats having an industrial park in the neighborhood) and some people leave money and/or land to the Church in their will.

In Russia, the government pays for everything of the Orthodox Church...buildings, candles, books, etc. Since the Orthodox faith is the official religion of Russia, it gets everything from the government.

In Catholicism, the local churches are actually owned by the diocese -- not the individual parishes.

Answer 3

At that time, church and state were so intertwined, they were seen as inseparable.

For example, under the Upper Canada Freehold System in the 1700-1800s, there was a "clergy reserve" lot in every section. One in every seven sections of the land was reserved for Protestant clergy (everyone assumed this meant Anglican but it wasn't explicitly stated). Likewise, in the "crown reserves", 1/7 of land reserved for the Crown. The revenue from this land would have supported the church and the government, if it was not used for church or government immediate purposes.

You might also look into the Seigneurial system in France - in Canada in the 1700s the seigneurial system included a strip which was granted to the church (therefore each Seigneury was its own parish). The church did not have to pay for this - the Seigneur did when he bought the seigneurial. It was a "service" that he provided to the habitants, or tenants of his land. Since this system came from France, it likely had something similar in place.

I know this doesn't directly answer your question, but hopefully it gives you a bit more framework from which to find the answer!

Answer 4

You might try asking this in the history section, you'll get more knowledgeable answers. As for America, churches buy their land.

Answer 5

The church controlled everything. What part of that don't you understand?

Answer 6

it takes money
this is not france here...