Curate - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition curate

Definition :

Curate [fr. Curator, Lat.], is a term properly applied to one who has the cure of souls, namely, the incumbent of a parish. The incumbent may have to assist him an 'assistant' or 'stipendiary' curate, often called 'curate' simply. A curate in this sense is an officiating temporary minister, regularly employed by the spiritual rector or vicar either to serve in his absence or as his assistant. All curates serve under a licence from the bishop of the diocese, revocable at his discretion, with an appeal against the revocation of the licence to the archbishop only [(English) Pluralities Act, 1838 (1 & 2 Vict. c. 106), s. 98; Poole v. Bishop of London, (1861) 7 Jur. N. S. 347]; and the law, on the other hand, has made several provisions for their proper maintenace, Pluralities Act, 1838, ss. 75-103; (English) Pluralities Act, 1884 (48 & 49 Vict. c. 54), ss. 8, 10. See PERPETUAL CURATE.