(from advocatus), the right of patronage to a church or ecclesiastical benefice. He who has the advowson is called the patron, from his obligation to defend the rights of the church from oppression and violence. Advowsons are either,
1. Presentative, where the patron presents his clerk to the bishop or other ordinary to be instituted, and the bishop commands the archdeacon to induct him;
2. Collative, where the advowson lies in the ordinary, and within his jurisdiction, in which case no presentation is needed, but the ordinary collates or institutes the clerk and sends him to the proper officer to be inducted;
3. Donative, where the benefice is exempt from the jurisdiction of the ordinary, and visitable by the king only, or some other secular patron, who puts his clerk into possession by virtue of an instrument under his hand and seal, without institution, or induction, or examination by the ordinary. The greater part of the benefices in the Church of England are presentative. They are often put up for sale, much to the disgrace of the Church and the nation. (See ENGLAND, CHURCH OF).
Advowson,
Some additional facts may here be presented. In case the patron does not present within six months, the presentation lapses to the bishop; and if he neglect to collate within the following six months, to the archbishop, and after him to the crown. If, however, after the first six months the patron present before the bishop has collated, the presentation of the patron is good. So, after the expiration of twelve months, if the bishop collate before the archbishop, the bishop's appointment is good. If a benefice in the gift of a person outlawed or tainted fall vacant, the sovereign' presents. -If the patron remain in a state of excommunication for the space of forty days, his clerk may be refused. Presentation made while the benefice is full is void. If a patron present first one and then another clerk, the ordinary may institute whichever he pleases; but where the sovereign is patron the ordinary must institute the second. A patron may not present himself, but the ordinary may admit him on his petition. A married woman, having the right of advowson, must present in the name of her husband. See Johnson, Clergyman's -Vadenecunm