A rectory is a residence for parish priests, traditionally located next to the church. It is maintained by the congregation and includes guest rooms and a drawing room for entertaining. Some churches have sold their parishes, but many private residences retain the rectory’s name and historic value.
A rectory is a residence maintained for the use of a parish priest. Traditionally, priests have been reassigned frequently to new churches in many Christian denominations, and the Church maintains residences for their use as a working benefit. Otherwise, a priest would be forced to find a new residence with each change of job, and as priests sometimes entertain guests and receive members of the congregation at home, they would be obliged to look for a suitable residence for entertaining, which could be prohibitively expensive.
A variety of terms are used to describe a rectory, depending on the denomination. Parsonage, manse, vicariate and presbytery are all forms of the rectory, for example. A typical rectory is large enough to accommodate a religious officiant and his family, in denominations where priests may marry. Most rectory also include guest rooms for visiting Church officials, along with a large drawing room for entertaining.
Classically, a rectory is located next to the church. This is convenient for the resident, of course, as it makes commuting to work short and ensures that the priest is available whenever a member of the congregation might require religious assistance. This proximity of the rectory also reflects the administrative nature of the building; many priests use their rectories as offices, and historically the rectory was the seat for the management of serf land owned by the Church.
Rectories are still used extensively around the world today to house priests and other religious officials. The rectory is maintained by the congregation, through tithing and Church grants. Because the rectory officially belongs to the Church, not the resident, you may need to go to Church Council to make major changes and for assistance with repairs and replacement of damaged appliances and furniture.
Some churches have sold their parishes, either because they are no longer needed or because the church is short on funds. Many private residences in the old rectory retain the rectory’s name, and the rectory has also been used as sites to establish inns, restaurants and other businesses. Some people enjoy living in rectories because they are often the focus of community life, as churches are typically in the city centre, and because the area around a rectory tends to be relatively quiet. Many people also view rectories as buildings of historic value, and some communities use abandoned rectories to house museums or community offices.
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