A vicariate is a house provided by a local parish for the vicar to live in while serving the congregation. It allows ministers to focus on spiritual needs without worrying about daily necessities. The vicarage is usually similar to other homes in the area and includes a study for counseling and sermon preparation. The term can also refer to property owned and managed by the church in a designated area.
In a broad sense, vicariate usually means the house that a local parish reserves as a shelter for the vicar assigned to the parish. Sometimes referred to as a rectory, the vicariate provides the local ecclesiastical minister with a home while in the service of the local congregation. Depending on the size of the local congregation and the structure of the religious denomination, it is possible for two or more vicars to be assigned territory and share residence in a common vicariate.
In the Christian tradition, the concept of vicariate can be traced back to the New Testament counsel for church members to provide for the care of ministers. Many churches see the provision of a vicarage or rectory as releasing local ministers from the need to worry about day-to-day matters such as securing food, clothing and shelter. From this perspective, providing housing makes it possible for local ministers to focus on the spiritual and material needs of the local church congregation without the distraction of working in any type of job other than providing ministry to flock members and the wider community.
While a vicariate is sometimes equipped to be one of the most impressive houses in the local community, it is much more often the case that the vicariate reflects the overall financial condition of the congregation. That is, the vicarage will be built along the lines of other family homes in the area, tending to blend in rather than stand out from the homes owned by most congregants. The vicarage is often looked after by persons given responsibility for church grounds proper, and is usually located in close proximity to church property, if not built adjacent to the local church.
In keeping with the ministerial calling of the vicar, the typical vicarage will normally include a study or office where the vicar can offer counseling or otherwise interact with people who wish to visit the vicar for spiritual advice or to discuss a matter of personal or local importance . The inclusion of a study also often provides a quiet place for the vicar to prepare sermons or contemplate other matters related to study, ministry, or tending the local flock.
Some Christian traditions include the concept of vicariate, which can be broadly defined as property owned and managed by the church in a designated geographic area. While local vicariate may be included as part of a vicariate, the two terms are not interchangeable.
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