PATRON, in the canon and common law, is a person, who having the advowson of a parsonage, vicarage, or the like spiritual promotion, belonging to his manor, hath, on that account, the gift and disposition of the benefice, and may present to it whenever it becomes vacant. The patron's right of disposing of a benefice, originally arises either from the patron, or his ancestors, &c. being the founders or builders of the church; from their having given lands for the maintenance thereof; or, from the church's being built on their ground; and frequently from all three together.