PATRON, in the canon or 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.