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 be-
nefit, and may present to it whenever it becomes va-
cant. The patron's right of disposing of a benefice ori-
ginally 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.