the lowest degree in the church of England; land; he who represents the incumbents of a church, parson, or vicar, and performs divine service in his stead: and in case of pluralities of livings, or where a clergyman is old and infirm, it is requisite there should be a curate to perform the cure of the church. He is to be licensed, and admitted by the bishop of the diocese, or by an ordinary having episcopal jurisdiction; and when a curate hath the approbation of the bishop, he usually appoints the salary too; and in such case, if he be not paid, the curate hath a proper remedy in the ecclesiastical court, by a sequestration of the profits of the benefice; but if the curate is not licensed by the bishop, he is put to his remedy at common law, where he must prove the agreement, &c. A curate having no fixed estate in his curacy, not being instituted and inducted, may be removed at pleasure by the bishop or incumbent. But there are perpetual curates as well as temporary, who are appointed where the tithes are improprie, and no vicarage endowed: these are not removeable, and the impropriators are obliged to find them; some whereof have certain portions of the tithes settled on them. Every clergyman that officiates in a church (whether incumbent or subtitute) in the liturgy is called a curate. Curates must subscribe the declaration according to the act of uniformity, or are liable to imprisonment, &c.