A pouillé is an enumeration of all ecclesiastical benefices located in a given geographical area. [1] There can be a pouillé of a parish, an abbey, a deanery, a diocese, etc. The pouillé is established for the assessment and collection of tax and charges and may include the revenues of profits, the number of taxpayers or even the complete list of these parties with the amounts paid.
A benefice or living is a reward received in exchange for services rendered and as a retainer for future services. The Roman Empire used the Latin term beneficium as a benefit to an individual from the Empire for services rendered. Its use was adopted by the Western Church in the Carolingian Era as a benefit bestowed by the crown or church officials. A benefice specifically from a church is called a precaria such as a stipend and one from a monarch or nobleman is usually called a fief. A benefice is distinct from an allod, in that an allod is property owned outright, not bestowed by a higher authority.
An abbey is a complex of buildings used by members of a religious order under the governance of an abbot or abbess. It provides a place for religious activities, work, and housing of Christian monks and nuns.
In some cases, we call a pouillé a register in which are transcribed acts affecting a church building, abbey, etc. and the description of the property.
A church building or church house, often simply called a church, is a building used for Christian religious activities, particularly for Christian worship services. The term is often used by Christians to refer to the physical buildings where they worship, but it is sometimes used to refer to buildings of other religions. In traditional Christian architecture, the church is often arranged in the shape of a Christian cross. When viewed from plan view the longest part of a cross is represented by the aisle and the junction of the cross is located at the altar area.
Sometimes the term polyptych is used.
General pouillés include all the archbishops and bishops of the kingdom or state.
