Les patronages des paroisses urbaines : le cas du diocèse médiéval de Tournai

A recent analysis of medieval cathedral archives in Tournai revealed significant insights into the patronage system of urban parishes within the diocese, highlighting a practice that exacerbated inequality among clergy. The study examined two key documents: a 1411 pouillé and a list of collator-patrons from around 1364, focusing on four deaneries, including the episcopal seat in Tournai and Lille. It uncovered how parishes were often stripped of resources to benefit distant ecclesiastical institutions, both secular and regular, widening the gap between upper and lower clergy. Additionally, the research shed light on the institution of 'concurati' or simultaneous parish priests, prevalent in Dutch-speaking deaneries until its abolition by the Council of Trent.

Pycke, J. (2011). Les patronages des paroisses urbaines : le cas du diocèse médiéval de Tournai. Revue d’Histoire de l’Eglise de France, 97(2), 269–289. https://doi.org/10.1484/j.rhef.5.100010