Advowson, in English law, the right of presenting to a vacant living in the church. Ad-vowson, according to Blackstone, signifies taking into protection or patronage. When the lord of a manor built a church and endowed it, he acquired a right of nominating the ministers, provided they were canonically qualified. Advowsons are property, and as such purchasable, provided that certain laws for the prevention of simony are not infringed in the purchase. These laws are, however, more frequently evaded than obeyed. The most ordinary form of advowson is the presentation of a duly qualified clergyman to the bishop for institution into the living. The bishop has the right to reject the candidate presented; but in a few rare cases the patron has a right of presenting a person without the bishop's interference. The benefices of the church of England are in every case subjects of presentation. They are nearly 12,000 in number; the advowson of more than half of them belongs to private persons, and of the remainder to the crown, bishops, deans and chapters, universities, and colleges. The incumbents are maintained by tithes, or since the tithes commutation act by taxes in lieu of tithes.

The elective right of the congregation is unknown in the church of England, except in regard to those clergymen who perform duties in excess of the regular duties of the rector or vicar; such for instance as lecturers, who are paid by voluntary contributions.