Manse

For other uses, see Manse (disambiguation).

A manse (/ˈmæns/) is a clergy house inhabited by, or formerly inhabited by, a minister, usually used in the context of Presbyterian,^[1][2] Methodist,^[3] Baptist^[4][5] and other Christian traditions.

The Old Manse, Concord, Massachusetts.

Ultimately derived from the Latin mansus, "dwelling", from manere, "to remain", by the 16th century the term meant both a dwelling and, in ecclesiastical contexts, the amount of land needed to support a single family.^[6]

Many notable Scots have been called "sons (or daughters) of the manse", and the term is a recurring point of reference within Scottish media and culture.^[7] For example, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Gordon Brown was described as a "son of the manse" as he is the son of a Presbyterian minister.^[8]

When selling a former manse, the Church of Scotland always requires that the property should not be called "The Manse" by the new owners, but "The Old Manse" or some other acceptable variation. The intended result is that "The Manse" refers to a working building rather than simply applying as a name.^{[citation needed]}

The West Manse, Sanday, Orkney, Scotland (formerly the Free Kirk manse)

See also

• Glebe – an area of land within an ecclesiastical parish used to support a parish priest.
• List of children of clergy