Royal Peculiar
The church parish system dates from Saxon times. Most early churches were provided by the lord who owned the land that the parish was in. A "donative parish" (or "peculiar") was one that was not under the jurisdiction if the diocese. These churches were normally held by a churchman from another district, parish or diocese. They could include the separate or "peculiar" jurisdiction of the monarch, another archbishop or bishop, or the dean and chapter of a cathedral. An archbishop's peculiar is subject to the direct jurisdiction of an archbishop. A royal peculiar is subject to the direct jurisdiction of the monarch.