
The church rate was a tax formerly levied in each parish in England and Ireland for the benefit of the parish church. Out of these rates were defrayed the expenses of carrying on divine service, repairing the fabric of the church, and paying the salaries of the officials connected with it. ==History== The church rates were made by the churchwarden...
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_rate

Church rate was formerly in England a rate raised by resolutions of a majority of the parishioners in vestry assembled, from the occupiers of land and houses within a parish, for the purpose of maintaining the church and its services. In 1868 an act was passed abolishing compulsory church rates, except such as, under the name of church rates, were ...
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http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/browse/JC.HTM

(formerly in England and Ireland) a compulsory assessment imposed on the parishioners' holdings of houses or land in order to repair the parish church and maintain its services.
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https://www.infoplease.com/dictionary/church-rate
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