Augmentation, PROCESS OF, in Scots law, an action in the Court of Teinds (q.v.) by the minister of a parish against the titular or person entitled to the free teinds, the patron, or the landowners, for the purpose of procuring an increase to his stipend.
The moderator and clerk of the presbytery to which the minister belongs must also be called as parties. A period of twenty years must elapse before the minister becomes entitled to a fresh augmentation. There must of course be some free teind in the parish—i.e. teind not previously applied to stipend, otherwise there can be no augmentation. In many parishes the teinds are exhausted. The amount of the augmentation is fixed, or modified, as it is termed, in so many chalders of grain or victual, generally Linlithgow measure of oatmeal and barley: the stipend itself being paid in money, according to the Fiars Prices (q.v.) of each year. In the modification of a suitable stipend, regard is had to the state of the teinds, the extent of the parish, the population to be cared for, the expense of living, and the like; but a general cause, such as the Repeal of the Corn Laws, was not held to justify an augmentation. It is usual to give three or four chalders. This process has the further object in view of localling the stipend so modified—i.e. of assigning it in due proportions to the heritors or other parties in possession of the teinds. This object is attained by means of what is called a scheme of locality—an allotment of the stipend modified to the several parties liable therefor. This scheme is prepared at the instance of the second junior Lord Ordinary, on a remit from the Teind Court. The last conclusion in a summons of augmentation is for a suitable sum, or increase to the sum already allowed, for communion elements—i.e. for bread, wine, and other necessaries for celebrating the sacrament of the Lord's Supper after the Presbyterian fashion. In the case of large town parishes, as much as £30 has been given to each of the collegiate ministers. When there is not sufficient teind to bring the stipend up to £150 per annum, with £8, 6s. 8d. for communion elements, it is provided that the deficiency shall be paid by the Exchequer. Much discontent is felt with the tedious and expensive nature of augmentations, especially where in an urban parish the stipend has to be allocated over a great number of small rentals. Litigation frequently occurs as to the rights held to teinds, and the validity of the valuations of teinds made early in the 17th century. Questions between overpaying and underpaying heritors are also kept open for long periods of time. An attempt has recently been made to simplify augmentations, but the measure was not approved of by the dissenting communities.
AUGMENTATION OF BENEFICES is an important form of church extension in England. Much of the Queen Anne's Bounty is applied to this purpose, and under the Lord Chancellor's Act of 1863 nearly a quarter of a million sterling, realised by the sale of certain classes of advowson, has been similarly applied. See STIPEND, GLEBE, MANSE; also PARISH, QUEEN ANNE'S BOUNTY.