All ecclesiastical societies in this state, in communion with the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, shall be known in the law as parishes as well as ecclesiastical societies, and shall have power to receive and hold by gift, grant or purchase all property, real or personal, that has been or may be conveyed to them for maintaining religious worship according to the doctrine, discipline and worship of said church, and for the support of the educational and charitable institutions of the same, and shall have and exercise all the ordinary powers of bodies corporate.
(1949 Rev., S. 5374.)
Bequest to wardens and vestry is valid. 22 C. 132. A parish is a corporation; its rector is its agent and it can take a bequest for the benefit of the poor. 57 C. 275. Relation between church in this state and church in general; trust for its general purposes; is a charity which church cannot release. 67 C. 554. Bequest in trust for erection of a chapel considered and upheld. 74 C. 586. Cited. 224 C. 797.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 598 - Religious Corporations and Societies
Section 33-243 to 33-264. - Religious corporations and societies: General provisions.
Section 33-264a. - Formation of religious corporation or society.
Section 33-264b. - Filing of certificate.
Section 33-264d. - Change from religious society to corporation.
Section 33-264e. - Dissolution.
Section 33-264f. - Judicial dissolution.
Section 33-264h. - Conveyances by ecclesiastical societies to religious societies and corporations.
Section 33-264i. - Dissolution of ecclesiastical society.
Section 33-264j. - Status of societies established prior to October 1, 1969.
Section 33-264k. - Construction of part.
Section 33-264l. - Prior rights and liabilities unaffected.
Section 33-265. - Legal status and powers.
Section 33-266. - Regulations.
Section 33-267. - Two organizations in one society.
Section 33-268. - Election of trustees.
Section 33-269. - Number; term of office.
Section 33-270. - Organization and powers of trustees. Treasurer's report.
Section 33-271. - District superintendent or presiding elder and stewards may form corporation.
Section 33-272. - Powers of corporation.
Section 33-273. - Appointment of trustees.
Section 33-274. - Trustees may convey real estate to corporation.
Section 33-275. - Union of churches; their trustees and property.
Section 33-276. - Change of name.
Section 33-277. - Election and powers of trustees.
Section 33-278. - Change of name.
Section 33-278a. - Name changes authorized.
Section 33-278b. - Powers. Merger. Dissolution. Formation.
Section 33-279. - Organization as corporation.
Section 33-280. - Property rights of Roman Catholic Church.
Section 33-281. - Subject to laws of church.
Section 33-281a. - Change of name of Methodist and Evangelical United Brethren Churches.