Dilapidation

A species of ecclesiastical waste which occurs whenever the incumbent' suffers any edifices of his ecclesiastical living to go to ruin or decay. It is either voluntary, by pulling down or permissive, by suffering the church, parsonage-houses, and other buildings thereunto belonging, to decay. And the remedy for either lies either in the spiritual court, where the canon law prevails, or in the courts of common law. It is also held to be good cause of deprivation if the bishop, parson, or other ecclesiastical person dilapidates buildings or cuts down timber growing on the patrimony of the church, unless for necessary repairs; and that a writ of prohibition will also lie against him in the common-law courts.

3 Bla. Com. 91.