Altarage refers to the offerings or revenues that accrue to a priest or church from services performed at the altar. Historically, this term encompassed various forms of income: stipends given for the celebration of Masses, offerings made during liturgical functions, and gifts presented at the altar during special occasions such as baptisms, weddings, and funerals.
In medieval times, altarage was distinguished from other ecclesiastical revenues, particularly from tithes and land holdings. It represented the personal income of the priest derived directly from his sacramental ministry. The concept reflects the scriptural principle that “those who serve at the altar should share in the offerings of the altar” (1 Corinthians 9:13).
Today, while the term is less commonly used, the practice continues in the form of Mass stipends and stole fees (offerings given on the occasion of baptisms, weddings, and funerals), though these are now more regulated by diocesan policies to ensure equity and prevent any appearance of simony—the forbidden practice of buying or selling spiritual goods.
The theological underpinning of altarage emphasizes not payment for sacraments, which are freely given, but rather the faithful’s participation in supporting the Church’s ministry and the livelihood of her ministers.
