Advowson (/ədˈvaʊzən/) or patronage is the right in English law of a patron (avowee) to present to the diocesan bishop (or in some cases the ordinary if not the same person) a nominee for appointment to a vacant ecclesiastical benefice or church living, a process known as presentation (jus praesentandi, Latin: "the right of presenting").

In ecclesiastical law, the right to recommend a member of the Anglican clergy for a vacant benefice, or to make such an appointment. The word is recorded from Middle English, in the sense ‘patronage of a religious house or benefice’ with the obligation to defend it and speak for it, and comes ultimately from Latin advocare ‘summon’.

The Beauchamps of Bedford Castle were well versed in defence and their North Essex manors were set amongst the many manors of de Vere, with a newly built castle at Castle Hedingham where Matilda, the enemy of Stephen, had been welcomed.

The Normans brought an increased prosperity to the Manors and handed them to wealthy men of their own race who were able to build churches or chapels adjoining their own demesnes. But it was not until the Normans had been in England for nearly 80 years that the Manor of Lamarsh came into the hands of such a family: the Beauchamps of Bedford.

It was in the reign of King Stephen that this family, loyal to the King, was rewarded by territorial gifts in North Essex when they acquired, amongst others, the manorial lands of Belchamp Walter, Twinstead, Lamarsh and Henny.

When the church was first built the Advowson lay with the Beauchamps but Richard de Beauchamp gave a charter to Colne Priory in which he gave ¼ of a knight’s fee in Alphamstone and Lamarsh, and the Advowson of Lamarsh church, to the monks of Colne, at the instance of his wife Adelina. The document was signed by Payn, Stephen and Walter de Beauchamp.