I dont have an exact timeline for correction of this perceived abuse of the system but this sort of thing was common in the world then English bought and sold ranks in the Army they were listed in the newspaper For sale Getting a post could be a problem    But you automatically got halfpay for sitting around doing nothing The government supported the church The often welltodo major landowner of the surrounding area had influence on who was appointed if youre American think Polly Harrington in the book or film Pollyanna  film Duties varied since the population varied There were probably livings where they reasonably shouldnt have placed a congregation but to remove it would deprive rural Anglicans of churchgoing Livings werent necessarily permanent The clergy could be replaced so the political situation had to be taken into account Think of William Collins in Pride and Prejudice  TV series  Morals analysis changed Perception of abuse changed as well It wasnt considered crooked but just normal procedure at the time Having said that this information should be somewhere but probably not in this article An Anglican church article Kind of touches on it in CurateAnglicanCommunion