On Constructing A Church

Letter 2,6 - to Felix, bishop of Messina, on constructing a church. October 5th, 591.

"Januarius, deacon of the church of Messina, has informed us in the notification of a petition, which appears in an appendix, that as a mark of his own devotion, he has founded a basilica in the city of Messina, which he wants to be consecrated in honor of Saints Stephen, Pancras and Euplus.
For that reason, my dearest brother, if this place legally belongs to your city, and it is certain that no corpse is buried there, first of all receive the legitimate donation, that is to say from today, ten gold coins a year free of imperial tribute, and from the rest of his property let him just retain the usufruct.
Inquire carefully into all of this, to see that the amount of that income which is offered, or what he will leave at the time of his death, is sufficient for the repair of buildings, for the lighting, and also for the sustenance of servants, from an annual payment, the generous gift itself being registered with the municipal administration.
But if what we have said is not implemented through your Solicitude, you should not doubt that you or your heirs will satisfy the church' s requirements from your own property, for any difference.
And so with these provisions, let this prayed-for benediction proceed."

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 196.