1. All lands, of what extent soever, which were in the possession of any parish, mission, congregation or society of Christians, of any denomination whatever, by virtue of any title vesting in them the property thereof, on 19 March 1839, shall be deemed to be held in mortmain forever, by and for the benefit of such parish, mission, congregation or society of Christians, and shall, by virtue of this division, be their absolute property, insofar as their respective titles extend and are valid.
R. S. 1964, c. 306, s. 1.