Owning a parish church?

The Åmot bygdebok, vol. 1 p. 79, says "Jens Hals eide halvparten i Løten kirke med de gods som hørte til, verdsatt for 500 riksdaler." I think this translates to something like "Jens Hals owned a half share in Løten church with the property that belonged to it, valued at 500 riksdaler." Løten is a parish near Åmot. Jens Hals was not a clergyman, but he was a prosperous landowner, who lived in Åmot (not Løten) from 1681 to 1737. Can someone explain what it means to "eide halvparten i en kirke"? Breifly, what was the property status of the chruches and prestegardens?