The ministers of a parish or religious society and the deacons, elders, trustees, stewards and other presiding officers of a religious society or church, having by its usages no settled minister, may take, in succession, any estate granted to the minister and his successors, or for the use of the ministry or poor of the church; and may prosecute and defend all civil actions respecting it; but they shall not so take, while the clear annual income of prior grants is $3,000.