parish

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/ˈpærɪʃ/
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A local church community or district, and in some places a small civil administrative area.

Examples

  • The priest serves three rural parishes.
  • The parish council discussed repairs to the playground.
  • The village is part of a small civil parish.
  • Some English towns are divided into civil parishes.
  • Civil parishes do not always match church boundaries.

Similar words

civil parish
local government area
administrative parish
ecclesiastical district
local church area
church district
church community
municipal unit
congregation
local district

Meanings

Church district or community

noun
everyday
neutral
A local church area and the people served by it, usually under the care of a priest, pastor, or minister.

Examples

  • The parish raised money for the food bank.
  • She has belonged to the same parish for twenty years.
  • The priest serves three rural parishes.
  • The parish organized a summer festival.
  • New families were welcomed into the parish.

Similar words

Civil local-government area

noun
legal
technical
In some countries or regions, a small local administrative district, sometimes governed by a parish council or similar body.

Examples

  • The village is part of a small civil parish.
  • The parish council discussed repairs to the playground.
  • Some English towns are divided into civil parishes.
  • The parish meeting is open to local electors.
  • Civil parishes do not always match church boundaries.

Similar words

Etymology

From Old French paroisse, from Late Latin parochia, from Greek paroikia, meaning a neighboring community. The church sense came first, and later some places developed a civil-administration sense.

FAQ

What does parish mean?

It can mean a local church community or district, or a civil local-government area.

What is a parish church?

A parish church is the local church that serves as the main religious center of a parish.

What is a civil parish?

A civil parish is a small local-government area, separate from a church parish in some systems.

What is the plural of parish?

The plural is parishes.

Is a parish always religious?

No. Many parishes are religious, but civil parishes are secular administrative areas.

What is a parishioner?

A parishioner is a person who belongs to or lives in a parish.

How do you use parish in a sentence?

For example: The parish raised money for the food bank.

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