Civil parish facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Civil parish (England)
Map of English civil parishes and Welsh communities
Category	Parish
Location	England
Found in	Districts
Created by	Various, see text
Created	Various, see text
Number	10,464 (as of 2023)
Possible types	City Community Neighbourhood Parish Town Village
Populations	0–137,387 (Northampton)
Government	City council Community council Neighbourhood council Parish council Town council Village council

In England, a civil parish is the smallest local government area. It's like the first layer of local government. These parishes have a long history. They started from an old system of church areas. For many centuries, these areas handled both church and local community tasks.

In the 1800s, civil parishes and church parishes officially became separate. Modern civil parishes began in 1894. This is when elected parish councils were created. They took over the non-religious jobs.

A civil parish can be very small, with only a few people in a countryside area. Or it can be a large town with over 100,000 residents. However, parish councils usually have a smaller role in local government compared to bigger councils.

As of 2023, there are 10,464 parishes in England. They cover about 40% of the English population. Historically, most civil parishes were in rural or smaller urban areas. Larger cities often didn't have them. But since 1997, new civil parishes can be created. This happens if local people ask for them. In 2007, this right was extended to London boroughs. Only one, Queen's Park, has been created in London so far.

Some parishes have special "city status" given by the monarch. A civil parish can also choose to be called a town, village, neighbourhood, or community. This is decided by its parish council. The council is usually elected by local people. For very small parishes, all local voters can attend a "parish meeting" instead of having a council.

Wales used to have civil parishes. In 1974, they were replaced by "communities." These are similar to English parishes. Civil parishes in Scotland were removed in 1929. Scotland now has "community council areas," but they have fewer powers. There are no similar units in Northern Ireland.

History of Civil Parishes

Early Beginnings

The idea of parishes in Europe started between the 700s and 1100s. In England, an early form was already in place by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066. These areas were often based on the land of manors. Manors were large estates controlled by a lord.

At first, the local lord chose the church and priest. But later, the Catholic Church took more control. Parish boundaries didn't change much for centuries. This was because church rules made it hard to change them.

Until the break with Rome in the 1500s, parishes handled church matters. The manor was the main local government unit. Later, the church took over more local administration. They collected a local tax called a tithe. After monasteries were closed, parishes gained the power to collect a tax for helping the poor. This was set by the Poor Relief Act 1601.

The local parish authorities were called "vestries." These were made up of all local taxpayers. As parishes grew, it became hard for everyone to meet. So, in some areas, a smaller "select vestry" took over. This made things more efficient. But it also meant a small group had all the power.

By the 1700s, people started questioning the parish vestry system. It was seen as inefficient and sometimes corrupt. So, in the early 1800s, parishes slowly lost some powers. New groups, like "boards of guardians," took over poor relief. This happened with the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834.

Splitting Church and Civil Roles

In the 1800s, the old parishes split into two types. They were almost exactly the same geographically. The Poor Law Amendment Act 1866 said that any area collecting a separate tax was a "parish." This included church parishes and other local areas. These became known as "civil parishes." This was to tell them apart from church parishes.

Church of England parishes are now called "ecclesiastical parishes." Their boundaries have changed a lot over time. This is due to changes in population and church attendance. Since 1921, each has its own church council.

In the late 1800s, many old boundary problems were fixed. Most "exclaves" (parts of a parish separated from the main area) were removed. By 1911, 58% of parishes in England and Wales were different between their civil and church forms.

Reforms of 1894

In 1894, the Local Government Act 1894 changed civil parishes. They became the smallest local government area in rural parts of England. The act removed the non-church duties of the old vestries. Parishes that crossed county lines or other district boundaries had to be split.

Rural Parishes

The 1894 act created elected civil parish councils. These were for all rural parishes with more than 300 voters. All rural parishes also had annual "parish meetings." Parishes with 100 to 300 voters could ask their county council for a parish council. Also, several small rural parishes could join together. They would share one parish council.

Urban Parishes

Urban civil parishes did not get their own parish councils. They were directly managed by the council of the urban district or borough they were in. Many urban parishes were the same size as their urban district. Towns with many urban parishes often combined them into one. Urban parishes were still used for electing guardians to help the poor. But after 1930, urban parishes became just geographical areas. They had no administrative power.

Changes from 1965 to 1974

In 1965, civil parishes in London were officially removed. This happened when Greater London was created. The new laws for Greater London didn't allow for local government below the London borough level.

In 1974, the Local Government Act 1972 kept rural parishes. But it removed most urban parishes. It also removed the urban districts that managed them. Some smaller urban districts became "successor parishes." These were new parishes that matched the old urban district's boundaries. About 300 such parishes were created. In larger urban areas, parishes were simply removed. These became "unparished areas." The difference between types of parishes was gone. All were just called "parishes." The 1972 act allowed new district councils to review their parishes. Many areas that had no parishes in 1972 have since become parished. For example, Hinckley now has four civil parishes.

Creating New Parishes

Today, creating new town and parish councils is encouraged in areas without them. The Local Government and Rating Act 1997 created a way for residents to ask for a new parish. This right was extended to London boroughs in 2007. The City of London is the only part of England where civil parishes cannot be created. If enough voters in an area sign a petition, the local council must consider creating a new parish.

Since 2000, many new parish councils have been created. Some are in large urban areas. This often happens when bigger councils are formed. People want a more local government that feels closer to them. For example, new parishes were created in Daventry (2003) and Sutton Coldfield (2016). The trend of creating large unitary authorities has also led to new parishes. This helps keep a local government level. Examples include Shrewsbury (2009) and Weymouth (2019). In 2001, the Milton Keynes urban area became fully parished. Ten new parishes were created there.

Parishes can also be removed. This happens if local people clearly and strongly support it. Examples include Birtley (abolished in 2006) and Southsea (abolished in 2010).

How Civil Parishes are Governed

Every civil parish has a "parish meeting." All local voters can attend this meeting. It usually happens once a year. A civil parish can also have a parish council. This council handles various local duties set by law.

Parishes with fewer than 200 voters are usually too small for a council. They only have a parish meeting. This is a form of direct democracy. Sometimes, several small parishes join together. They share one parish council or even a common parish meeting.

A parish council can choose to call itself a town council, village council, community council, or neighbourhood council. If the parish has city status, it can be called a city council. In 2011, there were 9,946 parishes in England. Since 1997, about 100 new civil parishes have been created. Some were made by splitting existing ones. Most were created from areas that didn't have parishes before.

What Parish Councils Do

Parish or town councils have few required duties. But they have many powers they can use voluntarily. These powers come from different laws. What they do can vary a lot. It depends on the council's size, money, and ability. Their activities can include:

Parish council community centre, in Ackworth, West Yorkshire

• Managing local facilities: This can include allotments (community gardens), cemeteries, parks, playgrounds, and playing fields. They might also manage village greens, village halls or community centres, bus shelters, and street lighting. Other things include roadside verges, car parks, footpaths, litter bins, and war memorials. Larger councils might also run markets, public toilets, public clocks, museums, and leisure centres.
• Spending money for the community: They can give grants to local groups or projects. They might fund public events, crime prevention, community transport, or tourism.
• Planning: Parish councils have a role in planning. They must be asked about any planning applications in their area. They can also create a "neighbourhood plan." This helps guide local development.

The Localism Act 2011 gave some parish councils a "general power of competence." This means they can do anything an individual can do. This is as long as it's not against other laws. This is different from being limited to only specific powers. To get this power, a council needs to meet certain conditions. For example, its clerk must have good qualifications.

How Parish Councils Get Money

Parish councils get money by adding a "precept" to the council tax. This tax is paid by people living in the parish. If a civil parish has no council, the parish meeting can still collect a tax. This is for specific duties given to it by law.

In areas with no civil parish (unparished areas), the district or borough council handles these activities. The district council might add an extra charge to the council tax. This is called a "Special Expense." It pays for services in the unparished area.

Councillors and Elections

Parish councils are made up of volunteer councillors. They are elected to serve for four years. A paid officer, usually called a parish clerk, carries out the council's decisions. Councils can hire more people for specific tasks. Some councils choose to pay their elected members a small allowance.

The number of councillors depends on the parish's population. Most rural councillors represent the whole parish. But in larger parishes, the area can be divided into "wards." Each ward then elects councillors. An election only happens if there are more candidates than available seats. If there are fewer candidates, the council fills the empty seats. This is done by "co-option." This means the council chooses someone to join. If a seat becomes empty during the four-year term, an election is only held if enough residents ask for one. Otherwise, the council will co-opt a replacement.

The Localism Act 2011 brought in new rules for councillors. All parish councils must have a "code of conduct." Councillors must follow this code. It helps keep high standards. A new crime was created for not following these rules. Councils can use a standard code or create their own. But it must follow the "Nolan Principles of Public Life."

Parish Status and Titles

A parish can be given "city status" by the monarch. As of 2020, eight parishes in England have city status. Each has an old Anglican cathedral. These are Chichester, Ely, Hereford, Lichfield, Ripon, Salisbury, Truro, and Wells.

A parish council can vote to call its parish a "town." Then the council becomes a "town council." About 400 parish councils are called town councils.

The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 allows a civil parish to use other names. These include:

• community
• neighbourhood
• village

So, a parish council can be called a town council, community council, village council, or city council.

The leader of a town council is called a "town mayor." The leader of a city parish council is usually called a "mayor."

Charter Trustees

Sometimes, a city or town stops being a borough. But people want to keep its old traditions. In this case, its "charter" (a special document) can be given to a parish council. If there's no parish council, the district council can appoint "charter trustees." These trustees keep the charter and the old symbols of the former borough. They maintain traditions like the mayoralty. For example, the city of Hereford became a unitary authority in 1998. It didn't have a parish council until 2000. Then a parish council was created for the city.

Geography of Civil Parishes

Civil parishes cover 35% of England's population. Only one is in Greater London. Few are in other large cities. Civil parishes vary greatly in population. Some have fewer than 100 people. They might have no settlement bigger than a hamlet. Others cover towns with tens of thousands of people. Weston-super-Mare, with 71,758 people, is the most populated civil parish. Many small settlements, often called villages or suburbs today, are in a single parish. These originally had one church.

Large urban areas are mostly "unparished." This means they don't have civil parishes. The government in 1972 didn't encourage creating them for big towns. But usually, there's nothing to stop them from being set up. For example, Birmingham has two parishes. Oxford has four. The Milton Keynes urban area has 24. However, parishes couldn't be set up in London until 2007.

A civil parish can be very small, like a village ward. Or it can be a huge area of empty moorland. The two largest parishes in December 2023 were Stanhope (County Durham) at 98.6 square miles. And Dartmoor Forest (Devon) at 79.07 square miles. The two smallest are tiny pieces of shared rural land. These are Lands Common to Axminster and Kilmington (Devon) and Lands Common to Brancepeth and Brandon and Byshottles (County Durham). The next two smallest are in built-up areas. These are Chester Castle (Cheshire) and Hamilton Lea (Leicestershire).

Deserted Parishes

The 2001 census found several parishes with no residents. These included Chester Castle (in Chester city centre). Also Newland with Woodhouse Moor, Beaumont Chase, Martinsthorpe, Meering, Sturston, and Tottington. The lands of Sturston, Tottington, and Tyneham were taken over by the Armed Forces during World War II. They are still empty.

In the 2011 census, Newland with Woodhouse Moor and Beaumont Chase had residents. No new deserted parishes were recorded.

Fixing Old Boundaries

Almost all cases of detached parts of civil parishes have been fixed. These were areas not connected to the main part of the parish. Also, parishes that crossed county lines have mostly been changed. As of 2022, 14 examples remain in England. These include Barnby Moor and Wallingwells in Nottinghamshire.

The direct ancestors of civil parishes are often called "ancient parishes." Many of these date back to medieval times. A few of these old parishes had "exclaves." These were parts of the parish that were surrounded by other parishes or counties. This caused problems for residents. They had to travel far for church or local services.

These problems started during the feudal system. Land ownership was complex. Large landowners might have had land in different areas. This influenced parish boundaries. It caused inconvenience for people in these separated areas. They had to go to a distant church or court.

These old problems started to be fixed in the early 1800s. The Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 helped. More changes came in 1844 with the Counties (Detached Parts) Act 1844. This moved most parishes that were partly or fully in a different county. Other laws also helped. By 1901, almost all civil parishes were no longer split between counties.

The Church of England has mostly kept its original parish boundaries. They have only changed them if local people asked. The Church's website has a map showing church parish boundaries.

Images for kids

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  Eight separate parts of Cowley parish in Middlesex, 1868.

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  Two tiny separate parts of Enfield parish, 1863.

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  A burial ground for St George Hanover Square parish in Paddington, 1870.

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  Map showing other main separate areas in Middlesex parishes.

See also

In Spanish: Parroquia civil (Inglaterra) para niños