Parish facts for kids
A parish is like a special neighborhood or area that a church takes care of. It's a term used by many Christian churches. These include the Church of England, Anglican Communion, Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Lutheran churches, and some Methodist and Presbyterian churches.
In a parish, the local priest or minister is responsible for helping the people who live there. The word "parish" can also mean the group of people who go to a specific church. When we say "parish minister," it means a leader who serves a church's congregation (its members).
A parish is usually a smaller part of a larger church area called a diocese. A Bishop is the leader of a diocese.
Parishes in Local Government
Sometimes, the word "parish" is also used for an administrative area in local government. These areas often started out as church parishes. Over time, their borders might have changed a bit to fit government needs better. But the name "parish" stayed the same.
For example, in the American state of Louisiana, a parish is an administrative area. It is very similar to what other states call a county.
Gallery
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St James's church in Manorbier, Pembrokeshire, is a parish church dating from the 12th century and is a Grade I listed building.
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Parish boundary markers for St Peter's and St Owen's in Hereford.
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St Mary's parish church in Hasfield, Gloucestershire.
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A small Roman Catholic parish church in Wróblik, Poland.
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Saint Martin's Collegiate Parish Church in Opatów, Poland.
See also
In Spanish: Parroquia (religión) para niños
