PARISH Clerk. In every parish the parson, vicar, &c. hath a parish clerk under him, who is the lowest officer of the church. These were formerly clerks in orders, and their business at first was to officiate at the altar; for which they had a competent maintenance by offerings; but they are now laymen, and have certain fees with the parson on christenings, marriages, burials, &c. besides wages for their maintenance. The law looks upon them as officers for life: and they are chosen by the minister of the parish, unless there is a custom for the parishioners or churchwardens to choose them; in which case the canon cannot abrogate such custom; and when chosen it is to be signified, and they
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they are to be sworn into their office by the archdeacon, for which the court of king's bench will grant a mandamus.