the precinct of a parochial church, or a circuit of ground inhabited by people who belong to one church, and are under the particular charge of its minister.

The word comes from the Latin parochia, the Greek παροχία, "habitation;" compounded of παρά, "near," and οχις, "house."—Accordingly Du Cange observes, that the name παροχία was anciently given to the whole territory of a bishop, and derives it from neighbourhood; because the primitive Christians, not daring to assemble openly in cities, were forced to meet secretly in neighbour-houses.

In the ancient church there was one large edifice in each city for the people to meet in; and this they called parochia, parish. But the signification of the word was afterwards enlarged, and by a parish was meant a diocese, or the extent of the jurisdiction of a bishop, consisting of several churches; unless we will suppose, as some do, that those bishops were only only pastors of single churches. See Diocese and Bishop.

Du Pin observes, that country parishes had not their origin before the 4th century; but those of cities are more ancient. The city of Alexandria is said to have been the first that was divided into parishes.