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 ὁικός 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 pastors of single churches. 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.

How ancient the division of parishes is, is not indeed absolutely certain; for in the early ages of Christianity in this island, parishes were unknown, or at least signified the same that a diocese now does. There was then no appropriation of ecclesiastical dues to any particular church; but every man was at liberty to contribute his tithes to any priest or church he pleased, but he was obliged to do it to some; or if he made no special appropriation thereof, they were paid to the bishop, whose duty it was to distribute them among the clergy, and for other pious purposes, according to his own discretion. Camden says England was divided into parishes by archbishop Honorius about the year 630. Sir Henry Hobart maintains that parishes were first erected by the council of Lateran, held A.D. 1179. But Mr Selden proves, that the clergy lived in common without any division of parishes, long after the time mentioned by Camden; and it appears from the Saxon laws, that parishes were in being long before the council of Lateran in 1179. The distinction of parishes occurs in the laws of king Edgar, about the year 970. It seems pretty clear and certain, says judge Blackstone (Com. Vol. I. p. 112.), that the boundaries of parishes were first ascertained by those of a manor or manors; because it very seldom happens that a manor extends itself over more than one parish, though there are often many manors in one parish. The lords, he adds, as Christianity spread, began to build churches upon their own demesnes or wastes, in order to accommodate commodate their tenants in one or two adjoining lordships; and that they might have divine service regularly performed therein, obliged all their tenants to appropriate their tithes to the maintenance of the one officiating minister, instead of leaving them at liberty to distribute them among the clergy of the diocese in general; and this tract of land, the tithes of which were so appropriated, formed a distinct parish; and this accounts for the frequent intermixture of parishes one with another. For if a lord had a parcel of land detached from the main of his estate, but not sufficient to form a parish of itself, it was natural for him to endow his newly erected church with the tithes of such lands. Extra parochial wastes and marsh lands, when improved and drained, are by 17 Geo. II. cap. 37. to be assessed to all parochial rates in the parish next adjoining. Camden reckons 9284 parishes in England; and Chamberlayne makes 9913. They are now generally reckoned about 10,000.

- 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 are to be sworn into their office by the archdeacon, for which the court of king's bench will grant a mandamus.