Parish church
A parish church, in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches.
In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church is fundamental to the life of the community.
The church building reflects this status, and there is considerable variety in the size and style of parish churches. Many villages in Europe have churches that date back to the Middle Ages, but all periods of architecture are represented.
Nearly every part of England is in a parish, and most parishes have a parish church, which is consecrated. If there is no parish church, the bishop licenses another building for worship, and may designate it as a Parish Centre of Worship, a building which is not consecrated, but dedicated, and for most legal purposes it is deemed to be a parish church. [Pastoral Measure 1983, s.29 http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/content.aspx?LegType=All+Legislation&title=pastoral+measure&Year=1983&searchEnacted=0&extentMatchOnly=0&confersPower=0&blanketAmendment=0&sortAlpha=0&TYPE=QS&PageNumber=1&NavFrom=0&parentActiveTextDocId=1877685&ActiveTextDocId=1877726&filesize=6460]
The Church of Scotland, an established Presbyterian church, also uses a system of parish churches, covering the whole of Scotland.
ee also
*Church of England parish church
*List of Church of Scotland parishesReferences
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Look at other dictionaries:
parish church — noun The church of the establishment for a parish • • • Main Entry: ↑parish … Useful english dictionary
parish church — noun count the main church or the only church in a parish … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
parish church — n BrE the main Christian church in a particular area … Dictionary of contemporary English
parish church — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms parish church : singular parish church plural parish churches the main church or the only church in a parish … English dictionary
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parish church — ➡ parish * * * … Universalium
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