noun
parish
PAIR-ish/ˈpærɪʃ/
A local church community and the district it serves.
The parish includes a small church and the surrounding homes.
Etymology
A church district also became a unit of civil government, with boundaries originally corresponding to the ecclesiastical parish. Louisiana’s county-like use preserves that administrative extension.
In context
the parish in which this church stands is a very small one it's in the Valley of the river ethon and it's a mere four miles long by two miles wide
More examples
- Our parish collects food for families in need.
- The priest serves two neighboring parishes.
- Their new house lies within the parish boundaries.
Forms
parish · parishes
parishioner noun — A member of a local church community.
Similar words
- congregation
- Names the people who worship together, not their territorial district.
- diocese
- A larger church district overseen by a bishop, containing multiple parishes.