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.
|  | Combe Martin parish church (St Peter ad Vincula), North Devon, England |
|
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.
Larger towns and cities, even those with
cathedrals, still have parishes and parish churches. However, by the late
20th and early
21st century, with the decline in the number of worshippers and the
shortage of parish priests, there has been a trend towards team/shared ministry and many parish churches no longer have a service every Sunday.
Some notable parish churches in
Britain:
*St Peter's Church,
Barton-upon-Humber,
North Lincolnshire (
Saxon tower)
*
St Botolph's Church,
Boston,
Lincolnshire*
St Mary Redcliffe's Church,
Bristol*St Martin's Church,
Canterbury,
Kent (oldest church in England)
*St Wulfram's Church,
Grantham,
Lincolnshire (
14th century spire)
*St Michael's Church,
Lewes,
Sussex (round tower)
*
St Illtyd's Church, Llantwit Major,
Vale of Glamorgan (medieval wall paintings)
*St Andrew's Church,
Plymouth,
Devon (rebuilt after
World War II)
*Holy Trinity Church,
Kingston upon Hull,
Yorkshire (claims to be the largest parish church in the country)
*
St Georges Minster, Doncaster - Large Victorian parish church built by
Sir George Gilbert Scott
