A parish is a place in which the population of a certain church resides.

Explanation

A parish is defined by its territorial boundaries and the congregation dwelling within them; it is both a geographic and an ecclesiastical unit of the common law.

Where this applies

• A dispute over church property turns on whether a family lives within the parish boundaries — the court examines whether they reside in the territory served by that particular church.
• Two churches argue over which congregation a new subdivision belongs to — the question is resolved by determining the geographic boundaries of each parish.
• A local government tries to tax land it claims is outside the parish — the church shows the land falls within its recognized territorial boundaries.

See also

• 12.11.8 The cause of the Church is equal to public causes; and for the best of reasons — it is the cause of religion.
• 12.11.10 The Church does not die.