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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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parish
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Historically the smallest administrative unit of the Church, being the area served by a single church building and by one priest. It was also the local political unit, with matters such as relief for the poor being dealt with at parish level (hence the phrase 'on the parish'). In those days there was no village hall and the local dignitaries met in the vestry, the room in the church where the priest's robes and the vessels for the service were kept. So the vestry became the name for the local authority.
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In rural areas of England the parish remains the third tier of *local government. An act of 1894 established that any parish of more than a certain size (now 200 adults) must elect a council. However a parish council may, if it considers the name more appropriate, resolve to call itself a town council and its leader a mayor.
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