County Vs Parish: How Are These Words Connected?

How are the words “county” and “parish” related?” Are there similarities or differences between their definitions? If you do not know the correct answers to those questions, the county vs parish explanation below is meant for you.

Historically, a parish is a land ruled by a count/countess. It also refers to a circuit of a state or kingdom separated for specific justice administration and public affairs. In contrast, a parish is a circuit under one person or a vicar. A parish is not bounded by territorial limits but by one leader.

“County” and “parish” seem like very different words. Therefore, you may not understand their connection unless you know their definitions. So, this post will shed light on everything you should know about these two terms.

Definitions Of County And Parish

Words with similar spellings or pronunciations are easy to compare. It is because you can focus on how you say or spell them to contrast or find their similarities. Unfortunately, things are not as straightforward with words like “county” and “parish.”

At face value, these words have nothing in common. They do not even belong in the same section in the dictionary. So, the best way to compare them is by researching their definitions. The section below will reveal each word’s definitions.

Definition of County

The historical definition of a county is a piece of land or territory under the rule of a count or countess. Here is a sentence example of this context, “The countess let down her county by signing the discriminatory bill.”

Note: this definition is currently absolute because counts and countesses no longer exist in any country.

A county is also an administrative region or geographic subdivision of certain states or countries. For example, England and Wales are divided into major units with local governments. These units are counties. In a sentence, “The students must prepare a report on a specific county.”

The particular definition above may differ depending on the region. For instance;

• In the United States, a county is the largest administrative division of each state. So, the US has 50 states and over 3100 counties.
• In Canada, a county is an administrative district within certain provinces.
• In New Zealand, a county is an electoral district in rural areas.
• In the United Kingdom, a county is a region created through territorial division for local government.

Another definition of a county is a definitive geographic region without direct administrative functions. For example, “The county receives financial assistance from the state.”

This word also refers to the inhabitants of a county. For instance, in a sentence, “My daughter’s birth would be a secret if my husband had not told the whole county.”

Definition Of Parish

A parish is a circuit committed under one person or vicar. According to the Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, or Roman Catholic Church, a parish is an administrative circuit of a diocese with its own church. In a sentence, “The vicar advised all members of his parish to ignore the instructions from the Pope regarding gay marriages.”

Also, refer to this word when describing people that belong to a particular parish (as defined above) or a society that believes in religion and attends one church. Here is an example sentence, “The entire parish heard the vicar yelling at the altar boy who dropped the collection plate.”

Another definition of a parish is a district comprising a civil jurisdiction with its officers and regulations. In the US, a parish is a religious society, not restricted to a certain particular area but consisting of people who have decided to work and comply with the governance of a particular clergy member or priest.

In simpler words, a parish is a territory where congregation members reside. For instance, in a sentence, “The parish members lost respect for their priest after he made discriminatory remarks during a public ceremony.”

Also, a parish is an administrative subdivision in Louisiana, equivalent to a county in some states in the US. In the UK, a parish is a political subdivision of a British county, typically corresponding in boundaries to an original ecclesiastical parish. In a sentence, “Do you belong to a specific British county?”

How To Properly Use County And Parish In A Sentence

From the comprehensive definitions section above, the comparison between “parish” and “county” should be clear. So, we can now look at how you can use these words in sentences. Below are some guidelines:

How And When To Use County

“County” is predominantly a noun. Therefore, use the term to describe a place (base context on definition) or the inhabitants of a region called a county. Since it is a common noun, you do not have to capitalize its initials unless you position the word at the start of a sentence.

You can also use this word as an adjective when referring to something “relating to or characteristic of aristocratic people in a particular county.” An example sentence is, “You should leave behind the county accent when you get to the city.”

Note: When using words in sentences, you should be keen on which part of speech they belong to. For instance, the rules for using nouns and adjectives in sentences differ as nouns are names of people or things, while adjectives tell more about nouns or verbs.

How And When To Use Parish

“Parish” is mostly a noun. So, in whichever context you apply, you should remember the basic grammar rules for noun use in sentences.

However, you can also use it as a verb, meaning “to place someone or an area into one or more parishes.” For example, “The priest will parish the residents of the new village.”

County Vs Parish: The Words’ Connections

The primary connection between a county and a parish is that a parish is usually part of a county. However, if you are from Louisiana, this definition may not make sense because; in Louisiana, a parish is equivalent to a county.

Also, counties and parishes refer to a region constituting a civil jurisdiction and specific regulations. For instance, parishes and counties have particular law enforcers and laws, like taxation laws.

However, unlike counties, parishes are typically not bound by territorial limits. Instead, a common leader, usually a minister, priest, or clergy member, brings them together.

Examples Of County And Parish Use In Sentences

Now that you know the words’ meanings and how they compare, you can start using them correctly in sentences. Here are a few sentences to show you how to use these words in writing:

Example Sentences of County

1. Borough was the biggest and most prosperous county in the late 1880s.
2. Madison county made headlines when its local government prosecuted its first teenage criminal.
3. You cannot vote in this county unless you are a citizen.
4. The presidential candidates visited over 3000 counties to garner supporters ahead of the elections.
5. Your priority should be keeping the county safe from speeders and violent criminals, not chasing after bike nappers.

Example Sentences of Parish

1. Mark needs to make several parish calls before noon.
2. The former parish was restored to what you now know as the Church of St Michael.
3. The parish church in Texas belonged to an Abbey founded by the Bishop of Borough in the early 1500s.
4. The new stone bridge will connect the city with its adjacent village’s parish.
5. The revelations spread throughout the parish, thanks to the weekly bulletin.

Conclusion

Like “parish” and “county,” the English language is packed with words with similar definitions, spellings, and pronunciations. That explains why we have clarified the similarities and differences of confusing words, like “county” and “parish.” Feel free to read more about these words and share your thoughts about this post and what other words you have learned from us.