Editing Parish church (section)

==Church of England and Church of Scotland==
In [[England]] and many [[British Overseas Territories]] as well as former British territories, the [[Church of England]] parish church is the basic administrative unit of [[Episcopal polity|episcopal]] churches. Parishes cover almost the whole area of England. In addition to [[Parish|ecclesiastic parishes]], with which this article is concerned, there is also a system of [[Parish (administrative division)|civil parishes]], which represent the smallest tier of administrative units. However since the 19th century these have not shared the same boundaries, or often the same names. (In other territories arrangements may differ, e.g. in Bermuda civil and church parishes still share the same boundaries, see [[Anglican Church of Bermuda]]). Most ecclesiastical parishes have an [[Church of England parish church|Anglican parish church]], which is [[consecration|consecrated]]. If there is no parish church, the [[bishop]] licenses another building for worship, and may designate it as a [[Parish Centre of Worship|parish centre of worship]].<!--Note that this phrase is not capitalized in the laws which define it., as per http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukcm/2011/3/section/43 and http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukcm/1983/1/section/29/2006-10-01.--> This building is not consecrated, but is dedicated,{{clarify|date=January 2019|reason=It is only used by the church?}} and for most legal purposes it is deemed to be a parish church.<ref>[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukcm/2011/3/section/43 Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011, s.43]</ref> In areas of increasing secularisation or shifts in religious belief, centres of worship are becoming more common, and many larger churches have been sold due to their upkeep costs. Instead the church may use [[community centres]] or the facilities of a local church of another denomination.

{{anchor|Mission church}}
While villages and small towns may have a single parish church, larger towns may have a parish church and other smaller churches in various districts. These other churches do not have the legal or religious status of a parish church, and may be described by a variety of terms, such as ''[[chapel of ease]]'' (this term more often refers to an additional church in a geographically extensive rural parish) or ''mission church''. Often the parish church will be the only one to have a full-time [[Minister (Christianity)|minister]], who will also serve any smaller churches within the parish. (For example, St. Peter's Church in St. George's Parish, Bermuda, is located on [[St. George's Island, Bermuda|St. George's Island]]; hence, a chapel-of-ease, named simply ''Chapel-of-Ease'', was erected on neighbouring [[St. David's Island, Bermuda|St. David's Island]] so that the island's residents need not cross [[St. George's Harbour, Bermuda|St. George's Harbour]].)<ref>[http://www.stpeters.bm/ChapelofEase St. Peter's Church: Parish Chapel-of-Ease]</ref>

In cities without an Anglican [[cathedral]], the parish church may have administrative functions similar to that of a cathedral. However, the [[diocese]] will still have a cathedral.

The [[Church of Scotland]], the [[established church|established]] [[Presbyterian]] church also uses a system of parish churches, covering the whole of [[Scotland]].