A
parish church (or parochial church) in
Christianity is the
church which acts as the religious centre of a
parish. In many parts of the world, especially in
rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in community activities, often allowing its premises to be used for non-religious community events. 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.