Hello all Listers Can someone please tell me whether an occupation of "Parish Clerk" on the Family Search site 1881 Census would relate to an occupation in the Church or Local Authority or Parish Council perhaps for someone on my family living in Lambeth London at that time in his 50's. Since some occupations are not clear as to which profession a parish clerk involved in the 1880's I hope somebody would perhaps enlighten me? This man was also formerly a Verger so could be Church - but how would I find this out? Hope somebody out there can help me....? John Attrill IOW _________________________________________________________________ All new Live Search at Live.com http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/msnnkmgl0010000006ukm/direct/01/

John I cannot be sure, especially as your query is related to London which is treated differently, but I would think the occupation of Parish Clerk in 1881 would refer to the ecclesiastical parish. Although ecclesiastical parishes had local government functions, the civil parish that we know today was largely the result of the 1894 Local Government Act. Thus after 1894 there would be a role of Clerk to the Parish Council, which would mean the civil parish as well as the role of the Parish Clerk (related to the Church). A couple of references that might help: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_parish http://steve.pickthall.users.btopenworld.com/pci/index.html Hope this helps Jon Baker John Attrill wrote: Can someone please tell me whether an occupation of "Parish Clerk" on the Family Search site 1881 Census would relate to an occupation in the Church or Local Authority or Parish Council perhaps for someone on my family living in Lambeth London at that time in his 50's. Since some occupations are not clear as to which profession a parish clerk involved in the 1880's I hope somebody would perhaps enlighten me? This man was also formerly a Verger so could be Church - but how would I find this out? Hope somebody out there can help me....?