Hi Paul Where are you getting your figures regarding the number of Parishioners per Parish? It seems very underestimated Do you have some examples or sources ? Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) On 29/07/2012 09:48, Paul Prescott wrote: > Not stretching at all. With a parish of, say, 200 souls (and many > rural parishes were smaller) grouped into, say, 40 families I'm quite > sure that everyone would know everyone. Bear in mind that most of > those 200 would spend most of their lives in the parish, all day every > day. Quite different from 21st century villages. > > When I was at secondary school there were 100 people in my year group, > and we only spent 7 hours a day there 5 days a week from age 11. But > I can confidently say everyone knew everyone very quickly. > > Best wishes > > Paul