in England, is an officer of the parish of some importance, his duty being to lead the responses during the reading of the service in the parish church. He is appointed by the parson, unless some n other custom of a peculiar kind exists in the parish. ) He must be twenty years of age, and has his office for life, but is removable by. the parson for sufficient cause. By the statute 7 and 8 Vict. c. 59, a person in holy orders' may be elected a parish clerk. Under some of the Church Building Acts governing the new churches built in populous parishes, he is annually appointed by i the minister. The salary of the parish clerk is paid out of the church-rate.