sentences:  By the beginning of the nineteenth century there were 10,500 ancient parishes in England and Wales; their boundaries fixed, and until 1818, only able to be changed or split by private Act of Parliament.In addition, there were around 2,000 chapels of ease with defined parochial districts, mainly in the North of England; most of which were supported more or less generous endowments administered by trustees.However, only 4,400 parishes had a resident incumbent, with the majority of the remaining parishes and chapelries being served by some 5,000 assistant curates; although many smaller neighbouring parishes had effectively been amalgamated as joint livings, and a number had been reconfigured as sinecures annexed in commendam to a bishopric or other senior clerical post.