The parish has since increased in size through the annexing of additional parcels of land which previously were part of Chesham, Ashley Green and Drayton Beauchamp.

Over time the upland communities, which had originally been temporary outposts connected to summer agricultural activity (transhumance), became distinct, permanent settlements.

Meanwhile, Hawridge, which has historic associations with Marsworth despite the two settlements being separated by a narrow strip of land in Hertfordshire, became an autonomous unit from around the 16th century.

Additionally, as part of a contemporary county boundary changes, a narrow strip of mainly arable fields and woodland plantation which ran adjacent to the county boundary was transferred from Drayton Beauchamp parish, as was part of the hamlet of Heath End, a small parcel of land previously in Wingginton parish in Hertfordshire.

[2] This is demonstrated by the existence of a number of long-established clubs and community organisations, which in similar fashion to the three local churches co-ordinate activities across the parish as a whole.

There is a recreation ground associated with the parish hall in St Leonards, used for football, gymkhana and village sports events.

In June, a Beating the Bounds ceremony took place when there was a perambulation of the original (1934), fourteen-mile parish boundary, which in contrast to similar events in other counties was conducted in the traditional clockwise direction.

Key issues concerning parishioners include: the increasingly poor condition and lack of maintenance of the local road network; lack in the availability of affordable housing; the negative impact on the Chilterns AONB of increased volumes of low-flying aircraft associated with Luton Airport; the impact of the proposed route through the Chilterns of the High Speed 2 railway between London and Birmingham which was announced in 2010.

The falling numbers of school-age children has resulted in the school providing education to pupils living outside the catchment area, primarily on the outskirts of Chesham.