English church

Church Church (ch[^u]rch), n. [OE. chirche, chireche, cherche, Scot. kirk, from AS. circe, cyrice; akin to D. kerk, Icel. kirkja, Sw. kyrka, Dan. kirke, G. kirche, OHG. chirihha; all fr. Gr. kyriako`n the Lord's house, fr. kyriako`s concerning a master or lord, fr. ky`rios master, lord, fr. ky^ros power, might; akin to Skr. [,c][=u]ra hero, Zend. [,c]ura strong, OIr. caur, cur, hero. Cf. {Kirk}.] [1913 Webster] 1. A building set apart for Christian worship. [1913 Webster]

2. A Jewish or heathen temple. [Obs.] --Acts xix. 37. [1913 Webster]

3. A formally organized body of Christian believers worshiping together. ``When they had ordained them elders in every church.'' --Acts xiv. 23. [1913 Webster]

4. A body of Christian believers, holding the same creed, observing the same rites, and acknowledging the same ecclesiastical authority; a denomination; as, the Roman Catholic church; the Presbyterian church. [1913 Webster]

5. The collective body of Christians. [1913 Webster]

6. Any body of worshipers; as, the Jewish church; the church of Brahm. [1913 Webster]

7. The aggregate of religious influences in a community; ecclesiastical influence, authority, etc.; as, to array the power of the church against some moral evil. [1913 Webster]

Remember that both church and state are properly the rulers of the people, only because they are their benefactors. --Bulwer. [1913 Webster]

Note: Church is often used in composition to denote something belonging or relating to the church; as, church authority; church history; church member; church music, etc. [1913 Webster]

{Apostolic church}. See under {Apostolic}.

{Broad church}. See {Broad Church}.

{Catholic church} or {Universal church}, the whole body of believers in Christ throughout the world.

{Church of England}, or {English church}, the Episcopal church established and endowed in England by law.

{Church living}, a benefice in an established church.

{Church militant}. See under {Militant}.

{Church owl} (Zo["o]l.), the white owl. See {Barn owl}.

{Church rate}, a tax levied on parishioners for the maintenance of the church and its services.

{Church session}. See under {Session}.

{Church triumphant}. See under {Triumphant}.

{Church work}, work on, or in behalf of, a church; the work of a particular church for the spread of religion.

{Established church}, the church maintained by the civil authority; a state church. [1913 Webster]