Noun | 1. | church - one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship Synonyms: Christian church |
2. | church - a place for public (especially Christian) worship; "the church was empty" Synonyms: church building | |
3. | church - a service conducted in a church; "don't be late for church" Synonyms: church service | |
4. | church - the body of people who attend or belong to a particular local church; "our church is hosting a picnic next week" | |
Verb | 1. | church - perform a special church rite or service for; "church a woman after childbirth" |
CHURCH. In a moral or spiritual sense this word signifies a society of
persons who profess the Christian religion; and in a physical or material
sense, the place where such. persons assemble. The term church is nomen
collectivum; it comprehends the chancel, aisles, and body of the church.
Ham. N. P. 204.
2. By the English law, the terms church or chapel, and church-yard, are
expressly recognized as in themselves correct and technical descriptions of
the building and place, even in criminal proceedings. 8 B. & C. *25; 1 Salk.
256; 11 Co. 25 b; 2 Esp. 5, 28.
3. It is not within the plan of this work to give an account of the
different local regulations in the United States respecting churches.
References are here given to enable the inquirer to ascertain what they are,
where such regulations are known to exist. 2 Mass. 500; 3 Mass. 166; 8 Mass.
96; 9 Mass. 277; Id. 254; 10 Mass. 323; 15 Mass. 296 16 Mass. 488; 6 Mass.
401; 10 Pick. 172 4 Day, C. 361; 1 Root Sec. 3, 440; Kirby, 45; 2 Caines'
Cas. 336; 10 John. 217; 6 John. 85; 7 John. 112; 8 John. 464; 9 John. 147; 4
Desaus. 578; 5 Serg. & Rawle, 510; 11 Serg. & Rawle, 35; Metc. & Perk. Dig.
h.t.; 4 Whart. 531.