The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Broad Church \Broad" Church`\ (Eccl.)
A portion of the Church of England, consisting of persons who
claim to hold a position, in respect to doctrine and
fellowship, intermediate between the High Church party and
the Low Church, or evangelical, party. The term has been
applied to other bodies of men holding liberal or
comprehensive views of Christian doctrine and fellowship.
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Side by side with these various shades of High and Low
Church, another party of a different character has
always existed in the Church of England. It is called
by different names: Moderate, Catholic, or Broad
Church, by its friends; Latitudinarian or Indifferent,
by its enemies. Its distinctive character is the desire
of comprehension. Its watch words are charity and
toleration. --Conybeare.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
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.]
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1. A building set apart for Christian worship.
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2. A Jewish or heathen temple. [Obs.] --Acts xix. 37.
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3. A formally organized body of Christian believers
worshiping together. "When they had ordained them elders
in every church." --Acts xiv. 23.
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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.
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5. The collective body of Christians.
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6. Any body of worshipers; as, the Jewish church; the church
of Brahm.
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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.
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Remember that both church and state are properly the
rulers of the people, only because they are their
benefactors. --Bulwer.
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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.
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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 (Zool.), 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.
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