unˈchurch, v.
[un-2 4, 5, and 6 b.]
1. trans. To remove or exclude (individuals) from membership of a church; to shut out from church privileges; to excommunicate.
| a 1620 J. Dyke Sel. Serm. (1640) 372 Hee will cast men out of the Temple, will unchurch them,..because men doe not buy in the Temple. 1655 Fuller Ch. Hist. ix. i. §52 These holy men..were loath to unchurch any, and drive them off from an Ecclesiastical communion for such petty differences. 1677 W. Hughes Man of Sin ii. xii. 217 Gregory 3d...lets fly against the Emperour Leo also, to Unchurch and Uncrown him together. a 1703 Burkitt On N.T., 2 Cor. i. 24 Our apostle doth not unchurch them.., but endeavours to reform their disorders. 1711 Medley No. 21. 243 All Candidates,..if they vote with Dissenters, are (however Orthodox themselves) ipso facto unchurch'd. 1876 Fairbairn in Contemp. Rev. June 127 He did not mean to be unchurched, was thoroughly happy and at home in the Christian religion. |
| absol. a 1658 Durham Comm. Revelation ii. 6–7 (1660) 91 They might Excommunicate and un-Church for spiritual offences. |
| refl. 1813 Bp. J. Milner in Husenbeth Life (1862) 225 By his obstinacy in adhering to his schismatical errors, [he] does in fact unchurch himself. |
2. To exclude (a number or class of persons) from participation in the Church (or some branch of it); to divest (a community) of the character of a church; to deprive of the possession of a church.
| 1633 Sanderson Serm. (1681) II. 43 These our brethren..of the separation are so violent and peremptory in unchurching all the world but themselves. 1657 J. Watts Vind. Ch. Eng. 8 If they be able to unchurch England, they may unchurch also all the World. 1709 J. Johnson Clergym. Vade M. ii. p. xcvi, We are told..that by this judgment and practice we unchurch all foreign protestants. 1752 Carte Hist. Eng. III. 578 Unchurching all bodies of Christians who did not adopt this discipline of his predecessor Calvin's invention. 1773 J. Allen Serm. at S. Mary's, Oxf. 12 A contempt of morality would be a reason sufficient for unchurching any Communion. 1833 Tracts for Times No. 4. 5 Do you then unchurch all the Presbyterians, all Christians who have no Bishops? 1856 Emerson Eng. Traits, Relig. Wks. (Bohn) II. 101 Of course, money will..steadily work to..unchurch the people to whom it was bequeathed. 1892 Guardian 28 Sept. 1447/1 It ‘unchurches’ whole communities of sincere Christians. |
| refl. 1679 C. Nesse Antid. agst. Popery 102 The Jews..did apostatize,..unchurching and uncovenanting themselves. c 1700 Howe in H. Rogers Life x. (1863) 306 This church..has not, by adding some much disputed things,..thereby unchurched itself. |
b. With
church as object. (
Cf. unkirk un-2 6 b.)
| 1636 Prynne Unbish. Tim. (1661) 80 They..Un-church most Protestant Churches in foreign parts, and Un-minister their Ministers. 1680 C. Nesse Church Hist. 404 He wrote those seven Epistles to the seven Churches which were not un-churched. 1711 G. Hickes Two Treat. Chr. Priesth. (1847) I. 270 Invidious clamor..for unchurching the reformed churches. 1830 S. H. Cassan Lives Bps. Bath & Wells II. 36 His Lordship's argument thus practically unchurches the Church. 1889 Gore R.C. Claims x. 162 But undiscipline does not unchurch a church. |