Obs. exc. Hist. [f. CHURCH sb. + WARD sb.]
1. (= OE. ciric-weard, in OHG. chirihwart, chirwart, MHG. chirchwart). The custodian of a church (building); a man in orders who had charge of a church.
c. 1000. in Thorpe’s Hom., I. 452 (Bosw.). Se bisceop befran ðone cyrcweard hwær ðæs halʓan wæpnu wæron.
1044. O. E. Chron. (Cott.). Æþelstan cyric wyrd [Laud MS. cyrice weard] feng to þam abbodrice. Ibid. (1131), (Laud MS.). Þæt he scolde setten þær prior of Chinni and circeweard and hordere and reilþein.
1871. Freeman, Norm. Conq., IV. xx. 458. A prudent Churchward, Yware by name.
2. A churchwarden (doubtful.)
1496. in Ellacombe, Ch. Bells Devon (1872), 464. xxd. yr of to ye chircheward, and iiijd. to ye clerks.
