Also 9 (incorrectly) ecclesialogy. [f. ecclesio- (see ECCLESIOGRAPHY) + Gr. -λογία discoursing: see -LOGY.] a. The science relating to the church or to churches; now usually, The science of church building and decoration. b. A treatise on churches.
1837. British Critic, XXI. 220. We mean, then, by Ecclesialogy, a science which may treat of the proper construction and operations of the Church.
1847. (title) A Hand-Book of English Ecclesiology.
1849. Freeman, Archit., 4. The first phase of ecclesiology was simple antiquarianism.
1851. D. Wilson, Preh. Ann. (1863), II. IV. i. 249. The very singular characteristics of Irish ecclesiology.
1865. W. White, E. Eng., I. 47. To say but a few words about each church … in Norfolk would be to compose an ecclesiology.
