a. and sb. [app. deduced from Low Churchman (see next) and used attrib. as in Low Church party, and then substantively.]
A. adj. or attrib. phrase. Of, belonging to, or characteristic of Low Churchmen (see next), their principles or practice.
1710. in Select. fr. Harl. Misc. (1793), 566. That occasioned the queen to change the low-church ministry.
1711. Swift, Examiner, No. 43, ¶ 4. To exalt the king’s supremacy beyond all precedent, was low-church, Whiggish, and Moderate. Ibid. (1714), Pres. St. Affairs, Wks. 1755, II. I. 218. Secure in the affections, the principles and the professions of the low-church party.
1867. Trollope, Chron. Barset, II. lxvii. 250. One lady connected with low-church clergymen … was named as a probable successor.
B. sb. [orig. short for Low Church party, Low Church principles.] The party or the principles of Low Churchmen (see next).
1702. Charac. Church-Man, 15. Having the Imputation of Fanaticism and Low-Church fixt upon them.
1715. Mrs. Centlivre, Gotham Election, Wks. 1760, III. 171. Friendly [dressed like a Frenchman] … If dese plaguey Low-Church get de Day,—dey vill make it Treason for any one to send der Children to France, Begar.
1751. Earl Orrery, Remarks Swift (1752), 24. The chief ministers of that Queen [Anne], whether distinguished under the titles of Whigs or Tories, of High Church or of Low Church.
1841. Shaftesb., in Life, ix. (1887), 185. The Low Church, as they are called, will believe and will preach too, that Popery is encouraged and promoted.
1888. C. A. Lane, Notes Eng. Ch. Hist., II. VI. xxvii. § 1. 213. High Church and Low Church agreed in denouncing the heretical bishop [Hoadley].
Hence Low-Churchism, Low-Church principles, doctrine or practice.
1864. F. Oakeley, Hist. Notes, 60. The various gradations of Dissent and Low-Churchism.
