Unchurch

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. 244. All Candidates, Members, and their Adherents, 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. or 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 clamour … for unchurching the reformed churches.

1830.  Cassan, Lives Bps. Bath & Wells, II. 36. His Lordship’s argument thus practically unchurches the Church.

1889.  Bp. Gore, R. C. Claims, x. 162. We admit the charge of doctrinal laxity sorrowfully enough, but undiscipline does not unchurch a Church.