church rate

American  

noun

Ecclesiastical.

1. (formerly in England and Ireland) a compulsory assessment imposed on the parishioners' holdings of houses or land in order to repair the parish church and maintain its services.

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Etymology

Origin of church rate

First recorded in 1705–15

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

church rate

In 1850 a dispute of considerable public interest with regard to the levying of the church rate between the vicar and the wardens and overseers was decided in the Court of Queen's Bench.

From The Churches of Coventry A Short History of the City & Its Medieval Remains by Woodhouse, Frederick W.

The church rate was a personal charge imposed on the occupier of land or of a house in the parish, and, though it was compulsory, much difficulty was found in effectually applying the compulsion.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 3 "Chitral" to "Cincinnati" by Various

The poor rate is no longer made at the Vestry; the church rate is a thing of the past; and what is then left?

From The Hills and the Vale by Jefferies, Richard

Some few bold Puritan souls dared to protest against being forced to pay the church rate whether they wished to or not.

From Sabbath in Puritan New England by Earle, Alice Morse

Since 1887 a church rate has been levied on the Evangelical-Lutheran communities, and since 1904 upon the Roman Catholics also.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 8 "Haller, Albrecht" to "Harmonium" by Various