Low Church

American  

adjective

1. pertaining to the view or practice in the Anglican Church that emphasizes evangelicalism and lays little stress on the sacraments, church rituals, and church authority.

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Low Church British  

noun

1. the school of thought in the Church of England stressing evangelical beliefs and practices Compare Broad Church High Church

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adjective

1. of or relating to this school

Other Word Forms

• Low-Churchman noun

Etymology

Origin of Low Church

First recorded in 1695–1705

Compare meaning

How does low-church compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• High Church vs. Low Church

Example Sentences

The author would later write, “Had we not High Church and Low Church among our ordinary bishops … we should miss much that we feel to be ornamental to the Establishment and useful to ourselves.”

From Slate • Jul. 28, 2016

Recently Vicar Thomas polled his parish on their preference and received an overwhelming vote for Low Church instead of High Church worship.

From Time Magazine Archive

He noticed the conjugal bliss of his employers, that although Mrs. McGuffog went to High Church and Mr. McGuffog to Low Church, they drank water from the same well and the water was not poisoned.

From Time Magazine Archive

"There are a few deputies," muttered one Low Church bishop, "who feel that we are dropping the wrong name."

From Time Magazine Archive

The Low Church party, or Puritans, on the contrary, regarded Laud and his policy with aversion.

From An Introduction to the History of Western Europe by Robinson, James Harvey