primitive church

American  

noun

1. the early Christian church, especially in reference to its earliest form and organization.

2. this church, especially as representative of Christianity in its supposedly purest form.

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Etymology

Origin of primitive church

First recorded in 1520–30

Example Sentences

A persuasive, lucid speaker, Dom Gregory is lecturing on the primitive church at Hobart, as he will at numerous other U.S. universities and Episcopalian centers during the next six months.

From Time Magazine Archive

Out of their evangelical preaching emerged a faith that tried to be not another denomination but a movement to restore the primitive church known by Jesus' followers.

From Time Magazine Archive

Such a belief yearns for a purer and more primitive church than anyone is likely to see, and something in Graham retains the nostalgia for that purity.

From Time Magazine Archive

So it is defined by the Church of England, in the 16th homily, on the authority of the Council of Chalcedon1 and of the primitive church generally.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 2 "Fairbanks, Erastus" to "Fens" by Various

The present structure is built upon a very ancient foundation; some have said that the primitive church was of the seventh century.

From The Cathedrals of Southern France by Mansfield, M. F. (Milburg Francisco)