1. (n.) A building set apart for Christian worship.

2. (n.) A Jewish or heathen temple.

3. (n.) A formally organized body of Christian believers worshiping together.

4. (n.) A body of Christian believers, holding the same creed, observing the same rites, and acknowledging the same ecclesiastical authority; a denomination; as, the Roman Catholic church; the Presbyterian church.

5. (n.) The collective body of Christians.

6. (n.) Any body of worshipers; as, the Jewish church; the church of Brahm.

7. (n.) The aggregate of religious influences in a community; ecclesiastical influence, authority, etc.; as, to array the power of the church against some moral evil.

8. (v. t.) To bless according to a prescribed form, or to unite with in publicly returning thanks in church, as after deliverance from the dangers of childbirth; as, the churching of women.

Mass adherents affiliation apostleship bedtime prayer body branch call camp meeting care of souls church service churchly class communion community compline confession connection creed cult denomination devotions disciples divine service division duty evening devotions evensong exercises faction faith fellowship followers group holy orders house of prayer ism lauds liturgy matins meeting morning devotions night song none nones novena office offshoot order organization party pastorage pastoral care pastorate persuasion praise meeting prayer prayer meeting prayers priesthood priestship prime prime song public worship rabbinate religious order revival revival meeting sacred calling schism school sect sectarism segment service sext society spiritual tabernacle temple tent meeting the church the cloth the desk the ministry the pulpit tierce undersong variety version vesper vespers vigils vocation watch meeting watch night watch-night service