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Glite Dictionary
Presbyterian Church

Presbyterian Church

8 4.2
A Christian church that follows John Calvin and has leaders called elders
  • noun
  • /ˌprɛsbɪˈtɪəriən tʃɜːrʧ/
translation icon : Iglesia presbiteriana
  • I have the joyous privilege of serving as the pastor of Heartland Presbyterian Church in Clive, IA.
  • Siloam Presbyterian Church
  • Independent Presbyterian Church
  • Presbyterian Church in Savannah

Examples

  • Mr. Turner was an elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Oak Grove.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • The Independent Presbyterian Church of Savannah was incorporated on December 8, 1806.

    Academic text (2010)

  • Well, they used to let me sing in the First Presbyterian Church, when I went to Sunday school.

    The Human Comedy (1943)

  • An automatic ten percent went to the Presbyterian Church.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • Reverend Hills was expecting them at the Presbyterian Church in just one hour.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • Letters of invitation were sent to the members of Siloam Presbyterian Church.

    Academic text (2005)

  • The event is set up from 2-4 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church of Novato.

    Blog text (19)

  • The Eisenhowers preferred worshiping at the National Covenant Presbyterian Church, which lost its location to a modern office.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • But first, our benediction will be delivered by Reverend Phillip Hardy of the First Presbyterian Church.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • The Reverend spoke passionately during the service at the Presbyterian Church last Sunday.

Synonyms

Protestant denomination
vsPresbyterian Church
3 6.0

A group of Protestant churches that share the same beliefs and practices

is a single specific group with elder-led church government and Calvinist roots
Presbyterianism
vsPresbyterian Church
1 9.6

A Christian church system led by elected elders instead of bishops

is the actual organized denomination that follows and practices those doctrines

How Self-Governing

Presbyterian Church
8 4.2
Episcopal Church
  • US
11 5.1
church-state
1 8.3

Surface Forms

Presbyterian Church singular
Presbyterian Churches plural

Morphology

Presbyterian + church

The phrase is fully compositional: 'Presbyterian' specifies the denomination or group and 'church' denotes a Christian body, so together they indicate a church belonging to or following Presbyterian doctrine. This straightforward noun + modifier pattern is common across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can reasonably infer the meaning.

Etymology

Presbyterian Church gets its name from an old word for 'elder', because in a Presbyterian church groups of 'elders' lead the congregation and make decisions, so the name now means a church run by elders.