high church

• High Church, (adjective) high-church

Back-formation from High Churchman, originally denoting an opponent of religious toleration with high meaning “extreme”; see churchman (“supporter of the established church”). Compare High Tory.

high church (uncountable)

1. (Anglicanism) A tradition within the Anglican church with an elevated view of the priesthood, episcopacy, and sacraments, practising a formal style of liturgy and emphasising continuity with Catholicism.

   Hyponym: Anglo-Catholicism

   Coordinate terms: broad church, low church

2. (by extension) Any similar Christian tradition.

• low church

high church (comparative more high church, superlative most high church)

1. Characteristic of or pertaining to such a tradition.