Obs. [f. CHURCH + ALE 3.] A periodical festive gathering held in connection with a church.
1419. in Glasscock, Rec. St. Michael’s, Bp. Stortford (1882), 27. Item of a chirch ale which was made to the use of the tabernacle vjs. viijd.
1571. Canon Eliz., in Canons Eccl. (1603), § 88. The church-wardens. shall suffer no plays, feasts, banquets, suppers, church-ales, drinkings … to be kept, in the church, chapel, or churchyard.
1583. Stubbes, Anat. Abus., M 4. The Manner of Church-ales in Ailgna. Against a Christmas, an Easter, Whitsonday, or some other time, the Churche-wardens … prouide half a score or twenty quarters of mault … which mault beeing made into very strongale or beere, it is set to sale, either in the Church or some other place assigned to that purpose… They repaire their Churches and Chappels with it, they buy bookes for seruice, [etc.].
1640. Glapthorne, Wit in Constable, II. At Churchales, When the sweet bag-pipe does draw forth the Damsells to frisque about the May poles.
1732–8. Neal, Hist. Purit., II. 248. Church Ales are when people go from afternoon prayers on Sundays to … some public house, where they drink and make merry.
1875. Stubbs, Const. Hist., I. xii. 628, note 2. The later church-ale was a custom of collecting contributions of malt from the parishioners, with which a quantity of ale was brewed, and sold for the payment of church expenses.
