A member of the or a church. Hence Church-membership.
1651. G. Firmin, Serious Quest., 12. The childe is reputed as the parent in respect of Church-membership.
1653. Baxter, Chr. Concord, 37. Though we offer Christ and Church-membership with him, to all, yet we do not admit all to be Church-members.
1705. Vind. Apostles, 10. No one counts ’em Schismatical Assemblies, because they are made up of Church Members.
1842. Pusey, Crisis Eng. Ch., 28. The doctrine of the Church Catholic and the privileges of Church-membership cannot be explained from pulpits.
1882. J. Fiske, in Harper’s Mag., Dec., 116/2. Citizenship itself was to be co-extensive with church membership.
