[f. prec. sb.]
1. To bring, take, or conduct to church, in order to receive its rites or ministrations. Commonly in the passive, the person concerned being said to be churched.
† a. Said of a child at baptism. Obs.
1340–70. Alex. & Dind., 941. Huo wole a cherched child chese for hardy.
b. Said of a woman after child-birth, when thanks are publicly offered for her safe delivery, esp. in accordance with the prescribed service in the Book of Common Prayer; the officiating clergyman is said ‘to church’ her. Cf. CHURCH-GANG, CHURCHING.
[1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VII. 311. I schal offre hym a þowsand candelles when I schal go to cherche of childe [post partum].
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., Chyrchyn, or puryfyen, Purifico.
c. 1470. Harding, Chron., cxxii. ii. Kyng Wyllyam in Gesine had lyen long, And tyme hym wer been kyrked with good songe.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 16. [William the Conqueror] sayd, when I am churched I wyll offer unto him a thousand candelles light, with the which heshall holde himselfe smally contented. Ibid., II. 244. The Queene who then was newly churched of a sonne called John of Gaunt.
1629. Sir R. Boyle, Diary (1886), II. 114. In the same house my wife was churched and my daughter xtned.
1737. Byrom, Jrnl. & Lit. Rem. (1856), II. I. 101. A lady or two were churched after prayers.
1837. Thackeray, Ravenswing, vi. Ladies are confined and churched.
c. Said (esp. in Scotland) of a newly wedded pair, and particularly of the bride, on first attendance at church after marriage; also of the Judges, members of a civic corporation, and the like, when they attend church in state; also more generally of any one being taken to or appearing at church.
1596. Nashe, Saffron Walden, 111. For seauen and thirtie weekes … neuer stirring out of dores or being churched all that while.
1843. Bethune, Scott. Peasant’s Fire-side, 281. That day a young and bonny bride Was ‘kirkit,’ as they say.
1865. Standard, 24 April, 3/1. Yesterday afternoon being the first Sunday in Easter term, her Majesty’s Judges and the Corporation of the City of London attended in state at St. Paul’s Cathedral, for the purpose of taking part in the ceremony well known in civic language as ‘Churching the Judges.’
† 2. To place or set up in church. Obs.
1565. Jewell, Repl. Harding (1611), 373. This Image was neither Churched, nor Adored, or Worshipped.
† 3. To form or organize into a church. Obs.
1659. Gauden, Tears Ch., 39 (D.). Such strange methods of new churching men and women.
† 4. To church it: to play the church. Obs.
1619. Sir J. Sempill, Sacrilege Handled, Ep. Ded. 2. It goeth neuer better, then when the Church Courteth it, and the Court Churcheth it.
5. slang. Cf. CHRISTEN v. 6.
1868. J. Doran, Saints & Sinners, II. 290. The [thieves] ‘church their yacks’ when they transpose the works of stolen watches to prevent identification.
1873. in Slang Dict.
