Obs. [f. CHURCH sb. + -SHIP.]
1. The status of a church, the being a church.
1645. J. G[oodwin], Innoc. & Truth Tri., 56. [They] cannot with safe conscience communicate together in Churchship.
1653. Gauden, Hierasp., 91. Many count it a special mark of their true Churchship, to separate from all.
a. 1726. South, Serm., John i. 11 (T.). The Jews were his own also by right of churchship.
2. An ecclesiastical organization or body.
1675. T. Tully, Let. Baxter, 14. And would you have us yield up the great Truths of the Gospel for fear of offending such Churchshipps as these [Papists, Socinians, Quakers]?
