high church

Meaning

Noun

1. 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.
2. Any similar Christian tradition.

Adj

Characteristic of or pertaining to such a tradition.

Etymology

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.

Sentences

Its use is more widespread in the Lutheran and Anglican High Church streams .