church rate

noun

, Ecclesiastical.

1. (formerly in England and Ireland) a compulsory assessment imposed on the parishioners' holdings of houses or land in order to repair the parish church and maintain its services.

Word History and Origins

Origin of church rate¹

First recorded in 1705–15

Example Sentences

Since 1887 a church rate has been levied on the Evangelical-Lutheran communities, and since 1904 upon the Roman Catholics also.

From Project Gutenberg

I bear imprisonment as well as ever, but I do not intend to stop after the church rate question is settled.

From Project Gutenberg

Church′man, a clergyman or ecclesiastic: a member or upholder of the established church; Church′-rate, an assessment for the sustentation of the fabric, &c., of the parish church; Church′-serv′ice, the form of religious service followed in a church, order of public worship, a book containing such; Church′-text, a thin and tall form of black-letter print; Churchwar′den, an officer who represents the interests of a parish or church: a long clay-pipe; Church′way, the public way or road that leads to the church; Church′woman, a female member of the Anglican Church.—adj.

From Project Gutenberg

Hatton having refused to pay the Church Rate, proceedings were taken in the Arches Court to enforce it. 

From Project Gutenberg

Hatton, otherwise known as the “Mattishall Church Rate case.”

From Project Gutenberg