free church

[ free church ]

noun

1. (sometimes initial capital letters) a church free from state control. Compare established church.
2. (sometimes initial capital letters) a dissenting or nonconforming church.
3. (initial capital letters) Also Free Kirk []. (in Scotland) the church established by those who left the Church of Scotland in 1843.

Free Church

noun

1. 1. any Protestant Church, esp the Presbyterian, other than the Established Church
   2. ( as modifier )

      Free-Church attitudes

Word History and Origins

Origin of free church¹

An Americanism dating back to 1825–35