The Established Church
Preserved but no longer current.
The State Church, the Church officially recognized and adopted by any country. In England it is Episcopalian (see ANGLICAN CHURCH above), in Scotland Presbyterian, but in Wales, since the dis- establishment of the Church of England in Wales by Act of Parliament in 1920, there is no Established Church.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “The Established Church” mean?
The State Church, the Church officially recognized and adopted by any country. In England it is Episcopalian (see ANGLICAN CHURCH above), in Scotland Presbyterian, but in Wales, since the dis- establishment of the Church of England in Wales by Act of Parliament in 1920, there is no Established Church.
Is “The Established Church” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.