CHURCH-WARDEN

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Churchwarden \Church"ward`en\, n.
     1. One of the officers (usually two) in an Episcopal church,
        whose duties vary in different dioceses, but always
        include the provision of what is necessary for the
        communion service.
        [1913 Webster]


  
     2. A clay tobacco pipe, with a long tube. [Slang, Eng.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
              There was a small wooden table placed in front of
              the smoldering fire, with decanters, a jar of
              tobacco, and two long churchwardens.  --W. Black.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  churchwarden
       n : an officer in the Episcopal church who helps a parish priest
           with secular matters

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  CHURCH-WARDEN. An officer whose duties are, as the name implies, to take 
  care of, or guard the church. 
       2. These officers are created in some ecclesiastical corporations by 
  the charter, and their rights and duties are definitely explained.In 
  England, it is said, their principal duties are to take care of, 1. the 
  church or building; 2. the utensils and furniture; 3. the church-yard; 4.
  matters of good order concerning the church and church-yard; 5. the 
  endowments of the church. Bac. Ab. h.t. By the common law, the capacity of 
  church-wardens to hold property for the church, is limited to personal 
  property. 9 Cranch, 43.