Presbyterians - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition presbyterians

Definition :

Presbyterians, a sect of Christians chiefly to be found in Scotland and Ireland (see 34 Vict. c. 24), who do not acknowledge the authority of bishops. In England the term 'Presbyterian' originally designated a distinct body of Protestant Dissenters. The Presbyterian form of worship was established in England during the Commonwealth, and when the Presbyterian ministers who filled the churches were ejected by the Act of Uniformity in 1662 they spread over the country and founded Presbyterian churches in almost every part of it. In process of time, however, many of these Presbyterian congregations gradually changed their views, some becoming Independents, others Baptists, and not a few became Unitarians, see A.-G. v. Bunce, (1868) LR 6 Eq 563.