newchurch

N1E1W4C3H4U1R1C3H4

adjective

Describing Christians or forms of Christianity seen as being marked by liberalism, influence from modern concepts and trends, novelty etc. and disregard for established or traditional beliefs and practices.

OriginOld English nīwe + cirice →
UncommonScrabble 22
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Meanings

newchurch1

adjectivenewchurch (not comparable)
  1. derogatorynot comparableDescribing Christians or forms of Christianity seen as being marked by liberalism, influence from modern concepts and trends, novelty etc. and disregard for established or traditional beliefs and practices.

    […] fanned by applause and encouragement from the secular media and fueled by the newchurch rhetoric

    1987, Fidelity, volume 7, Wanderer Forum Foundation
    3 more examples

    The capture of middle and senior management positions in Catholic education by newchurch trendies has a parallel in government education circles.

    1987, Fidelity, volume 7, Wanderer Forum Foundation

    […] irrespective of the training college being Newchurch modernist, moderate, conservative or traditional.

    1987, J. Haynes, J.F. Archibald, The Bulletin, numbers 5585-5593

    Let us keep them from being bullied by "newchurch" priests or intimidated by disapproving co-religionists.

    1999, New Oxford Review, volume 66, American Church Union

Newchurch2

proper noun
  1. A number of places in England and Wales:
    1. A hamlet in Kinnersley parish, Herefordshire, England (OS grid ref SO3550).
    2. A village and civil parish on the Isle of Wight, England (OS grid ref SZ5685). Recorded as Niechirche 12th century.
    3. A village and civil parish in Folkestone and Hythe district, Kent, England (OS grid ref TR0531). Recorded as Nevcerce 1086 (DB).
    4. A suburban village in Rossendale borough, Lancashire, England (OS grid ref SD8322).
    5. A hamlet in Yoxall parish, East Staffordshire district, Staffordshire, England (OS grid ref SK1423).
    6. A suburb of Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent borough, Wales (OS grid ref SO1710).
    7. A hamlet in Newchurch and Merthyr community, Carmarthenshire, Wales (OS grid ref SN3824).
    8. A hamlet in Devauden community, Monmouthshire, Wales (OS grid ref ST4597).
    9. A small village in Gladestry community, Powys, Wales (OS grid ref SO2150).

Origin

newchurch · adjective

From new + church.

Full word history & related roots →

Newchurch · proper noun

  1. Old Englishnīwe + cirice
  2. EnglishNewchurch

From new + church and Old English nīwe + cirice.

More words from Old English

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

newchurch. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/newchurch

MLA

“newchurch.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/newchurch. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “newchurch,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/newchurch.

Source: newchurch on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.