churchling

plural churchlings

1. A church-goer.

   Neither worldling nor churchling privately possesses his love. The churchling, in prayer and praise, is or ought to be alert to the divine summons as the worldling is not; in race relations and common justice it is sometimes the other way around.

   1956, David Wesley Soper, Epistle to the skeptics

2. diminutivesometimesA mere churchman.

   " [...] And," he added, "it transforms a churchling into a Christian to come into contact with the Pope."

   1903, The Independent

   1 more example

   You do not tell me of those romantic land bays that be as thou goest to Lover's Seat: neither of that little churchling in the midst of a wood (in the opposite direction, nine furlongs from the town), that seems dropped by the Angel [...]

   1904, Charles Lamb, Alfred Ainger, The letters of Charles Lamb

3. derogatoryA bigoted churchman.

   'I thought you were going to show us some swordcraft, churchling, not dance steps.' Arlin's tone was mocking. 'Sorry, I mistook you for a girl.'

   2012, Elspeth Cooper, Songs of the Earth