mother church
Original founding congregation
A mother church is the principal church of a religious denomination or region—the one from which others originated or take authority.
Canterbury Cathedral is the mother church of the Anglican Communion; St.
Peter's Basilica serves similarly for Roman Catholicism.
The term also applies to the original or founding congregation from which a local church was established: Our congregation split from its mother church in 1962.
Custom passed through generations
- liturgyFormal worship structure
- ritesFormal ceremonial acts
- relicsPreserved items from antiquity
- pilgrimageReligious journey to shrine
architecture · basilica · frescoes · mosaics · stained glass · iconography · vestments · altar
Bishop's principal church
- dioceseBishop's territorial jurisdiction
- primacyCondition of being foremost
- apostolicOf the first disciples
- originStarting point or source
establishment · founding · precedence · authority · jurisdiction · preeminence · cornerstone · archdiocese
tradition
Custom passed through generations
pilgrimage · architecture · basilica · frescoes · mosaics · stained glass · iconography · vestments · altar · sanctuary
cathedral
Bishop's principal church
- dioceseBishop's territorial jurisdiction
- primacyCondition of being foremost
- apostolicOf the first disciples
origin · establishment · founding · precedence · authority · jurisdiction · preeminence · cornerstone · archdiocese · patriarchate
diocese
Bishop's territorial jurisdiction
- parishLocal church community
- clergyOrdained religious officials collectively
- rectorParish clergy chief
vicar · bishop · pastor · chaplain · vestry · rectory · sacristy · pulpit · oversight · authority
faith
Trust without proof
holiness · prayer · sacrament · blessing · communion · baptism · sanctuary · gospel · hymn · doctrine
- Parent HolidaysFather's Day, dad, father, fatherhood, greeting cards
- sayings about motherhoodmama bear, mom guilt, empty nest, supermom, mommy brain
mother churchchapel
Small worship room
mission church · oratory · private chapel · house church · storefront church
mother, church, mothers, mothered, mothering, motherly, motherhood, motherless, grandmother