steeplehouse

English

Etymology

Compound of steeple +‎ house.

Noun

steeplehouse (plural steeplehouses)

1. A church (building).
   • 1864, “The Sufferings of the Quakers in Lewes”, in Sussex Archaeological Collections Relating to the History and Antiquities of the County, Volume 16, page 76:

     In this Yeare (1659) Mary Akehurst, the Wife of Ralph Akehurst, of the Cliff, Neare Lewis, Beeing moved to goe to St Michals' Steeplehouse (soe called), where an Independent priest was speaking, she, for Asking him a question, was by people Haled out, and then sent for her aforesaid Husband, who after shee came home, Did so hunch and Pincht her, that she Could not Lift her armes to her head.

   • 1865, The “Friend” in His Family, page 230:

     When we came into the town to bait, the bells rang. I asked what they rang for, and they said for me to preach in the steeplehouse. After some time I felt drawings that way; and as I walked to the steeplehouse, I saw the people were gathered together in the yard. The priest would have had me go into the steeplehouse (this man afterwards became a Friend), but I said, 'nay, it was no matter.'

   • 1897, Samuel Harris Fox, Edwin Tregelles, The Hat Crusade - Volume 3, page 166:

     When the people went to the steeplehouse, I took my Bible under my arm, and went to Justice Corbet's house to let him see I was going.

   • 1952, George Fox, Journal, page 330:

     And so as we travelled along the country I espied a steeplehouse and I asked them what steeplehouse it was, and they said Dunbar, and it struck at my life that I should have a meeting the next day in the steeplehouse yard.

Usage notes

Early Quakers, and some other religious reformers, referred to church buildings as steeplehouses, reserving the word church for the spiritual community.