church
noun
tʃɜːtʃ 
tʃɜːrtʃ 
1 [countable] a building where Christians go to worshipa church towerThe procession moved into the church.church services2 [uncountable] a service or services in a churchHow often do you go to church? (British English) They're at church (= attending a church service). (North American English) They're in church.Church is at 9 o'clock.3 Church [countable] a particular group of Christiansthe Anglican Churchthe Catholic Churchthe Free Churches see also denomination4 (the) Church [singular] the ministers of the Christian religion; the institution of the Christian religionThe Church has a duty to condemn violence.the conflict between Church and Stateto go into the Church (= to become a Christian minister) Idioms
see a broad church at broad adjective
Usage note: ReligionBeing religiousbelieve in God/Christ/Allah/free will/predestination/heaven and hell/an afterlife/reincarnationbe/become a believer/an atheist/an agnostic/a Christian/Muslim/Hindu/Buddhist, etc.convert to/practise/(especially US) practice a religion/Buddhism/Catholicism/Christianity/Islam/Judaism, etc.go to church/(North American English) temple (= the synagogue)go to the local church/mosque/synagogue/gurdwarabelong to a church/a religious communityjoin/enter the church/a convent/a monastery/a religious sect/the clergy/the priesthoodpraise/worship/obey/serve/glorify GodCelebrations and ritualattend/hold/conduct/lead a serviceperform a ceremony/a rite/a ritual/a baptism/the Hajj/a mitzvahcarry out/perform a sacred/burial/funeral/fertility/purification ritego on/make a pilgrimagecelebrate Christmas/Easter/Eid/Ramadan/Hanukkah/Passover/Diwaliobserve/break the Sabbath/a fast/Ramadandeliver/preach/hear a sermonlead/address the congregationsay/recite a prayer/blessingReligious texts and ideaspreach/proclaim/spread the word of God/the Gospel/the message of Islamstudy/follow the dharma/the teachings of Buddharead/study/understand/interpret scripture/the Bible/the Koran/the gospel/the Torahbe based on/derive from divine revelationcommit/consider something heresy/sacrilegeReligious belief and experienceseek/find/gain enlightenment/wisdomstrengthen/lose your faithkeep/practise/practice/abandon the faithsave/purify/lose your soulobey/follow/keep/break/violate a commandment/Islamic law/Jewish lawbe/accept/do God's willreceive/experience divine graceachieve/attain enlightenment/salvation/nirvanaundergo a conversion/rebirth/reincarnationhear/answer a prayercommit/confess/forgive a sindo/perform penanceUsage note: schoolWhen a school is being referred to as an institution, you do not need to use the: When do the children finish school? When you are talking about a particular building, the is used: I’ll meet you outside the school. Prison, jail, court, and church work in the same way: Her husband spent three years in prison. note at college, hospital