congregationalist
/ˌkɑŋɡrəˈɡeɪʃənəlɪst/
noun
- A member of a Protestant Christian denomination in which each local church governs itself independently.
- The congregationalist voted on the new pastor during the monthly meeting.
- My grandmother was a devout congregationalist and attended the same church for 50 years.
- Many early settlers in New England were congregationalists who valued local church autonomy.
adjective
- Relating to the Congregationalist church or its beliefs.
- The old congregationalist church on the hill was built in 1820.
- They attended a congregationalist service that included a community potluck afterward.
- The congregationalist tradition emphasizes the independence of each local congregation.