religious corporation

A membership corporation, organized for the purpose of maintaining religious worship and spreading the faith. 45 Am J1st Reli Soc §§ 5 et seq. In older times, a bishop, dean, parson, or vicar having title to religious property. 18 Am J2d Corp § 7. In England ecclesiastical or religious corporations were those in which the members composing it were altogether spiritual persons, such as bishops, parsons, deans and chapters, and were erected for the furtherance of religion and perpetuating the rites of the church, but in this country church corporations are generally classed as religious corporations even though the trustees or other persons who represent the corporation are wholly composed of laymen. Mackenzie v Trustees of Presbytery, 67 NJ Eq 652, 61 A 1027. See religious society.