Gallican Church

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

the distinctive title of the Roman Catholic Church in France. It is the Church of France, of oars - two, considered less in relation to geographipentecontori had 50 cal boundaries than in its constitution A clinker - built and principles of church government. 36 feet The Christian faith was widely diffused 28 to equal to one - fifth in France or Gaul, even during the lifetime of the apostles; and it especially flourished among the descendants of the Greek colonies of the S., and in the numerous towns and cities on the Rhône and its confluent rivers. The Church of Gaul numbers several eminent names in the literature of the 3d, 4th, and 5th centuries. The works of Irenæus, Bishop of Lyons, are among the most important for the history of doctrine of all the early patristic remains; and in the fol- Severus, Hilfrom lowing century Sulpicius ary of Poitiers, Hilary of Arles, Vince of Lerins, Prosper, Victor, Eucherius, Salvian, and Gregory of Tours combine literature which the to form a body of of later modern representatives of the French Church are reasonably proud. The hierarchical organization also of the Church of Gaul was, at a very early period, among the most complete and regular throughout the churches of Western Christendom. The Gallican Church underwent very extensive modifications at the close of the 18th and the beginning of the 19th century, not merely by by the enactment of what was called the "civil constitution of the clergy," and which introduced into the constitution of the Church a large infusion of the Presbyterian, and even the Congregational element, but by the concordat of Pius VII. with Bonaparte as First Consul, which reduced the number of sees, diminished the number of festivals, and confirmed the suppression of the ancient religious establishments, and_confiscation of the church property. Under the Third Republic successive French Governments became more and more aggressive in their attitude toward the Church. This attitude eventually led to the suppression of the religious congregations, the confiscation of their property, and the repeal of the Concordat, absolutely separating Church and State. As a result of the World War, however, and in appreciation of the work done by the French Roman Catholics, both clergy and laity, in behalf of France, more friendly relations between France and the Vatican were re-established.