A foul and pestilent congregation of vapors.
Shak.
3. An assembly of persons; a gathering; esp. an assembly of persons met for the worship of God, and for religious instruction; a body of people who habitually so meet.
He [Bunyan] rode every year to London, and preached there to large and attentive congregations.
Macaulay.
4. (Anc. Jewish Hist.) The whole body of the Jewish people; -- called also Congregation of the Lord.
It is a sin offering for the congregation.
Lev. iv. 21.
5. (R. C. Ch.) (a) A body of cardinals or other ecclesiastics to whom as intrusted some department of the church business; as, the Congregation of the Propaganda, which has charge of the missions of the Roman Catholic Church. (b) A company of religious persons forming a subdivision of a monastic order.
6. The assemblage of Masters and Doctors at Oxford or Cambrige University, mainly for the granting of degrees. [Eng.]
7. (Scotch Church Hist.) the name assumed by the Protestant party under John Knox. The leaders called themselves (1557) Lords of the Congregation.
Con`gre*ga"tion*al (?), a. 1. Of or pertaining to a congregation; conducted, or participated in, by a congregation; as, congregational singing.
2. Belonging to the system of Congregationalism, or to Congregationalist; holding to the faith and polity of Congregationalism; as, a Congregational church.
Con`gre*ga"tion*al*ism (?), n. 1. That system of church organization which vests all ecclesiastical power in the assembled brotherhood of each local church.