Churching of Women

Churching Of Women a form of public thanksgiving for women after child-birth, used in the Greek and Roman churches, in the Church of England, and in the Protestant Episcopal Church. "It is in all probability of Jewish origin, and derived from the rite of purification enjoined in the twelfth chapter of Leviticus. The rubric [of the English Church] commands that the office be used only in the church. Churching in private houses is inconsistent with the very name of the office, and with the devotions prescribed by the office." The Roman Catholic Church allows, in exceptional cases, churching in private houses, and the churching of mothers of illegitimate children. Eden, Churchman's Dictionary, s.v.; Procter On Common Prayer, p. 427; Brownell, Comm. on Prayer-book, p. 490; Wetzer u. Welte, Kirchen-Lexikon, 1:552 (s.v. Aussegnung).