ecclesiastical states

Ecclesiastical \Ec*cle`si*as"tic*al\, a. [See {Ecclesiastical},
   a.]
   Of or pertaining to the church; relating to the organization
   or government of the church; not secular; as, ecclesiastical
   affairs or history; ecclesiastical courts.
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         Every circumstance of ecclesiastical order and
         discipline was an abomination.           --Cowper.
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   {Ecclesiastical commissioners for England}, a permanent
      commission established by Parliament in 1836, to consider
      and report upon the affairs of the Established Church.

   {Ecclesiastical courts}, courts for maintaining the
      discipline of the Established Church; -- called also
      {Christian courts}. [Eng.]

   {Ecclesiastical law}, a combination of civil and canon law as
      administered in ecclesiastical courts. [Eng.]

   {Ecclesiastical modes} (Mus.), the church modes, or the
      scales anciently used.

   {Ecclesiastical States}, the territory formerly subject to
      the Pope of Rome as its temporal ruler; -- called also
      {States of the Church}.
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