DCHP-2

circuit rider DCHP-2 (July 2016)

• n. — historical

  a cleric who travels in the country from church to church.

  Type: 2. Preservation — This historical term is very frequent in America (see Chart 1). It was likely adopted by United Empire Loyalists residing in British North America, as these individuals were active long before Canadian Confederation in 1867.
  See also Gage-1, s.v. "circuit rider", ITP Nelson, s.v. "circuit rider", which is described as "in Canada"; an assessment that is not borne out.

  See also: Confederation  

  • 1842  Oh, to be instrumental in doing just such good to others, I do believe I would quit Congress, the bar and everything else, and just turn circuit rider and preach throughout the country--[cheers.] 
  • 1896  "The Circuit Rider." William Briggs announces a cheap edition of Edward Eggleston's famous story, "The Circuit Rider." 
  • 1945  It is not plain just what were the original purposes of Simmons, a Methodist circuit rider at the time.
  • 1974  I begged her to come back home, and I’d quit being a circuit rider—that’s what us Bible-punchers was known as, then.
  • 1979  Circuit riders, some professors call the freelancers, comparing them to the nineteenth century backwoods parsons who preached from church to church. 
  • 1990  Built by Canadian Methodists between 1809 and 1811, at a time when many people "got religion" from circuit riders and camp meetings, this pioneer church near Picton is now held for the United Church of Canada by trustees appointed by the Picton United church.