PRESBYTERY, an assembly of the order of presbyters, or priests, with lay-elders, for the exercise of church-discipline.
The kirk, or church, of Scotland, is divided into 69 presbyteries, each consisting of a number of parishes, not exceeding 24, nor less than 12. The ministers of these parishes, with one ruling elder chosen half-yearly out of every kirk-session, constitute a presbytery; who, meeting in their chief town, whence the presbytery is denominated, choose a moderator, or, more properly, a prolocutor, who must be a minister, half-yearly.— They determine all appeals from kirk-sessions, i. e. from the several parochial assemblies; but can try nothing at the first instance cognizable before a kirk-session.— They compose all differences between ministers and people; for which end, they hold presbyterial visitations in each parish, where they examine the registers of the kirk-sessions, &c.— They inquire into repairs of churches; see that the glebe, &c. suffer no dilapidations; appoint schools in the parishes; and see that the funds be not misapplied. They alone can exclude from the communion; license probationers; suspend, depose, and, in effect, determine all ecclesiastical matters within their district. From the presbytery there lies an appeal, in all cases, to provincial synods.