happy-clappyn.adj.
/ˈhapɪklapi/, U.S. /ˈhæpiˈˌklæpi/ colloquial (sometimes mildly derogatory).
A. n.
A member of a Christian charismatic or evangelical group whose worship is characterized by enthusiastic participation; (more generally) a charismatic or evangelical Christian. Frequently in plural.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > sect > Christianity > other sects and movements > Pentecostalism > [noun] > charismatic movement > person
charismatic1910
renewalist1975
happy-clappy1988
1988 Sydney Morning Herald 14 Apr. (Northern Herald section) 30/1 His pentecostal services are full of dancing and up-beat singing, with music from an electric rock band—which is why Pentecostals are nicknamed ‘happy clappies’.
1990 R. Malan My Traitor's Heart ii. 100 Both were members of the Apostolic Church, happyclappies in South African slang—into the laying on of hands, faith healing, and speaking in tongues.
1991 Daily Tel. 15 Apr. 16/2 Did Archbishop Temple actually say that the Church purely exists for the benefit of non-members? In that case..we might as well all pack up, Happy Clappies and Traditionalists as well.
1994 Guardian 20 May ii. 18/5 Now Asian families have to live..with the threat of muddled happy-clappies patronising them every week.
2002 Independent 8 Apr. (Monday Review section) 1/4 Hawksmoor's sublime Christ Church. ‘I go and sit in it, yeah, but I can't go to services because it's been taken over by the happy-clappies!’
B. adj.
Of, relating to, or characterized by membership of such a group, or enthusiastic participation in worship; charismatic, evangelical.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > sect > Christianity > other sects and movements > Pentecostalism > [adjective] > charismatic movement
renewalist1966
charismatic1976
happy-clappy1991
1991 Abp. G. Carey in Times 17 Apr. 2/6 I am not a happy clappy person. I believe in the richness of the Christian tradition. I am not a fundamentalist.
1992 Sunday Times 8 Mar. ii. 5/3 He's one of the happy-clappy lot. They're always speaking in tongues, casting out demons and frightening the old ladies.
1993 Times 7 Oct. 37/7 Is the man at the helm of the church an intelligent astute leader or a happy-clappy simpleton who will plunge his church into disestablishment?
2004 Global May 60/2 An eerie feel..was completely shattered by the group of religious tourists singing happy clappy songs and preaching about peace and love.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.adj.1988