The movement which apposes the removal of an established authority from the position which that established authority now holds. Usually the right of that established authority to hold this position has only been assumed by that authority to be their right.
In old Europe the church was the principal depository of all documents, both public and private. A movement developed which would make the governmental agencies of the various countries the legal depository of records. The result of this movement would disestablish the church from that function. Those persons opposed to disestablishing the church joined the movement called antidisestablishmentarism.
by H Selden BECK January 15, 2007