Green’s Dictionary of Slang

a corrupt dealer in benefices, the choicest of which could be sold off to the highest bidder.

c.1786		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue ms. additions n.p.: Chop Churches. Simoniacal Dealers in livings, & other Ecclesiastical preferments. See Willkins’s Concil. Vol 3. p. 215.
1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn) n.p.:
1811		Lex. Balatronicum.
1823		Encyc. Britannica VI 55/1: CHOP-CHURCH, or CHURCH-CHOPPER, a name, or rather a nick-name, given to parsons who make a practice of exchanging benefices.