Here we might be confusing the institutional church (e.g. - the hierarchy, the magisterium, doctrines, disciplines, rituals, etc.) with the Church, the People of God.  The Church, the People of God, can exist, though at a disadvantage, without any of the elements (trappings, if you will) of the institutional church.  It is the Church, the People of God, the Mystical Body of Christ, which Jesus founded.  All the rest is simply embroidery.