Glossary of Anglo-Catholic Terms

A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   W   X   Y   Z

A  Top

Abbess: female head of a nunnery of the Benedictine or related orders

Abbey: large religious house belonging either to one of the orders of the Benedictine family or to certain orders of the Canons Regular (Augustinian Canons)

Abbot: the head of a monastic house of the Benedictine or related orders, and of certain orders of Augustinian canons

Ablutions: the cleansing of the chalice(s), paten, and other vessels after the administration of Communion. This may be done at the altar or at the credence, or after the dismissal.

Absolution: the formal act of a priest or bishop pronouncing the forgiveness of sins by Christ to those who are qualified by penitence to receive it

Acclamation: a versicle and response of praise at the beginning of the Eucharist and other services

Acolyte: a lay ministry position that assists during the Eucharist.  Acolytes hold different roles such as Crucifer, Torch Bearer, Gospel Holder, Thurifer, servers, etc

Adoration: refers to the external acts of reverent admiration or honor given to a thing or person

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: prayer to Christ, who is recognized as being truly present in the Sacrament. During Adoration, the Blessed Sacrament is displayed for the people.

Advent: the first season of the church year, beginning with the fourth Sunday before Christmas and continuing through the day before Christmas. the name is derived from a Latin word for "coming." the season is a time of preparation and expectation for the coming celebration of our Lord's nativity, and for the final coming of Christ "in power and glory"

Agnus Dei: The Lamb of God at a said service, the priest and the people recite this responsively:
   O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,
      have mercy upon us.
   O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,
      have mercy upon us.
   O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,
      grant us thy peace
This is called the Agnus Dei because the Latin translation is:
   Agnus Dei, qui tolis peccata mundi,
      miserere nobis.
   Agnus Dei, qui tolis peccata mundi,
      miserere nobis.
   Agnus Dei, qui tolis peccata mundi,
      dona nobis pacem

Aisle: part of a church, parallel to and divided by piers or columns from the nave, choir or transept

Alb: the white garment that covers him over. Its color symbolizes purity, not a purity of himself, but a purity gained by the cleansing blood of Christ. When he dons the alb, he prays, "Cleanse me, O Lord, and purify my heart that, being made white in the blood of the Lamb, I may attain everlasting joy"

Albigensian: a heretical movement found in Germany, Italy and France in the 11th to 13th centuries, based on a dualist belief in two Gods, one of good and one of evil; also known as Cathars

Alcantara: military monastic order founded in Spain and Portugal in the 12th century

All Saints' Day: November 1; a feast day in the church in commemoration of all the known and unknown saints.

Alleluia: an exclamation of praise and joy, used in various parts of the liturgy, except during Lent. Derived from the Hebrew, meaning "Praise the Lord"

Alms: Money or other offerings of the people for the work of the Church

Alms Basin: a large metal plate into which the money offerings of the people are placed before they are presented to the officiant.

Alms: money collected for the work of the church

Almuce: item of processional vestments: originally a fur-lined hood, it became a fur cape

Altar: a table or slab consecrated for celebration for celebration of the sacrament of the Eucharist, or Holy Communion; in a medieval church, in addition to the high altar or principal altar, other altars dedicated to particular saints were located in chapels around the church

Altar Book: the large book containing the texts from The Book of Common Prayer and music for the celebrant at the Eucharist and other liturgies

Altar Cloth: a long piece of white linen that covers the top of the altar and hangs down the sides almost to the floor. When not in use, the altar cloth is usually protected with a dust-cover

Altar Guild: a special, usually lay, group in a church charged with the maintenance and preparation of the altar and its furnishings in a church; altar guilds may also supervise church decorations and flowers

Altar Rail (or communion rail, or sanctuary rail): a low wall or railing separating the sanctuary from the choir or nave; it is customary for worshipers to kneel at the altar rail to receive the Holy Communion

Alternate Primatal Oversight: ministry of a different Primate.  In the case of a diocese, asking for relief from a scripturally unsound Presiding Bishop

Ambo: a pulpit or lectern, or a structure that serves both purposes

Ambry (or Aumbry): a closed recess in the wall of a church for reservation of the blessed sacrament or holy oil for the sick

Ambulatory: a semi-circular or polygonal aisle enclosing an apse or a straight ended sanctuary

Amen: Hebrew word meaning truly, it is true. As concluding word of prayers it expresses assent to and acceptance of God’s will

American Anglican Council (AAC): an advocacy group linking and supporting individuals and churches in the U.S. as they promote biblical, orthodox Anglican Christianity

Amice: a white cloth connected to two long ribbon-like attachments, which is folded and worn on the head of the priest. the two long ribbons are tied around the chest of the priest. Priests wear the amice for reasons of tradition and to prevent damage to their other vestments due to perspiration. Traditionally, while donning the amice, the priest prays a short prayer asking God to clothe him with the "helmet of salvation"

Anglican: of or relating to the established Church of England and churches of similar faith and order in communion with it

Anglican Communion: thirty-eight provinces, or national churches around the world, which are in communion with each other, the Church of England and the archbishop of Canterbury.  The communion includes more than 77 million baptized members in more than 100 nations

Anglican Communion Network (ACN or the Network): a bishop-led group of dioceses, congregations, and clergy formed within the Episcopal Church; Bishop Bob Duncan of Pittsburgh is moderator of the Network

Anglican Consultative Council: meets every 3 years or so, and includes bishops, clergy and laity, as members appointed by the 38 provinces of the Communion. It first met in 1971

Anglican Mission in America (AMiA): a missionary outreach of the Province of the Episcopal Church of Rwanda, which is a full and active member of the Anglican Communion. The Mission enjoys the oversight of Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini of Rwanda and the Rwandan House of Bishops

Anglo-Catholics: identify with Catholic teaching and liturgical practice and hold a high view of the authority of clergy and tradition. Anglo-Catholics are called "high church" because of their emphasis on the divine nature of the church as the mystical body of Christ

Annunciation: the feast celebrating the visit by the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary to inform her that she was to bear the son of God

Antecommunion: another name for the Liturgy of the Word, the first half of the Eucharist.

Anthem: a text from Scripture or from the Liturgy which is sung during a service. (The word comes from the Greek "antiphon," meaning a verse sung in response to a psalm or other Scripture passage)

Anthem at the Fraction: the words that are said or sung at the Breaking of the Bread

Antiphon: verses sung alternately by two choirs, or by a soloist and choir; in the divine office, sentences from scripture recited before and after the Psalms and canticles

Antiphoner: book containing the music for divine office; a sub-set of the breviary

Anti-type: a story from the New Testament which has been prefigured by a story in the Old Testament

Apocalypse: events leading up to and culminating in the Last Judgment, as described in the Biblical Book of Revelations

Apocrypha: sections of the Bible which had no original Hebrew text extant when they were translated into Latin from the Greek; these were included in their proper place in the Bible in the Latin Vulgate version, but are relegated to a separate volume in a modern Bible

Apostle: the twelve followers of Christ who were sent to spread the Christian message after his death and resurrection; the place of Judas Iscariot was taken by Matthias; the grace and the authority of the church were believed to have passed directly from Christ through the apostles

Apostolate: the ministry or work of an apostle. In Catholic usage, a term covering all kinds and areas of work and endeavor for the service of God and the Church and the good of people.

Apostolic Nunciature: the offices of the Holy Father’s representative to a country or to the Church in that country.

Apostolic Succession: every bishop of the Church Catholic is ordained by the laying on of hands by one or more (usually at least three) other bishops, and so it has been back to the first century when the first bishops were ordained by the Apostles themselves; but a true Apostolic succession also requires that they continue in the Apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers

Apse: a vaulted semi-circular or polygonal termination, usually to a chancel or chapel

Arcade: a range of arches carried on piers or columns

Archbishop: a bishop with authority over a group of territorially contiguous dioceses and their bishops; also known as a metropolitan

Archbishop of Canterbury: "First among equals" of all Anglican bishops and the spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion.  The first archbishop of Canterbury was St Augustine in AD 597

Archdeacon: a cleric having a defined administrative authority delegated to him by the bishop in the whole or part of the diocese

Archdeaconry: a sub-division of a diocese administered by an archdeacon, whose authority was delegated to him by the bishop

Archdiocese: the chief diocese of an ecclesiastical province.

Archpriest: a minister assisting a bishop in the administration of a rural deanery, or subdivision of an archdeaconry; also known as a rural dean

Ascension: the feast of the ascent of Christ into Heaven, celebrated forty days after Easter

Ash Wednesday: day of special devotion; the day which marks the beginning of the season of Lent, a period of spiritual discipline, fasting and moderation in preparation for Holy Week and Easter; one of the most important days of the church year. In the Ash Wednesday service, ashes are placed on the forehead in the form of the cross

Aspergillum: a branch, brush, or perforated metal globe, with a handle, used for sprinkling holy water

Assessment, Diocesan: The amount charged to the congregations to fund the annual unified budget of diocesan expenditures

Augustinian: 1) order of regular canons following the Rule of St Augustine; established from pre-existing orders in Italy and France in the 12th century: 2) order of mendicant friars founded in Italy in the 13th century; also known in England as the Austin Friars

Aumbry: a stone cupboard, usually set in the north wall of the chancel, for mass vessels, books and other sacred objects

Austin: term used in England for the Augustinian friars

Auxiliary Bishop: A bishop assigned to a diocese or archdiocese, to assist a residential bishop
 

B  Top
 

A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   W   X   Y   Z

Ballflower: carved decoration in the form of a globular three petalled flower

Baptism: the rite admitting an individual to the Christian church; after the missionising period carried out in early infancy

Baptistery: a separate building or separate area in a church which contains the font and where the rite of baptism is carried out

Barbe: a tall pleated collar worn by nuns and widows

Barrel Vault: continuous vault of semicircular cross-section; also called tunnel vault

Bar tracery: window tracery which divides the window into patterns with bars of stone, characteristic of later Gothic

Basilica: A church to which special privileges are attached. It is a title of honor given to various kinds of churches.

Battlements: a parapet with an alternately raised and lowered outline

Beatific Vision: the vision of God in heaven which is the final destiny of redeemed souls

Beatification: Final step toward canonization of a saint

Beguinage: community of lay women living a life of poverty and chastity, without living under a rule or taking irrevocable vows

Beguine: lay woman living a life of poverty and chastity in a community, without living under a rule or taking irrevocable vows

Belfry: the upper storey of a tower where bells are hung, or a special purpose building for the hanging of bells

Bench end: refers to the ends of pews or choir stalls, often elaborately carved

Benedictine: order of monks or nuns living according to the Rule of St Benedict

Benefice: the means of generating an income to support a priest

Bestiary: a description of the animal world in moral terms, based ultimately in an early Christian text "Physiologus" with a variety of additions

Bible: the basic literature of Christianity, comprising the Old Testament which essentially describes the history of the Jewish people up to the birth of Christ, and the New Testament which describes the events of the life of Christ and their aftermath

Biblical: from the Bible

Bier: the stand upon which a casket rests during the Burial of the Dead.

Bier Lights: two or more candles that are placed around the coffin or urn at the Burial of the Dead.

Biretta: a kind of cap worn by the clergy. In the eighteenth century it was transformed from the soft, functional headwear seen in Renaissance paintings into a stiff, ornamental thing characterized by three vertical ridges and topped with a pompom. English custom retained a softer form, but developed four sharp corners; the English square the cap is now often called a "Canterbury cap." (The academic "mortarboard" is a further development of the same type of cap)

Bishop: from the Greek word meaning overseer, a bishop is the chief pastor of a diocese. All other clergy of the diocese are responsible to the bishop. Anglicans share a belief with Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christians that bishops are the successors to the twelve original Apostles appointed by Christ. The ministry of a Bishop is to represent Christ and his Church, particularly as apostle, chief priest, and pastor of a diocese; to guard the faith, unity, and discipline of the whole Church; to proclaim the Word of God; to act in Christ's name for the reconciliation of the world and the building up of the Church; and to ordain others to continue Christ's ministry. The bishop is the chief pastor of a diocese, and (when present) the principal celebrant at sacramental liturgies

Bishop Coadjutor: a Bishop elected to succeed the Diocesan Bishop. An ordained person consecrated to become the next bishop of a diocese when the diocesan bishop retires; when the bishop retires or resigns, the Co-adjutor becomes the Diocesan and the term Co-adjutor is dropped. Suffragan bishops do not automatically become diocesan bishops

Bishop, Diocesan: the primary bishop of a diocese; sometimes referred to as "The Diocesan"

Bishop, Suffragan: a Bishop elected to assist the Diocesan Bishop and to serve under the Diocesan's direction. A working co-bishop in a diocese but without inherent right of succession when the diocesan bishop retires or resigns. Suffragan bishops are sometimes called by another diocese to become their Diocesan bishop

Bishop's Chair: a chair set apart in cathedrals and some churches, reserved especially for the bishop (sometimes called the Bishop's Throne). Also, a moveable chair or stool (faldstool) used when the bishop is present and sits for various parts of the liturgy (confirmation, ordinations, etc)

Blessed Sacrament: the consecrated bread and wine of the Eucharist which are the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ

Blessing: Bestowal of God's favor

Blind Arcading: a series of arches set against a wall

Boat: a small container, with a lid and spoon, in which incense is kept before it is placed in the thurible

Bread Box (Ciborium): the container in which the bread or hosts for the Eucharist are kept. This is presented to the celebrant at the Offertory by the server or a member of the congregation.

Bucket: A container, equipped with a handle, for Holy Water.

Burse: A pocket or envelope of stiff board covered with material of the same liturgical color as the vestments, in which the corporal is kept when not in use on the altar.

Book of Common Prayer: The book containing the forms of the common (i.e., public) prayers of the church, including the normal church services and the forms for administering the sacraments. The first Book of Common Prayer was published in 1549.

Book of Hours: a book for the laity containing Psalms and prayers to be read at the times of the daily office

Brass: a tomb effigy incised in two dimensions in a brass plate

Breviary: book containing the form of services for the daily round of divine office

Brother: a man who is a member of a religious order, but is not ordained or studying for the priesthood

Buttress: a mass of masonry or brickwork projecting from or built against a wall to give additional strength

BVM: the Blessed Virgin Mary

Byzantine: referring to the eastern Roman Empire, based in Constantinople, after the fall of Rome
 

C  Top
 

A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   W   X   Y   Z

Calatrava: military monastic order founded in Spain and Portugal in the 12th century

Caldarium: in a monastery, a small room containing a fire where inmates can go in to warm themselves

Calendar: the annual cycle of religious festivals and saints' days

Campanile: a bell tower, usually separated from the main building

Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA): an Anglican missionary effort in the US sponsored by the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion)

Candidate: the next step beyond Postulancy for a person who has been recommended by the Bishop and accepted by the Standing Committee as a Candidate for Holy Orders

Candle: The use of candles on the altar is an ancient practice. It reminds us that Jesus, the light of the world, shines in the darkness of out lives

Canon: a member of the clergy on the staff of a cathedral or diocese. A canon on a cathedral staff assists the dean, and a canon on a diocesan staff assists the bishop. Members of the clergy and laity have at times been made honorary canons of a cathedral in recognition of significant service or achievement. Historically, canons were secular clergy who were connected to a cathedral or collegiate church, sharing the revenues and a common rule of life at the church

Canon Law: the law of the church, imposed by authority in matters of faith, morals and discipline

Canon to the Ordinary: A canon who is specific to the Bishop's office; a staff officer who performs tasks as assigned by the Ordinary or Diocesan Bishop

Canonization: a declaration by the Pope that a person who died a martyr or practiced Christian virtue to a heroic degree is in heaven and is worthy of honor and imitation by the faithful. Verification of miracles is required for canonization (except for martyrs)

Canticle: song or prayer, other than a Psalm, derived from the Bible and used in church worship

Cantor: a person who chants or sings; often a solo voice that begins the service. The Festival of Lessons and Carols begins with the solo of the cantor

CAPA (Council for Anglican Provinces of Africa): 13 provinces in the fastest-growing part of the Anglican Communion, headed by the Primate of Nigeria, Archbishop Peter Akinola

Capital: the head or crowning feature of a column

Cardinal: the clergy of Rome who became the immediate advisors of the pope (Latin cardo = hinge)

Carillon: a set of church bells; generally found only in churches large enough to have a tower or steeple strong enough to support the weight of the many bells; some of the bells may weigh a ton or more

Caroline Divines: The school of Anglican preachers and theologians living under King Charles I, the Interregnum and Charles II are known collectively as the Caroline Divines. Their extensive patristic and scriptural learning was put to use in defense of the continuity of the Church of England with the pre-reformation Ecclesia Anglicana, as well as the episcopal form of church government against the contemporary claims of presbyterians. They taught the Real Presence, the use of auricular confession, and the observance of the fasts and festivals of the Church year.  The writings of the Caroline Divines were collected by adherents of the Oxford Movement and published in the extensive (and never completed) Library of Anglo-Catholic Theology.

Carmelite: order of mendicant friars originally founded in Palestine in the 12th century, then reformed in Europe in the 13th century after the failure of the Crusades; also known as the White Friars

Carolingian: referring to the reign of Charlemagne, in the 9th century

Carthusian: a monastic order founded in Chartreuse, in France, in the 11th century; a contemplative order whose brethren were bound to vows of silence and renunciation of the world

Cassock: a long, close-fitting, ankle-length robe, symbolizing the covering of our sins. the cassock derives ultimately from the tunic that was formerly worn underneath the toga in classical antiquity. the word cassock probably comes from the word casaque which means cloak; or cassaca, which means white. In older days, it was known in Latin as vestis talaris

Catechesis: religious instruction and formation for persons preparing for baptism (catechumens) and for the faithful in various stages of spiritual development

Catechetical: Referring to catechesis

Catechetics: from the Greek meaning "to sound forth," it is the procedure for teaching religion

Catechism: the catechism (found in the Book of Common Prayer) is primarily intended for use by parish priests, deacons, and lay catechists, to give an outline for instruction. It is a commentary on the creeds, but is not meant to be a complete statement of belief and practice; rather, it is a point of departure for the teacher, and it is cast in the traditional question and answer form for ease of reference; a second use of this catechism is to provide a brief summary of the Church's teaching for an inquiring stranger who picks up a Prayer Book

Cathar: a heretical movement found in Germany, Italy and France in the 11th to 13th centuries, based on a dualist belief in two Gods, one of good and one of evil; also known as Albigensians

Cathedra: the throne of a bishop

Cathedral: the church which contains the throne, or official seat, of the bishop of the diocese and therefore the "mother church" of the diocese

Catholic: Greek word for universal. First used in the title Catholic Church in a letter written by St. Ignatius of Antioch to the Christians of Smyrna about 107 AD

Celebrant: the one who presides at the celebration of the Eucharist

Celebrator: Used only to describe a participant in a nonreligious celebration

Cell: an individual room in a monastic establishment where one person lived in seclusion

Cellarium: the storehouse for provisions

Chalice: the cup for holding the wine at the ritual of the Eucharist

Chalice Bearer: one who is licensed by the diocese to administer the chalice at communion

Chalice Veil: a square piece of material of the same liturgical color as the vestments used to cover the chalice and paten when they are not in use. The burse, with the corporal inside, rests on top of the veiled chalice

Chancel: the eastern end of the church containing the high altar, where the mass is celebrated, reserved for the priest, other clergy and choir: may also include an extension of the nave east of the crossing

Chancel arch: the arch, generally stone, at the west end of the chancel

Chancellor: the chief archivist of the official records of a diocese. Also a notary and secretary of the diocesan curia

Chant: a musical recitation of words midway between reading and singing; in some churches, the Psalm in the worship service is often chanted

Chantry chapel: a chapel in which masses for the soul of a dead person are recited

Chantry priest: a priest whose function is to say or sing masses for the soul of a dead person in a chantry chapel

Chapel: 1) a part of a church with a separate altar, which may be dedicated differently to the church as a whole; 2) a self contained building dedicated to worship, the saying of prayers or the celebration of masses for the dead, but which does not serve the functions of a parish church; 3) a church which serves parochial needs, but which is dependent upon another church within the parish, sometimes called a chapel of ease

Chaplain: a priest who was paid an annual wage to serve in a parish church or dependent chapel, such as a hospital

Chapter: 1) the members of a religious house in their corporate capacity; 2) the members of any corporate body responsible for an ecclesiastical institution; 3) a meeting of the members of a religious institution

Chapter House: a place of assembly for the members of a monastery, cathedral or collegiate church, for the discussion of business

Charisms: Gifts or graces given by God to persons for the good of others and the Church

Chasuble: a richly colored outer robe, a representation of the rich and blessed covering of Christ, reminiscent of the fine robe the father put around the undeserving prodigal son, and symbolic of the lord’s covering of love. While putting it on, the priest prays, "Give me again, O Lord, the robe of immortality which I lost by the transgression of my first parents; and although I am unworthy to come unto Thy Holy Sacrament, grant that I may attain everlasting felicity"

Childermas: the Feast of the Holy Innocents, December 28

Chimere: a sleeveless gown worn over the rochet by a bishop as part of his normal choir dress. The chimere may be either of black satin (ordinary) or of red silk (convocation). It apparently derives from the academic costume of a doctor of theology, and so is unrelated to the similar continental gown called a "manteletta"

Choir: A group of singers who assist in the celebration of the liturgy. They may be either in the chancel or in some other part of the church; also, the part of the church where the choir sits

Choir stalls: the seating for the clergy in the choir of a church

Chor bishop: In the Maronite rite and the Greek Orthodox Church an auxiliary bishop may be called a chor bishop. When used in other Eastern Catholic rites it is an honorary term for a close assistant of a bishop, usually the equivalent of a vicar general

Chrism: oil consecrated by a bishop for use at Baptism, Confirmation and Ordination

Chrismation: the anointing of a person with chrism at Baptism

Christ: the title of Jesus, derived from Greek translation Kyrios of the Hebrew term Messiah, meaning the Anointed of God

Christmas: the feast celebrating the birth of Christ, held on 25th December

Church: the universal Church that is spread throughout the world; the local Church is that of a particular locality, such as a diocese. the Church embraces all its members—on earth, in heaven and in purgatory

Christmas: the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ celebrated on December 25th. The Christmas season extends through January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany

Ciborium: a covered metal or ceramic vessel in which the Blessed Sacrament is kept when reserved in a tabernacle or aumbry

Cincture: the rope a priest uses as a belt. It is a symbol of chastity and self-control. As he wraps it around himself, he prays, "Gird me, O Lord, with the girdle of purity and quench in me the fire of concupiscence, that the grace of temperance and chastity may abide in me"

Cistercian: monastic order derived from the Benedictine, founded as reformed order from the French monastery of Citeaux in the 12th century

Clerestory: the upper stage of the main walls of a church, above the aisle roofs, pierced by windows

Clergy: Collective term referring to male persons who administer the rites of the Church through Holy Orders

Cleric: any member of the clergy

Clerical: referring to the clergy

Cloister: 1) a quadrangle surrounded by roofed or vaulted passages connecting a major church to domestic or ancillary buildings 2) Part of a convent or monastery reserved for use by members of the order that live in that facility

Close: the enclosed precinct of a cathedral or collegiate church

Cluniac: reformed Benedictine order, founded in the 10th century in France

Collegiality: the shared responsibility and authority that the whole college of bishops, headed by the Pope, has for the teaching, sanctification and government of the Church

Collegiate church: a church served by a body of canons or prebendaries; not housing the throne of a bishop and therefore not a cathedral; served by secular canons rather than monks

Colors, Liturgical: the vestments of the clergy and the paraments in the church building (including the altar frontal, pulpit hanging, etc.) vary in colour according to the season of the Church year or the particular holy day being observed. There have been numerous colour schemes, but, since the late sixteenth century the Western custom has been to use: white (or gold) in Christmastide and Eastertide and on the Feasts of our Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Saints who were not martyred, and at weddings and baptisms; red on Whitsun Day, the Feasts of Martyrs and Evangelists, and at ordinations and confirmations; purple (or violet) during the penitential seasons of Advent, pre-Lent, and Lent, for vigils, and sometimes at funerals; and green for the ordinary times after Epiphany and Trinity. Black is sometimes used for funerals and on Good Friday and All Souls' Day; rose (or ashes-of-roses) is sometimes used on the third Sunday in Advent and the fourth Sunday in Lent

Column: used to indicate a pillar of any shape, although strictly confined to cylindrical Classical pillars; in Romanesque and Gothic architecture more correctly known as a pier

Commandery: monastic house of the military order of Hospitallers

Compline: the last of the day services of divine office, recited before retiring

Confession: the rite of confession of sins to a priest in order to obtain absolution

Confirmation: the sacrament which follows baptism in the Christian life cycle, requiring the recipient to affirm their faith in the presence of a bishop

Consecration: to make sacred, the separation of a thing or person for divine service; 1) of the Eucharist, the act whereby the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ; 2) of bishops, the conferring of the character of the office by bishops to another; 3) of altars and churches and sacred vessels, the setting apart of these things exclusively for the service of God

Contemplative: A religious man or woman who devotes his/her entire life in the cloister to prayer and reflection

Convent: 1) In common usage, the term refers to a house of women religious 2)an enclosed and regulated monastic institution

Conventual: in the manner of a monastery

Conventuals: members of the Franciscan order advocating change to the original rules on property

Conversi: lay converts who had entered the monastic life as adults and were employed in manual labor; also known as lay brothers

Cope: item of processional vestments; semi-circular outer cloak

Corbel: a carved projecting block, often supporting the springer of a vault

Corbel table: a range of projecting blocks, often carved, running below the eaves of a building

Corporal Acts of Mercy: a series of charitable acts which aided the giver to salvation; feeding the hungry, providing drink for the thirsty, clothing the naked, visiting the sick, visiting prisoners, taking in the traveller and burying the dead

Council: a formal meeting of bishops and representatives of churches convened for the purpose of regulating doctrine or discipline

Council for Anglican Provinces of Africa (CAPA): 13 provinces in the fastest-growing part of the Anglican Communion, headed by the Primate of Nigeria, Archbishop Peter Akinola

Coals: the burning charcoal in the thurible

Collar, Clerical: a stiff round shirt collar worn by Roman Catholic, Anglican and Orthodox clergy; widely regarded as a sign or identifying mark of clerical status

Collect: a prayer that is sung or said on behalf of the people by the celebrant or officiant at liturgical celebrations

Colors, Liturgical: by tradition, various colors are used for the vestments and altar hangings for the different seasons and feasts of the Church Year. In Western use the tradition is:
Red - on Pentecost, Feasts of Martyrs, and during Holy Week
White - on Feasts of our Lord, Feasts of Saints who were not martyrs, Feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Green - on the Sundays and Ordinary days of the Year after Epiphany and Pentecost
Blue -in some places used during Advent
Purple - for penitential occasions, during Lent
Black - for the Burial of the Dead and Requiems

Comfortable Words - from BCP, pg 332. Hear the Word of God to all who truly turn to him.
 • Come unto me, all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you. ~ Matthew 11:28
 • God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, to the end that all that believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ~ John 3:16
 • This is a true saying, and worthy of all men to be received, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. ~ 1 Timothy 1:15
 • If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the perfect offering for our sins, and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world. ~ 1 John 2:1-2

Commendation: The rite at the conclusion of the Burial of the Dead

Communicant: a baptized and confirmed member of the Church in good standing who is eligible to partake of the Holy Eucharist; loosely identified with the roll or membership of the local church

Communion: the Christian sacramental meal, equivalent to the Lord's Supper; now more commonly called 'eucharist' in Anglican churches; also called Mass

Compline: an evening service to end the day; although the service is an old Christian usage, it has only recently been added to the Prayerbook of the Anglican Church

Concelebrant: an ordained bishop or priest who celebrates the Eucharist with the principal celebrant

Confession of Sin: a public prayer of penitence at the Eucharist, the Daily Offices, and other times. Also, the Reconciliation of a Penitent (see BCP, 447ff)

Confirmation: the opportunity for those baptized at an early age to make a mature public affirmation of their faith, to commit to the responsibilities of their Baptism, and to receive the laying on of hands by the bishop

Congregation: a parish or a mission. A mission differs from a parish; it is normally headed by a Vicar who is appointed by the Bishop, and has an Advisory Board instead of a Vestry. The group of people who attend church; the members present for the worship service

Consecrate: the setting apart of anything for God's service. The Prayer of Consecration invokes God's Presence on the elements of bread and wine whereby they become the body and blood of Christ

Consecration: a special service of dedication or ordination

Consecration of a Bishop: the liturgy in which a priest becomes a Bishop

Convent: a disciplined spiritual residential community for women; similar to a monastery

Convocation: a special gathering of a religious or academic group, usually marked by use of special vestments, ceremony, procession, etc. Also the name of a special group of ordained persons. Some dioceses meet as a convocation; sometimes the meeting of all the clergy of a diocese is called a convocation

Cope: a long cape, worn over the shoulders by the celebrant and others at various liturgies (processions, the Burial of the Dead, etc.), or by a bishop. It is usually of the liturgical color of the day or season, has a clasp at the chest and is worn over alb and stole or over cassock and surplice

Corporal: a large square white cloth, usually linen, that is placed on the altar at the time of the Offertory and upon which the chalice and paten are placed. The corporal may be kept in the burse when not in use on the altar

Cotta: a short robe often worn by choir members over cassocks

Council of the Diocese: The Council encourages and supports the mission of the Church as it is conducted by the people of the Diocese. An appointed or elective group that advises the bishop. At the diocesan level similar to the vestry at the parish level. Sometimes referred to as "Bishop-and-Council"

Cowl: a loose gown with hanging sleeves and a hood, worn by Benedictine and other monks

Credence (or credence table): A shelf or table within the sanctuary, to the side of the altar, on which the sacred vessels and the elements are placed until they are used in the Eucharist. (The Italian form of this word, "credenza," is familiar as the name of an item of furniture that fulfils a similar secular function)

Creed: the affirmation of the faith of the Church (the three creeds of the church are "The Apostles' Creed," "The Nicene Creed," and "The Athanasian Creed").  The Apostles' Creed was originally used for baptismal instruction, outlining the faith of the Apostles; currently used in the Daily Office. The Nicene Creed is a statement of Christian faith dating from the 4th century; it was composed to fight heresy and is used regularly at the Eucharist

Crocket: a carved decorative feature carved in a leaf shape and projecting from the angles of a spire, pinnacle or gable

Cross/Crucifix: An object is a crucifix only if it depicts Christ on a cross, otherwise it is a cross

Crossing: the space at the intersection of the nave, chancel and transepts of a church

Crossing tower: a tower above the crossing, where the nave and chancel meet the transepts

Crozier: pastoral staff; a processional staff with the head in the form of a shepherd's crook

Crucifer: a person in a religious procession who bears the cross and who leads the procession into the church

Crucifix: a representation of the cross on which Christ was crucified

Cruciform: cross shaped

Cruets: glass or metal containers for the wine and water used at the Eucharist. Cruets have handles and tops, either a removable stopper or a lid that can be raised

Curate: a deacon or other person not fully ordained who receives a fee for working in a small parish; the parish a curate works with is his "cure;" sometimes a curate is the newest assistant to a senior minister at a large parish. Curates generally work under the supervision of a senior minister and do not have full responsibility for their parish. Equivalent to a vicar

Crusade: series of military campaigns waged by Christian countries in the Holy Land from the 11th to the 13th century to recover the area from Islam; used more generally for any military campaign on behalf of the church

Crutched Friars: also known as the Brethren of the Holy Cross; not actually considered to be a mendicant group and were much involved with running hospitals

Crypt: a chamber or vault beneath the main floor

Curvilinear: the second phase of the English Decorated style, of the mid to late 14th century

Custody: subsection of a province within the Franciscan order
 

D  Top
 

A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   W   X   Y   Z

D Min: Doctor of Ministry; a special graduate program for clergy offered by many seminaries; courses are often scheduled in the summer so that parish clergy may attend

DD: Common abbreviation of the honorary degree Doctor of Divinity; an honorary degree reserved exclusively for ordained persons, especially bishops. The abbreviation is used after the bishop's full name: The Rt Rev Jack L Iker, SSC, DD

Daily office: the daily cycle of choir services performed by clergy; also referred to as divine office

Dalmatic: item of mass vestments; a fringed tunic with split sides, worn under the chasuble by a bishop and as an upper garment by a deacon

De-Consecration: A ritual or service for returning a former sacred building or site to a non-sacred status; church buildings no longer in use as churches are de-consecrated before being sold or destroyed

Decorated: the second phase of Gothic in England, basically of the early 14th century, characterised by sinuous decorative forms and considerable surface decoration

Deacon: Deacons are members of one of three distinct orders of ordained ministry (with bishops and presbyters). In the Anglican Church a deacon exercises "a special ministry of servanthood" directly under the deacon's bishop, serving all people and especially those in need (BCP, p. 543). This definition reflects the practice of the early church, in which deacons were ordained "not to the priesthood but to the servanthood [diakonia, "ministry"] of the bishop" (Hippolytus, Apostolic Tradition). In the ancient Greek-speaking world the term diakonos meant an intermediary who acted or spoke for a superior. Christian deacons were agents of the bishop, often with oversight of charity. Since ancient times the liturgical functions of deacons have suggested the activity of angels. As they proclaim the gospel, lead intercessions, wait at the eucharistic table, and direct the order of the assembly, deacons act as sacred messengers, agents, and attendants. The revival of the order of deacons in the twentieth century has emphasized social care and service. Many bishops in the Anglican Church expect their deacons to promote care of the needy outside the church. In addition to those ordained deacon as a permanent vocation, there are also "transitional deacons" who are ordained deacon as a preliminary step toward ordination as a priest. This practice is required by the canons of the Anglican Church

Dean: the dean of a cathedral controlled its services and with the chapter, supervised its fabric and property; a rural dean assisted the bishop in administering a sub-division of an archdeaconry

Deanery: a group of parishes forming a subdivision of an archdeaconry; also referred to as a rural deanery

Decretal: papal letter written in response to a question, then having the authority of law

DEPO: (Delegated Episcopal Pastoral Oversight) developed as a response to a need in some dioceses for the provision of alternative pastoral oversight and care of congregations who had irreconcilable theological differences with their bishop and would no longer accept their sacramental ministry. DEPO requires bishops to exercise restraint in asserting their authority, and to act with charity toward a theological minority in their diocese

Deputy: an official church or diocesan delegate to a meeting; a deputy may be clerical or lay

Diocesan Curia: the personnel and offices assisting the bishop in directing the pastoral activity, administration and exercise of judicial power of the diocese.

Diaconate: a special ministry of servanthood of deacons directly under the Bishop. In the name of Jesus Christ, the diaconate are to serve all people, particularly the poor, the sick and the lonely. The state of being a deacon; also, the life of deacon-like service in the church

Diocese: the territorial unit of administration in the church, governed by a bishop; also known as a see

Dismissal: the words said or sung by the deacon (or celebrant) at the conclusion of the Eucharist. The response to the dismissal is "Thanks be to God" (during the Fifty Days of Easter, "Thanks be to God, alleluia, alleluia")

Dispensation: an exemption from Church law.

Divine office: the daily cycle of choir services performed by clergy

Dogtooth: decorative carved design of a line of four pointed stars set diagonally

Dome: a vault of even curvature erected on a circular base

Dominican: order of mendicant friars founded in the early 13th century by the Spanish St Dominic; also known as the Friars Preacher or the Black Friars

Doorkeeper: the fourth rank of minor orders of the ministry; their functions were similar to those of a modern verger, heading processions and undertaking general care of the church fabric

Dormitory: the communal sleeping area of a monastery; also known as the dorter

Dorter: the communal sleeping area of a monastery; also known as the dormitory

Doxology: words said or sung in praise of the Holy Trinity (see Gloria Patri; also, the conclusion of each Eucharistic Prayer in BCP)

Dust-Cover: a cloth placed over the altar cloth at times when the altar is not in use
 

E  Top
 

A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   W   X   Y   Z

Early English: the first phase of Gothic in England, essentially of the 13th century, characterized by simple lancet windows and relatively unadorned surfaces

Easter: the feast of Christ's resurrection. According to Bede, the word derives from the Anglo-Saxon spring goddess Eostre. Christians in England applied the word to the principal festival of the church year, both day and season. 1) Easter Day is the annual feast of the resurrection, the pascha or Christian Passover, and the eighth day of cosmic creation. Faith in Jesus' resurrection on the Sunday or third day following his crucifixion is at the heart of Christian belief. Easter sets the experience of springtime next to the ancient stories of deliverance and the proclamation of the risen Christ. In the west, Easter occurs on the first Sunday after the full moon on or after the vernal equinox. Easter always falls between Mar. 22 and Apr. 25 inclusive. Following Jewish custom, the feast begins at sunset on Easter Eve with the Great Vigil of Easter

Easter Sepulchre: a table tomb in a wall niche, used to display an effigy of Christ during Easter

Eastern-Rite (Oriental) Church: Term used to describe the Catholic churches which developed in Eastern Europe, Asia, and Africa. they have their own distinctive liturgical and organizational systems. Each is considered equal to the Latin rite within the Church.

Ecclesiastical: pertaining to the church

Ecumenical Council (or Oecumenical Council): a gathering to which all of the bishops of the whole inhabited world (in Greek, "oikumene") are called to address the common needs and concerns of the entire Church militant here in earth. To date, there have been seven ecumenical councils: Nicea (325), Constantinople (381), Ephesus (431), Chalcedon (451), Constantinople (553), Constantinople (690), Nicea (787). There have, of course, been no ecumenical councils since the schism between the Eastern and Western churches in 1054; certain councils of the Western church (including four held at the Lateran Palace in Rome) are sometimes, but inaccurately, called "ecumenical"

Ecumenism/Interdenominational/Ecumenical Movement: A movement for spiritual understanding and unity among Christians and their churches. the term also is extended to apply to efforts toward greater understanding and cooperation between Christians and members of other faiths

Ecclesial: Having to do with the Church in general or the life of the Church

Effigy tomb: a tomb bearing a representation of the deceased, usually life sized, in three dimensions and of stone

Egg Sunday: Quinquagesima Sunday, or the Sunday before Lent, in English customary usage. (The name apparently refers to this being a last opportunity for high living before the Lenten fast.) In the seventeenth century, the secular observance of "Egg Saturday" involved the playing of pranks by youngsters and students

Elements: the bread and wine to be consecrated at the Eucharist, and the water of Baptism

Elevations: the lifting up of the Consecrated Elements after the Words of Institution, at the conclusion of the Great Thanksgiving, or at the Invitation to Communion

Encyclical: a pastoral letter addressed by the Pope to the whole Church

Epiphany: feast of the 6th January, associated with the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus

Episcopal: Refers to a bishop or groups of bishops as a form of Church government, in which bishops have authority

Episcopal Church of the United States (ECUSA): Established in 1789 in the wake of the American Revolution

Episcopal Synod of America: see Forward in Faith North America

Epistle: the lesson at the Eucharist preceding the Gospel taken from one of the Letters of the New Testament, the Acts of the Apostles, or the Book of Revelation; also any reading from the Bible other than the Gospels or Psalms

Epistle Side: the right side of a church when facing the altar in a church with an East facing altar

Eremetical: relating to the life of a hermit

Eschatology: Doctrine concerning the last things: death, judgment, heaven and hell, and the final state of perfection of the people and the kingdom of God at the end of the world

Eucharist: one of the seven sacraments and the principal ritual of the church, in which bread and wine is transformed into the body and blood of Christ; the ritual must be administered by a priest

Evangelical: Refers to Christians who emphasize the need for a definite commitment to faith in Christ and a duty by believers to persuade others to accept Christ

Evangelist: A preacher or revivalist who seeks conversions by preaching to groups

Evening Prayer: Evening Prayer, most commonly known as Vespers, is the official prayer that marks the end of the day. It consists primarily of sung psalms and other readings from Scripture

Ewer: also see Flagon, for water at Baptism or on Maundy Thursday at the Washing of Feet

Executive Committee: a type of diocesan government in which a committee advises the bishop; the executive committee is smaller than the Bishop-and-Council type of government

Exultet: the paean of praise that is sung or said during the first part of the Great Vigil of Easter by the deacon or other person appointed

Exarch/Exarchy: A church jurisdiction, similar to a diocese, established for Eastern-rite Catholics living outside their native land. the head of an exarchy, usually a bishop, is an exarch

Excommunication: a censure imposed by church authority which excludes those subjected to it from holy communion and imposes on them other deprivations and disabilities; in the heavier form of this censure, the transgressor was forbidden any intercourse with fellow Christians and deprived of all rights and privileges in the church

Exorcist: the second of the minor orders of the ministry; the power of exorcising evil spirits was never confined to this order although they assisted in this process, as well as with the pouring out of water at the mass
 

F  Top
 

A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   W   X   Y   Z

Faidstool: The Bishop's chair

Fan vault: vault consisting of half cones nearly meeting at the apex of the vault, with decorative paneling between the ribs

Fast: a day of special devotion (Ash Wednesday, other weekdays of Lent and of Holy Week, Good Friday and all other Fridays of the year, except for Fridays in the Christmas and Easter seasons, and any Feasts of our Lord which occur on a Friday) observed by acts of discipline and self-denial

Father: a familiar or direct way of referring to some ordained clergy: the Reverend Mark A Stockstill, but--in personal conversation or in the salutation of a letter--Father Stockstill, Dear Father Stockstill. Typically used of all Roman Catholic clergy and Anglican clergy

Feast: a day of celebration associated with the life of Our Lord, of the Saints, or days of thanksgiving

Fifty Days of Easter, The: from the Great Vigil of Easter up to and including the Day of Pentecost

Finial: carved ornament, usually in the form of a fleur-de-lis, at the top of a gable, arch or pinnacle

Flagon: a large metal or ceramic pitcher often used for wine (and water) to be consecrated at the Eucharist. If more than one chalice is used during the administration of Communion, the flagon (or an additional cruet filled with wine and water) is placed on the altar at the Offertory, and other chalices are brought to the altar after the Breaking of the Bread. There should be only one chalice on the altar during the Great Thanksgiving

Flamboyant: the late Gothic style in France, characterized by long wavy tracery designs

Fleche: a narrow openwork tower with a tall spire, sometimes constructed of wood or metal

Floriated cross: a motif combining a crucifix with foliate or floral ornament

Flushwork: a decorative technique for exterior walls, in which designs are picked out in white stone against a background of flint cobbles

Flying buttress: an arch or half arch transmitting the thrust of a vault or roof from the upper part of a wall to an outer support

Focolare: A lay movement started in Trent, Italy by Chiara Lubich in 1943, now claiming more than a million followers. Its aim is world unity though the living witness of Christian love and holiness in the family and in small communities.

Font: receptacle for baptismal water, usually made of stone but sometimes of metal

Frontal: A covering for the altar, usually of the same material as the vestments or of the liturgical color of the season or feast. It may either cover all sides of the altar, or only the front. The altar cloth is spread over the frontal

Forward in Faith North America: came into being in June, 1999, when the former Episcopal Synod of America unanimously voted to enter into a new and dynamic relationship with its sisters and brothers in the UK and Australia. Its members are to be found all over continental North America

Four centred arch: form of arch used in the Perpendicular phase of Gothic, flattened at the top

Franciscan: order of friars founded by St Francis of Assisi in the early 13th century in Italy; also known as the Friars Minor or the Grey Friars

Frater: the communal refectory of a monastic establishment

Free Will: the faculty or capability of making a reasonable choice from among several alternatives.

Friars: members of one of the mendicant orders, the four main orders being the Franciscans, Dominicans, Carmelites and Austin friars; they lived in regular fashion but were extensively involved with the outside community; the term literally means "brother"

Friars of the Sack: also called the Friars of the Penance of Jesus Christ; the largest of the lesser groups of friars in England, all of their houses were abandoned by 1314 and the members obliged to join one of the major mendicant orders

Friary: a community of friars
 

G  Top
 

A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   W   X   Y   Z

Galilee: a vestibule or occasionally a chapel, originally for penitents and usually at the west end of a church

Gallery: an upper storey over an aisle, opening on to the nave; also called a tribune

Garde-robe: a toilet

Gargoyle: a water spout carved in the form of a grotesque human or animal

Gatehouse: a building constructed over a gateway

Geometric: the first phase of the English Decorated style, of the early 14th century

General Convention: triennial legislative conference of the Episcopal Church; each diocese is represented by its bishop(s), four clergy and four lay people

Genuflection, or genuflexion: a gesture of reverence in worship. It involves touching a knee briefly to the floor while holding the upper body upright, and then returning to a standing position. It is not required by the Prayer Book at any time. In some parishes it is a customary gesture of reverence for Christ's real presence in the consecrated eucharistic elements of bread and wine. Genuflections are often customary in parishes with an Anglo-catholic piety. Genuflections may be seen as people enter or leave a church, or the seating area of a church, or the vicinity of a tabernacle where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved. the celebrant and assisting ministers may genuflect at the end of the eucharistic prayer or after the words of institution concerning each element in the eucharistic prayer. Genuflection has also been associated with veneration of the cross at the Good Friday liturgy and with the affirming of the Incarnation in the Nicene Creed. the genuflection is from imperial and feudal ceremonial. the custom of genuflecting to the Blessed Sacrament dates from the eleventh century, and it was introduced into the Mass in the fourteenth century. Some prefer the profound bow as a more ancient gesture of reverence in worship

Gifts: the offerings of Bread and Wine (and Alms) presented to the celebrant at the Offertory of the Eucharist

Gilbertine: a monastic order founded in England in the 12th century; a double order comprising male and female members under the spiritual guidance of the Augustinian canons

Global South: parts of the Communion south of the equator; mostly conservative in their theology; including Africa, South America, and Southern Asia

Gloria Patri: The Doxology which concludes the recitation of a psalm at the beginning of the Eucharist; at the end of the psalms in the Daily Offices; and at other times as listed in the Prayer Book (see BCP,'63)

Gloss: marginal or interlinear annotations to a text

God: the infinitely perfect Supreme Being, uncaused and absolutely self-sufficient, eternal, the Creator and final end of all things. the one God subsists in three equal Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Good Friday: The Friday of Holy Week is the only day of the year that the Church calls "good."  It is the anniversary of the passion, crucifixion, and death of Jesus Christ.

Gospel: the books of the New Testament of the Bible detailing the life of Christ and the immediate aftermath of his death and resurrection; comprises the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John

Gospel Book: the book (usually with an ornamented cover) which contains the Gospel lessons appointed for use at the Eucharist. It is carried in procession (at the entrance) and at the proclamation of the Gospel by the deacon or other reader. "It is desirable that the lessons and Gospel be read from a book or books of appropriate size and dignity" (BCP, 406)

Gospel Procession: the movement of the deacon or celebrant with torches, incense and processional cross, to the place of the proclamation of the Gospel: the nave, the lectern, or the pulpit

Gospel Side: the Gospel Side is the north side [the left side facing the altar]

Gothic: the architectural style of the later middle ages, based on the pointed arch and construction by a skeletal framework rather than mass

Grace: A free gift from God to human beings, grace is a created sharing in the life of God. It is given through the merits of Christ and is communicated by the Holy Spirit. Grace is necessary for salvation

Gradual: book containing the music for the mass; a sub-set of the missal

Grand Master: title of the heads of the military orders of Templars and Hospitallers

Great Thanksgiving, The: the major prayer of the Eucharist beginning with the salutation and preface and concluding with the Lord's Prayer

Grisaille: with respect to stained glass, a style popular in the 13th century employing abstract rather than pictorial designs and much transparent white glass

Groin: angle at the intersection of two surfaces in a vault

Groin vault: vault formed by the meeting at right angles of two tunnel vaults

Guardian: term for the head of a Franciscan friary
 

H  Top
 

A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   W   X   Y   Z

Habit: the distinctive clothing worn by members of monastic orders

Hall church: a church in which nave and aisles are of approximately equal height

Hallowmas: The Feast of All Saints (or "All Hallows"), November 1. (Hallowe[v]en is the vigil of All Hallows' Day)

Hammerbeam: a horizontal bracket supported by braces, designed to carry arched braces and struts which support a roof

Hierarchy: in general, the term refers to the ordered body of clergy, divided into bishops, priests, and deacons. In Catholic practice, the term refers to the bishops of the world or of a particular region.

Heresy: the formal denial or doubt of any defined doctrine of the church

Heretic: person who has expressed formal denial or doubt of any defined doctrine of the church

Holy Communion: the sacrament of the Eucharist

Holy Orders: the sacrament of ordination, which marks the entry of the candidate into the ordained ministry. The orders of bishops, priests and deacons are termed Holy Orders. A way of referring to ordination among Roman Catholics, Anglicans and Orthodox Churches: an ordained man is spoken of as "being in holy orders" - meaning that he has made priestly vows and has been admitted by a bishop into one of the several levels of ordination

Holy See: the diocese of the Bishop of Rome; commonly used to denote the authority and jurisdiction of the papacy

Host, the Sacred: the bread under whose appearance Christ is and remains present in a unique manner after the consecration of the Mass.

Holy Trinity: the three persons of God; the Father, Son and Holy Ghost

Holy Water: water blessed by a bishop or priest for use in blessing the people, in the setting apart of objects for use in the church, or for other liturgical purposes. Holy Water is often used at the Burial of the Dead, at Weddings, and at other times at the discretion of the priest

Holy Water Stoup: a small stone basin containing holy water

Holy Week: the week that commemorates our Lord's Passion and Death: The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday; Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of Holy Week; Maundy Thursday; Good Friday; and, Holy Saturday. The Great Vigil of Easter is the climax of Holy Week and the beginning of the Fifty Days of Easter celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord; the period from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday; most important period of the church year with many special services

Hood Mould: a projecting molding on an arch, above a door or over a window

Hospitallers: military order first recognized in 1113, founded to assist in the Crusades; their full name was Knights of the Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem

Hospitium: a monastic guesthouse

Host: the communion wafers which form the bread which is miraculously transformed during the ritual of the Eucharist

Hours: the times specified for the recitation of divine office; Matins, Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, Nones, Vespers and Compline

House of Bishops: Full-time administrator of the church's New York headquarters. Heads many church committees and boards, including presidency of the foreign and domestic missionary agencies

Hussites: sect founded in early 15th century Bohemia; the founder was much influenced by the ideas of John Wycliffe

Hymn: Sacred words set to music; church vocal music involving the congregation and distinguished from the Psalm or anthem; sacred poetry set to music and sung during the liturgy
 

I  Top
 

A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   W   X   Y   Z

IHS: In Greek, the first three letters of the name of Jesus

Immaculate Conception: dogma concerning Mary and the name of a feast in her honor celebrated Dec. 8. It refers to the belief that Mary was without sin from the moment she was conceived

Impost: a projecting molding supporting an arch

Incarnation: the Christian doctrine that the eternal Son of God took human flesh from his human mother and that the historical Jesus is at once fully God and fully human

Incarnatus: that part of the Nicene Creed which states "He became incarnate ... and was made man." In many churches it is customary to bow or genuflect at this part

Incense: a fragrant powder burned in a small dish or pot; used during the service or in the processions in recollection of one of the three gifts of the Wisemen to the Christ Child; a mixture of perfumed spices, burned on the coals in the thurible, and used as a sign of prayer, honor, and solemnity at liturgical functions

Installation: a service in which a person is made the official bearer of a clerical or academic office: the Installation of the Dean or Vice-Chancellor; a service at which an already consecrated bishop is installed as bishop of a diocese

Instruments of Unity
four entities of the Anglican Communion, namely:
• the 38 Primates
• the Lambeth Conferences
• the Anglican Consultative Council
• the Archbishop of Canterbury (called the "Focus of Unity”)

Introit: the hymn, psalm, or anthem sung (or said) at the entrance of the ministers at the Eucharist

Invitatory: at Morning Prayer: the Venite, Psalm 95, Jubilate, or Christ our Passover; at Evening Prayer: 0 Gracious Light (Phos Hilaron) or other suitable hymn or psalm. The invitatory is used at the beginning of an Office after the opening versicle and response and before the appointed psalms

Inquisition: the official persecution of heresy by special ecclesiastical courts; formally constituted by the papacy in the 13th century

Instruments of Unity: four entities of the Anglican Communion; the 38 Primates; the Lambeth Conferences; the Anglican Consultative Council; and the Archbishop of Canterbury (called the "Focus of Unity”)

Interdict: an ecclesiastical punishment excluding the faithful from participation in spiritual things; it could be applied to individuals, to local areas such as parishes, or to whole populations

International Gothic: an art style of the 14th century which spread across western Europe; stylistic similarities appeared in different forms of art including painting, sculpture, stained glass and manuscript illumination

Indulgence: the remission before God of the temporal punishment due for sins already forgiven

Intercommunion: the agreement or practice of two Ecclesial communities by which each admits members of the other communion to its sacraments
 

J  Top
 

A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   W   X   Y   Z

Jesus: the name of Jesus, meaning Savior in Christian usage, derived from the Aramaic and Hebrew Yeshua and Joshua, meaning Yahweh is salvation
 

K  Top
 

A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   W   X   Y   Z

Keys, Power of the: spiritual authority and jurisdiction in the Church, symbolized by the "keys" to the kingdom of heaven. Christ promised the keys to St. Peter and future heads of the Church
 

L  Top
 

A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   W   X   Y   Z

Label Stop: an ornamental boss at the base of a hood mould or arch

Lady Chapel: a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary

Laity: church members who are not members of the clergy

Lancet: a simple narrow window with a pointed arch

Lantern: a circular or polygonal turret surrounded by windows or openwork

Last Judgment: the final judgment of mankind by God after the resurrection of the dead

Lauds: the early morning service of divine office

Lavabo: the washing of the celebrant's fingers after the Offertory at the Eucharist or at other times such as when oil or
chrism is used or after the imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday

Lavabo Bowl: the metal or ceramic dish into which the water is poured by the server at the lavabo

Lavabo Towel: a piece of cloth, usually linen, presented to the celebrant by the server at the lavabo to dry the fingers. It is
presented hung over the server's left arm

Lavatorium: a series of basins outside a monastic refectory for the washing of hands

Lay: from laios, a Greek word meaning the people

lay brother: member of a religious order who is not bound to the recitation of the divine office and is occupied in manual work, generally adult converts to the monastic life; also known as conversi

Lay sister: female member of a religious order who is not bound to the recitation of the divine office and is occupied in manual work, generally adult converts to the monastic life

Lay Minister: a person who is not ordained, but who works closely with a church or religious program. Some lay ministers are
un-paid volunteers; some are paid staff members of a church

Lay Reader: any non-ordained person who participates in reading part of a church service. In some churches Lay Readers are officially recognized as a special group assisting in church services; A person licensed by the Bishop to read the lessons at the Eucharist or at the Daily Offices and who may assist the celebrant or officiant in other ways; if specifically licensed by the Bishop, may administer the chalice at Communion

Lectionary: a book containing a series of biblical extracts to be read at the mass

Lector: the third rank of minor orders of the ministry; also known as reader

Lent: the forty days preceding Easter; a period of fasting

Lectern: a raised platform with railing used for reading prayers or scripture; usually located at the front of the nave opposite the pulpit; a book-stand or podium from which the lessons and sometimes the Gospel are read at the Eucharist and other Offices. Also called an Ambo

Lectionary: the appointed lessons and psalms for use at the Eucharist and Daily Offices

Lector: a person who reads a lesson at the liturgy.

Lent: the period of fasting, sobriety and meditation following Ash Wednesday; in the past Lent was widely associated with denial. The season recalls the period of Christ's fasting and meditation in the wilderness, so traditionally is for a period of forty days--from Ash Wednesday to Palm Sunday. The term is derived from an old word for 'lengthen' which referred to the lengthening days of early spring; The season of penitence and preparation for Holy Week and Easter which begins on Ash Wednesday

Lenten Array: the use of sack-cloth or similar fabric in place of purple for vestments, coverings, and hangings
during Lent and Holy Week

Lenten Cross: a plain wooden processional cross (painted red with black edges) used during Lent and Holy Week

Lesser Feasts and Fasts: a book containing the collects, lessons, psalms, and short biographical material for the minor saints'
days and observances found in the calendar of The Book of Common Prayer

Lesson: also the Epistle; any reading from the Bible except the Gospels or Psalms; read on the opposite side of the church from where the Gospel is read

Liturgical Colors: See Colors, Liturgical

Liturgy: the ritual, ceremonial, and other activities associated with formal worship. The "work of the people." In Western usage this term may apply to any public celebration of the Church. In the Churches of the East, The Divine Liturgy refers specifically to the celebration of the Holy Eucharist; literally the word means the work of the people; generally used to refer to the full text of the words of a worship service; any ritual order for holding a church service

Lierne: purely decorative extra vaulting ribs joining the structural ribs to form a net-like pattern

Light: with respect to a window, the individual openings

Lintel: the flat top of a doorway

Litany: a form of prayer consisting of a series of petitions sung by a deacon, a priest or cantors, to which the people made fixed responses

Little Hours: Prime, Terce, Sext and None; the less elaborate of the services of divine office

Liturgy: all the prescribed rituals of the church, including the mass and divine office

Lollards: followers of John Wycliffe; they believed that the Bible was the sole authority in religion and that every man had the right to read and interpret it for himself

Long and short work: long stones on end between flat ones, all bonded into the walls, at corners

Layman: any Church member who is neither ordained nor a member of a religious order

Lay Ministries: these are ministries within the Church that are carried out by laypersons. Included are altar servers, Eucharistic ministers and lectors

Liturgical Colors: colors used in vestments and altar coverings to denote special times in the Church year. Green is used in ordinary time, red denotes solemn feast days, purple denotes penitential times and white is used for joyful occasions including Christmas, Easter and some saints’ feast days

Liturgy of the Hours: This is the preferred term in the Latin rite for the official liturgical prayers sanctifying the parts of each day
 

M  Top
 

A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   W   X   Y   Z

Mace: a staff or baton usually embellished with metal used as an insignia of office

Magnificat: the song of Mary (Luke 1:46-55) normally used as one of the canticles at Evening Prayer; also, may be used as a Song of Praise on Feasts of The Blessed Virgin Mary

Maison Dieu: almshouse, or residence for the poor

Major Orders: the higher ranks of the Christian ministry, comprising the orders of bishop, priest, deacon and sub-deacon

Maniple: a strip of silken cloth worn on the left arm of the priest. the vesting prayer is:  “May I deserve, O Lord, to bear the maniple of weeping and sorrow in order that I may joyfully reap the reward of my labors.” Originally the maniple was a strip of linen worn over the arm. During long services, and in the intense heat of southern countries its use was frequently necessary to wipe the perspiration and tears of devotion from the face and brow of the priest. It calls to mind the rope whereby Our Lord was led, and the chains which bound His sacred hands. It is also an emblem of the tears of penance, and the fatigue of the priestly office and its joyful reward in Heaven

Manual: a book containing special services for occasional use, such as baptisms, marriages and visiting the sick

Manuscript: a written work transcribed by hand

Mardi Gras: literally "fat Tuesday," a festival day ending a period of celebration and excess; usually occurs mid to late February, sometimes early March. Immediately followed by Ash Wednesday and Lent

Marriage: the ceremony of union of a man and a woman

Martyr: member of the Christian church who suffered death for their faith; martyrs ranked before all other saints

Mary: the central point of the theology of Mary is that she is the Mother of God. In traditions since apostolic times, the Church and the faithful have accorded to Mary the highest forms of veneration. She is celebrated in feasts throughout the year, and in devotions such as the rosary and litany and is hailed the patroness of many countries, including the United States

Mass: the principal ritual of the church, the service at which the sacrament of the Eucharist, or Holy Communion, is performed

Mass vestments: ceremonial clothing worn by a priest for the celebration of the mass

Master-general: the head of the Dominican order

Matins: the night office; the service recited at 2 am in the divine office

Matrimony: the Roman, Orthodox and Old Catholic churches consider matrimony a sacrament and refer to it as the Sacrament of Matrimony. This is a marriage contract between baptized persons

Maundy Thursday: Thursday in Holy Week; the name is from Latin "mandatum" referring to Christ's commandment concerning foot-washing; also the day on which the first Lord's Supper was celebrated

Mendicant Orders: term for the friars; the term refers to begging because of their dependence on alms for their support

Metropolitan: a bishop with authority over a group of territorially contiguous dioceses and their bishops; also known as an archbishop

Miniature: a full page or half page painting in a manuscript

Minister: from the Latin word for "servant," in the ecclesiastical sense a minister is (1) an ordained cleric or (2) one who has the authority to minister to others

Minister General: term for the head of the Franciscan order

Ministers Provincial: term for the heads of provinces within the Franciscan order

Minor Orders: the lower ranks of the Christian ministry, comprising the orders of acolyte, exorcist, reader and doorkeeper

Minster: a church served by a body of canons or prebendaries; the same as a collegiate church; in the north of England the term was also used for a cathedral

Miracles, Apparitions: generally "miracle" is used to refer to physical phenomena that defy natural explanation, such as medically unexplainable cures. An apparition is a supernatural manifestation of God, an angel or a saint to an individual or a group of individuals

Misericord: 1) a swing up seat in the choir of a major church, allowing clergy celebrating divine office to rest their weight while standing up; 2) a room in a monastery where the inhabitants were allowed occasionally to eat meat (Latin misericordia = pity, compassion)

Missal: book containing the forms of service for the mass

Missal Stand: the stand upon which the Altar Book rests when in use at the altar

Mission: a local congregation that has not yet attained the status of a parish; also a church that has lost its church status and reverted to mission status

Mitre: the pointed headdress worn by archbishops, bishops and some abbots on ceremonial occasions

Monastery: a community of monks

Monastic: refers to the life or community of monks

Monk: a male member of a religious community living under vows of poverty, chastity and obedience; strictly it is confined to members of those bodies which live a communal life

Monotheistic: a religion with only one god

Monsignor: an honorary ecclesiastical title granted by the Pope to some diocesan priests. In the United States, the title is given to the vicar general of a diocese. In Europe, the title also is given to bishops

Monstrance: the ceremonial vessel used in during Mass to display the consecrated host. It typically, takes the shape of a solar cross, with a clear central area made of glass or crystal. The host is usually placed in a small crescent shaped holder within the crustal, called a lunette due to its moon-like shape

Morning Prayer: a morning worship service without communion

Morse: decorative fastener for a cope

Mortal Sin: a sin committed with a clear knowledge of its guilt, with full consent of the will, and concerning a grave matter; where circumstances allow, every mortal sin must be confessed to a priest otherwise the soul suffers eternal damnation

Most Reverend, The:  the formal title of an Archbishop. The Most Reverend Dr Rowan Williams for example

Moulding: contoured projection around an arch, window or door

Mullion: vertical bar dividing a window into lights

Mystery Plays: religious drama performed at major festivals, commonly performed out of doors
 

N  Top
 

A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   W   X   Y   Z

Nailhead: decorative carved design of a line of pyramids

Narthex: An enclosed space at the entry end of the nave of a church

Nativity: birth, when used in the proper form, it would be referring to the birth of Christ

Nave: The main body of the church in which the congregation sits during worship services. Derived from an old word for ship; in older churches the beams of the roof resembled the beams and timbers in the sides of a ship; The area of the church where the people gather for the liturgy

New Testament: the books of the Bible describing the events of the life of Christ and later; the part of the Bible unique to the Christian faith

Night Office: Matins; the choir service of the daily round of divine office performed during the night

Nimbus: halo; symbol of a saint in religious art

Nodding Ogee: an S-shaped arch which bends in three dimensions

None: the fourth of the Little Hours of the divine office, recited at the ninth hour (3 pm)

Norman: the term used for Romanesque architecture in Britain

Nun: a female living in a regular order under vows of poverty, chastity and obedienc

Nunc Dimittis: the Song of Simeon (Luke 2:29-32) normally used as one of the canticles at Evening Prayer and Compline

Nunnery: an establishment of nuns
 

O  Top
 

A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   W   X   Y   Z

Oblations: offerings to God at the Eucharist

Occasional Services, Book of: a book containing optional services and prayers

Offertory: the presentation, reception, preparation, and offering of the gifts at the beginning of The Holy Communion, the second part of the Eucharist

Offertory Sentence: a passage of scripture that may be said or sung at the beginning or during the Offertory

Offertory Procession: at the Eucharist, the presentation of the bread, wine, and other gifts by members of the congregation

Office: See Daily Offices

Office of the Dead: service for the benefit of the souls of the dead

Officiant: A person who officiates at the Daily Offices and other rites

Ogee: an S-shaped curve, particularly of an arch

Oil: A liquid substance blessed by a bishop or priest for use in the Ministration to the Sick

Old Testament: the books of the Bible describing events that occurred before the birth of Christ; the part of the Bible shared with the Jewish faith

Opus Dei: literal translation: the work of the Lord. A personal prelature dedicated to spreading through society an awareness of the call to Christian virtue, awareness, and witness in one’s life and work. Members are not of a religious order, do not take vows, but sometimes live in community.

Orders: a) with respect to the monastic or regular life, groups of communities following the same rule or under a common administrative and spiritual structure b) with respect to the Christian ministry, the various grades consisting of the major orders - bishop, priest, deacon, sub-deacon - and the minor orders - acolyte, exorcist, reader, doorkeeper

Orders of Angels: there were held to be nine ranks of angels; Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominations, Virtues, Powers, Principalities, Archangels and Angels

Orders of Clergy: the various grades consisting of the major orders - bishop, priest, deacon, sub-deacon - and the minor orders - acolyte, exorcist, reader, doorkeeper

Ordinal: book containing instructions for conducting the prescribed rituals of the church

Ordinary: diocesan bishops, religious superiors, and certain other diocesan authorities with jurisdiction over the clergy in a specific geographical area, or the members of a religious order

Ordination: the rite of admission into the ministry of the church; only admission to the major orders of the ministry was considered to be a sacrament

Orphrey: embroidered panel found along the opening of a cope
 

P  Top
 

A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   W   X   Y   Z

Pace: a small aisle or passage way off the main nave aisle in a church

Pall: a stiffened square of linen white cloth that is placed over the chalice to keep objects from falling into the wine. The term may refer also to the cloth covering the casket or urn during the Burial of the Dead

Pallium: item of mass vestments worn by an archbishop; formed from a strip of cloth encircling the shoulders with similar strips hanging down at back and front

Palm Sunday: the Sunday before Easter, commemorating Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem the week before he was crucified

Palms: Branches blessed at the Palm Sunday Liturgy and carried by the people in procession

Palm Sunday: the Sunday of the Passion; the Sunday before Easter. Members of the congregation carry real palms during the service; in some churches, the tradition is that palms from one year are saved, dried and later burned to make the ashes used at the next year's Ash Wednesday service

Panel of Reference: a body appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury to hear appeals from parishes in dispute with their bishops, or dioceses in dispute with their provinces

Papacy: the office of Pope, spiritual leader of the Western church

Papal: with reference to the office of the pope

Papal Bull: legal document issued under the authority of the pope

Papal Curia: the central government of the Western church (Latin curia = court)

Papal Infallibility: the end result of divine assistance given to the Pope through which he is prevented from the possibility and liability of error in teachings involving Church dogma and articles of faith

Papal Legate: a personal representative of the pope who has been entrusted with his authority

Parclose Screen: a wooden or stone screen enclosing a chapel or shrine

Parish: an area under the pastoral care of a priest, himself under the jurisdiction of a bishop; the parish church was the centre of worship for the parish

Parish Coordinator: a deacon, religious, or lay person who is responsible for the pastoral care of a parish. the parish coordinator is in charge of the day-to-day life of the parish in the areas of worship, education, pastoral service and administration

Parlour: in a monastery, an area where speaking was allowed for legitimate purposes

Paschal Candle: a large white candle, which may be decorated with a cross, the year of blessing, A (alpha) and 91 (omega), grains of incense, and other symbols of the resurrection. It is lighted at the beginning of the Great Vigil of Easter and burns for all services during the Fifty Days of Easter. At other times, it may be kept near the Baptismal Font and lighted for Baptisms. It may also be carried in procession at the Burial of the Dead, and placed in its holder near the casket or urn

Paschal Candle stand: a large wooden or metal stand in which the Paschal candle is placed. The stand rests on the floor, and is of such height that the candle is prominent

Passion Week: See Holy Week

Passover: a Jewish festival commemorating the escape of the Jews from Egypt

Pastor: a priest in charge of a parish or congregation. He is responsible for administering the sacraments, instructing the congregation in the doctrine of the Church and other services to the people of the parish

Pastoral Associate: a member of the laity who is part of a parish