Episcopalian Terminology

Some of the terms we Episcopal people often use, and figure everybody knows.

ABC

    A sort of "short-hand" used by many participants in worldwide web discussion groups when referring to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Ablutions

Ceremonial washing of communion vessels and/or the ceremonial washing of the hands of the celebrant.

Absolution

    A declaration by a bishop or priest, announcing forgiveness by God to those who have confessed their sins and repented.

Acolyte

    From a Greek word meaning, "to follow." Acolytes are lay volunteers who follow the Cross in the procession and recession and assist the priest in worship. An acolyte lights and sometimes carries candles, and helps in the preparation of communion.

Advent

    From the Latin: Adventus: "Coming." Advent is the first season of the Church year. Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas and ends on Christmas day. The color of Advent is traditionally purple, marking the preparational aspects of the season. In Advent we prepare for our Lord's coming in three ways: at Christmas; for his coming into our hearts; and for his coming again at the end of time.

Advent Wreath

    A wreath with four or five candles, used in most Episcopal churches and in some homes during the season of Advent. Four candles are placed in a circle, and a fifth may be placed in the center. One candle is lit on the first Sunday in Advent, two on the second Sunday, three on the third and four on the fourth Sunday in Advent. On Christmas day, the fifth candle is lighted.

Agnus Dei

    From two Latin words: agnus, meaning "lamb" and dei, meaning "of God." The term refers to a three-part litany frequently said or sung after the fraction in the Holy Communion part of the Eucharist.

Aisle

    The center passage of a church building bisecting the pews, extending from the narthex to the chancel.
    see also: Ambulatory

Alb

    A white robe worn by many priests when celebrating communion, generally worn over daily clothes but under other vestments. A polyester variation of the alb called the cassock-alb has become the de facto standard Eucharistic garment for many, if not most Episcopal, Lutheran and Roman Catholic clergy.

All Saints' Day

    November 1st - a day we commemorate all the saints of the Church and those we know who've joined the saints in worship at the heavenly banquet table. Originally known as "All Hallows Day," and followed "all hallows eve" (Halloween).

Alms

    From the Greek word eleos, meaning "pity." Money given by the Church to the poor. According to the canons, the loose offering (cash and undesignated checks) on the first Sunday of every month is supposed to go into an Alms account.

Alms Basin

    An Episcopalian "offering plate."

Altar

    A table, usually in the sanctuary, on which the bread and wine used in the Communion service are consecrated. Also known as and referred to in the prayer book as the Holy Table.

Altar Guild

    A special lay service group in a church who prepare the altar and maintain the furnishings in a church building. The altar guild usually supervises all seasonal church decorations and is usually responsible for all flower arrangements.

Ambulatory

    A side aisle in a church building, between the pews and the side walls, most often used for special processions.

Amen

    From Hebrew, meaning, "So be it." Episcopalians say "ah-men," while most other communions say "eh-men."

Amice

    A rectangular neckpiece or collar worn with an alb. The amice is generally not worn by a low church person. 

Anglican

    A term which simply means "English." The Episcopal Church is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion -- a collection of Churches around the world that has their origins in the Church of England.

Anglo-Catholic

    Primarily a style of worship which is noted for its beauty, majesty and formality, but also a fundamental understanding of the nature of the Church and the sacramental way that the church relates to everyday life. See High Church.

Ante-Communion

    The first part of the Eucharist service, including The Peace, and ending before the offertory. In the prayer book, the ante-communion is also known as "The Word of God."

 Anthem

    A hymn or choral piece sung only by a choir, without the congregation.

Antiphon

    From the Greek words anti, meaning "against," and phone, meaning "sound." An antiphon is literally a song sung back and forth by two choirs, or by one choir divided into two sections. In the Episcopal Church, the Kyrie and the Sursum Corda are two examples of antiphons. The familiar exchange "The Lord be with you" - "And also with you" (Rite I: "And with thy spirit") is also an antiphon.

Apostolic Succession

    The doctrine that holds that bishops are the direct successors of the original eleven apostles (excluding Judas) and are thus inheritors in an unbroken line to the ministry to which Jesus Himself ordained the Apostles. In the Episcopal Church, we believe that our bishops had hands laid upon them by bishops who had hands laid upon them by bishops who had hands laid upon them… all the way back to the original apostles.

Archbishop

    The term used by most of the Anglican Communion (America being the largest exception) to define a bishop in charge of a group of dioceses in a geographical area, or a national church. His superiority over other bishops is only a matter of organizational rank. As the saying goes, "He (or conceivably she) is first among equals." In writing or speaking to an archbishop, the form of address is "The Most Reverend." The Archbishop of Canterbury has an additional title: The Most Reverend and Right Honorable Dr. Rowan Williams. In speaking to him directly, you call an archbishop "Your Grace."

Archbishop of Canterbury

    The equivalent of a Presiding Bishop for the Church of England. Most Episcopalians (in an honorary sense) acknowledge the Archbishop of Canterbury to be the spiritual head of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Increasingly, the letters "ABC" are being used as a shorthand code for the title. See Canterbury.

 Archdeacon

    A priest (or increasingly, a deacon) who is part of a bishop's staff and who usually has some administrative supervision over missions for the bishop. Archdeacons are referred to as "The Venerable" [The Ven.]: The Venerable John Q. Beckwith. (The title "Reverend" is not used if Venerable is used.) Archdeacons sometimes wear purple cassocks instead of black ones, or black cassocks with purple piping.

Ash Wednesday

    The Wednesday marking the beginning of the season of Lent, usually observed with a period of fasting and spiritual preparation. In the Ash Wednesday liturgy, the celebrant usually smears ashes on a person's forehead as a mark of their mortality ("Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.") The ashes are often burned palms saved from the previous year's Palm Sunday celebration.

Aumbry

    A box or cupboard in the wall of a church building or in a sacristy where the Reserved Sacrament is kept.

Baptism

    The sacrament that celebrates a person's joining of the Church. At our baptisms we are cleansed from sin, and adopted by God into His family, and made heirs of His eternal Kingdom. Since we can only be adopted once, baptism is a final, non-repeatable act. The Episcopal Church recognizes both adult and infant baptism and offers both. Also, in the Episcopal Church, one can be baptized by being immersed, by being sprinkled, or by having water poured on them. Baptism and Holy Communion are the two great sacraments of the Episcopal Church.

Bible, The

    The primary source of inspiration and the single most important book for Episcopalians. Three or more Bible readings are included in a typical worship service. Over 80% of the prayer book comes directly from the Bible.

Bishop

    From the Greek word episcopas, meaning overseer. A Bishop is a member of the highest of the orders of ministry in the Church. In the Episcopal Church, there are five kinds of Bishops - Presiding, Diocesan, Assistant, Coadjutor, and Suffragan. No bishop is "higher" in rank than another. The five kinds merely define their function. Bishops are the only order allowed to wear purple shirts, and their crosses are usually gold, while priests’ crosses are usually silver.

Bishop, Assistant

    A bishop who assists the diocesan bishop in overseeing a diocese. An assistant bishop is chosen by the diocesan bishop (not elected by the people of the diocese), and was already consecrated as a bishop by another diocese prior to serving as an assistant.

Bishop, Co-adjutor

    A priest who is elected by a particular diocese and consecrated to become the next bishop of that diocese when the diocesan bishop retires. The co-adjutor serves as an assistant bishop until the retirement of the diocesan, and takes over the diocesan responsibilities at that point. In South Carolina, Fitszimons Allison was elected in 1978 to serve as Bishop Co-adjutor until Grey Temple retired as Diocesan Bishop (in 1980).

Bishop, Diocesan

    The primary bishop of a diocese, elected by the people of the diocese he or she serves. Sometimes referred to as "the diocesan." The diocesan of South Carolina is The Right Reverend Edward L. Salmon, Jr., XIII Bishop of South Carolina.

Bishop, Presiding

    See Presiding Bishop

Bishop, Suffragan

    A bishop elected by the people in a diocese to serve as the diocesan assistant. The Suffragan does not have the right to succeed as the diocesan, but may be elected as the diocesan bishop in a new election. The Suffragan bishop in South Carolina is The Right Reverend William J. Skilton.

Book Of Common Prayer

    The worship book of the Anglican Church since its inception in 1549. Commonly called the "prayer book," commonly abbreviated as the BCP, the Book of Common Prayer is a collection of classic and contemporary prayers, devotions, services and psalms designed to allow the entire Church to worship in common union. The current prayer book was last revised in the 1970's.

    1928 Prayer Book - A version of the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer, in use from 1928 to 1976. Some services from this prayer book were modified and inserted in the current prayer book (1979) as "Rite I" services. The 1928 Book of common Prayer was the last of the American prayer books to offer nationwide unified common Sunday worship (only one form available for Eucharist and one form for Morning Prayer).

    1979 Prayer Book - The single largest update of a prayer book in Episcopal Church history. Begun in the late 1960's with numerous and often controversial trial liturgies, compiled in 1976 as the Proposed Book of Common Prayer, and ratified by the 1979 General Convention. The book attempted to retain traditional Episcopal liturgies while incorporating many innovative forms of worship. The Convention mandated its exclusive usage, thus alienating many traditional parishioners who, in the 2000's, still refer to the book as the "new" prayer book. The book has the distinction of being copyright free, so that its pages may be used by anyone at any time.  See Rite I, Rite II, Rite III

Bread

    One of the two elements of communion, signifying to us the Body of Christ. As Scripture reminds us, "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body." (Matthew 26:26)

Broad Church

    One of three popular designations to define the style of worship in a particular Episcopal church. "Broad church" worship is vaguely midway between low and high, and may or may not include elaborate liturgy, incense, and/or sanctus bells. A generation ago, an irreverent saying defined the three styles of Episcopal worship as follows: "High and crazy; broad and hazy; low and lazy."  See High Church, Low Church.

Burse

    From the Greek byrsa, meaning, "a bag." A burse is one of the furnishings of the altar for communion, and is a pocket case made from two squares of some rigid material covered in cloth. The burse sits on top of the chalice, paten and veil, and serves to hold a corporal. Often, the burse also serves to hide an extra purificator.

Canon

    The term comes from the Greek word kannon, that means "measuring rod or ruler." In the Church we speak of canon law, the canon of Scripture, and people called canons. The canon of Scripture refers to the books of the Bible that are accepted as genuine and inspired by God. When used in reference to people, a canon is the title of a priest who either serves on the staff of a cathedral, or who has exhibited exemplary service to a diocese.

Canon Law

    The collection of laws that serve as the rules of our Episcopal Church. The canons may be (and always are) modified by each General Convention. Each diocese also has canon law, but a diocese may not pass a canon that conflicts with national canons.

Canterbury

    The top diocese in the Church of England, and by tradition, the entire Anglican Church. Although all the branches of the Anglican Church are autonomous, each maintains a traditional connection with England, and therefore looks to the Archbishop of Canterbury as the spiritual leader of the Church. It was at Canterbury cathedral (officially titled, the Cathedral Church of Christ) that St. Thomas Becket was assassinated by King Henry's friends in 1170. Soon after Thomas' death, pilgrimages to his Canterbury shrine began. (The shrine was destroyed by Henry VIII in 1538) It was one of these pilgrimages that served as the setting for Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.

Carol

    A festival hymn, simple in tune, sung during the Christmas Season. Traditional Episcopalians do not sing carols before sundown on December 24th, and will sing carols right up until Epiphany, at least two weeks after the rest of America has abandoned them.

Cassock

    A black robe worn by priests or deacons, and are usually worn with a white over-garment called a surplice. A Canon may wear a black cassock with red piping, or (with permission) may wear a purple cassock. Deans and archdeacons may wear black cassocks with red or purple piping. Lay readers, choir members and acolytes can also (and often do) wear cassocks.

Catechism

    An elementary instruction in the principles of Christianity, in the form of questions and answers. (See pages 845-862, BCP) In past generations, one had to memorize the entire catechism before he or she could be confirmed.

Cathedra

    The Greek word meaning "seat." A cathedra is special sanctuary chair only used by a bishop. The chair remains empty except during bishop's visitations and serves as a visible reminder that the parish priest represents the bishop, and that the bishop is the spiritual head of the diocese.

Cathedral

    The church in which the diocesan bishop's throne or cathedra is kept, and often the gathering place for many of the diocese's official functions and major worship celebrations. If the cathedral is a parish church (i.e. has a congregation of worshipers) their rector is given the title of Dean of the Cathedral.

Catholic

    A word usually thought of as a reference to the Roman Catholic Church, however "catholic" literally means "universal" or "found everywhere." (from the Greek word katholikos, meaning "general" or "universal") In the Nicene Creed, we say we believe in the holy catholic [universal] church.

Celebrant

    The person who leads the worship service. In a Eucharist, the celebrant is the bishop, or someone who the bishop appoints to lead the service for him or her. In a service of Morning Prayer, the celebrant may be either lay or clergy.

Censer

    (Also called a thurible) - a vessel in which incense is burned on charcoal. A censer is usually carried in processions and recessionals by a special acolyte called a thurifer.

Chalice

    From Latin, calix, meaning "cup." A chalice is the cup used to contain the wine used at Communion.

Chalice-bearer

    The person (ordained or lay) who administers the chalice during Communion.

Chancel

    From the Latin cancelli, meaning "a grating" or "lattice." Chancel is the name for the section of a church building between the nave and the sanctuary; usually the place the choir sits; sometimes also called the "choir". It is also usually a few steps higher than the nave.

Chant

    Not exactly singing, nor reading, chanting is a recitation midway between singing and reading. Chanting originated in the monastic orders in the early centuries of the Church.

Chapel

    From Latin, cappella, meaning "a cape." When the kings of France went on military campaigns, they would carry the cape of St. Martin with them. The tent or other temporary structure that housed the cappella was called a chapel. A chapel now refers to a small building or room set apart for worship and meditation.

Chaplain

    The clergy person in charge of a chapel or one who ministers to a small group of people.

Chasuble

    From Latin, casula, meaning "little house". A chasuble is a type of vestment worn by the celebrant during Communion. It is usually oval in shape, with a hole for the head to pass through. The chasuble may have been derived from an ancient Roman cloak only worn outdoors and shaped like a tent (hence the name, "little house"). Many Low Church clergy will tell you the that chasuble's liturgical origins were from an identically shaped garment that Hebrew priests would wear to keep blood off them as they were sacrificing animals.

Chimere

    A long, sleeveless coat-like vestment worn by a bishop.

Choir

    From Latin, chorus, meaning a group of singers. A choir is group of lay people (voluntary or paid) that help lead the singing during a worship service and sometimes offer special anthems to enhance worship. The word "choir" can also used to define the chancel, the part of the church building where the choir sits.

Chrism

    A mixture of olive oil and balsam, and sometimes used at baptisms, confirmations, ordinations and some blessings of altars and other church fixtures. Chrism is not the same as other holy oils such as those used for the unction of the sick. No balsam is added to oil used for unction.

Christmas

    Besides being December 25th and the day Christians mark as the celebration of the birth of Jesus (Christ's Mass), Christmas is also a Church season, running from December 25th to Epiphany (January 6th). It is this twelve-day period that is sometimes referred to as the Twelve Days of Christmas.

Church

    The English word comes from the Greek word kurios, meaning, "master" or "lord." A form of this word, kuriakon, had the meaning of "…pertaining to, or belonging to the lord." Originally, the word referred to the building used by the Lord's people. However, the French and other Romance languages get their word for church from the another Greek word - ekklesia (lit. "called out") - in French, eglise, which means an assembly of people. We use both terms when speaking of the church; we speak of the building and of the people inside the building. It is interesting to note that when the Bible speaks of the church, the word used is ekklesia. The Bible's authors never thought of the church as a building. When the word is capitalized, it usually refers to the universal, or catholic church.

Church of England

    The official name of the original Church in England, the Anglican Church. During the reign of King Henry VIII, the Church, in England, broke formal ties with Rome and became the Church OF England. Sometimes referred to as the "C of E."

Ciborium

    A cup that resembles a chalice, except that it has a removable lid. A ciborium is used to hold communion wafers during the Eucharist

Clergy

    The group of ordained people, consecrated for unique ministry for a particular church or denomination.

Clerical

    An adjective referring to ordained people and their work.

Collect

    From the Latin word collecta, meaning "assembly." The word is normally used to refer to the prayer near the beginning of the Eucharist that precedes the lessons. The collect was supposedly designed to "collect" the thoughts of the lessons and bind the thoughts together, back in the days when only one lesson and a Gospel were read. A collect is actually any short prayer that contains an invocation, a petition, and a pleading in Christ's Name (in that order).

Colors

    Color plays an import part in the designation of seasons and feasts in the Episcopal Church. Each church season has a color associated with it. Advent is purple (the color of preparation and penitence) or Marian Blue (in honor of Mary), Christmas is white (the color celebration), Epiphany is green (the color of growth; growth of the gospel message from Jew to Gentile - re: the three Wise Men), Lent is purple, Easter is white, and the season after Pentecost is green (for the growth of the church). Weddings and funerals are usually occasions for white (the color of celebration) while Pentecost Sunday and ordinations are red, to signify the presence of the Holy Spirit. Black is occasionally used one day a year -- Good Friday.  See colors page of this section

Communicants

    From the Latin word communicare, meaning "to share, or partake." Communicants are the members of a local church who do or who are eligible to receive communion.

Communion

    1. The Christian sacramental meal, the Lord's Supper, commanded by our Lord ("Do this in remembrance of me."). For centuries the service used to celebrate the meal was called Holy Communion, but is now more commonly called the "Eucharist" in Episcopal churches. Also known as Mass in Roman Catholic churches.
    2. The term describing a group of autonomous churches who recognize common ties and share a common faith, for example, the worldwide Anglican Communion.
Compline
    A monastic evening service used to end the day, and included for the first time in the 1979 prayer book. It is pronounced "comp-lyn," not "comp-line."

Confirmation

    From two Latin words - firmare, which means "to strengthen," and com, which adds force to the word. Literally to confirm is to "strengthen greatly." At Confirmation a person makes a mature, public confession that he or she accepts Jesus Christ as his or her personal Lord and Savior, thus owning up to the vows his or her godparents made for him or her at his or her baptism. The bishop then lays his or her hands on the confirmand, and prays for the Holy Spirit to "strengthen greatly" the person in the rest of his or her life. Confirmation is considered to be one of the five sacramental acts, or minor sacraments of the Church.

Congregation

    The groups of people who make up the local church, or the members of a local church who are present for worship.

Congregational Meeting

    A meeting usually held annually, and usually held to elect new vestry members and delegates to the diocesan convention. Unlike some other denominations, the Episcopal Church follows a representative form of government, instead of a pure democracy. The work of the church is voted upon by the vestry, and not by the congregation. The congregation votes to select vestry members to represent the whole parish, as the vestry does their work.

Consecration

    The word literally means, "to set aside." At the Eucharist, the elements are consecrated before we partake in communion. Consecration services include dedications and ordinations. In 1895, the Chapel of the Cross was consecrated for God's service on Sullivan's Island. In 1990, Bishop Edward Salmon was consecrated as the 13th Bishop of South Carolina.

Convention

    A diocesan meeting (usually held annually) to elect officials, propose resolutions, and to pass laws to govern the diocesan body.

Cope

    A vestment of dignity which may be worn by any order of the clergy, but is usually thought of as being worn by a bishop, along with his miter. The cope is a long and heavy semicircular cloak of rich material, generally matching other vestments in the color of the season.

Cotta

    From Middle English meaning "to cover." A cotta is a short, white outer garment often worn by choir members and acolytes to cover their cassocks.

Corporal

    From Latin: corpus, meaning "body." A square piece of linen laid on top of the altar cloth at Communion.

Credence Table

    A small table or shelf on the epistle side of the altar that holds the bread, wine and water before consecration.

Crosier

    The bishop's staff ( a shepherd's crook) carried in a procession and held when giving the absolution or blessing.

Crossing

    In church architecture, the crossing is the main intersection of aisles at the front of the church building. If viewed from above, these aisles form a large cross. In a service, "crossing" refers to a hand gesture of making a cross pattern on one's body; also a gesture made by a priest or bishop over a congregation or upon a person at death or baptism.

Crucifer

    A person in a religious procession who carries a large cross (a processional cross), and leads the procession into the church and the recession out of the church.

Crucifix

    From Latin, crux, meaning "cross." A crucifix is a cross bearing the likeness of the body of Christ on it.

Cruet

    From old French, crue, meaning "a vial or a glass." A cruet is the vessel (glass or metal) used to hold the water and wine for the Eucharist.

Curate

    From Latino curatus, meaning "the person in charge." The term should mean the "head priest" if literally interpreted, but instead has come to refer to a transitional deacon or an assistant to the rector. Usually a curate is one who recently graduated from seminary, and is in the process of "learning the ropes," or "curing."

Cursillo

    A Spanish word meaning "short course." Cursillo is contemporary, popular movement of Christian renewal in the Episcopal Church and the Roman Catholic Church. The Cursillo experience begins with an intense, profound, and often life-changing weekend retreat, and continues with periodic small group gatherings and special devotions. The word is pronounced "cur-see-yo".

D. Min.

    Doctor of Ministry; a special graduate program for clergy offered by many seminaries.

D.D.

    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. Duncan M. Gray, Jr., D.D.

Daily Office

    Another name for Morning Prayer.

Dalmatic

    a "higher church" vestment worn by a deacon during the celebration of Holy Eucharist. It corresponds to the chasuble worn by the Celebrant, but it is rectangular in shape instead of oval.

Deconsecration

    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 deconsecrated before being sold or torn down.

Deacon

    The subservient rank in the three orders of the Church's ministry (Bishop, Priest, Deacon). There are two types of deacons - transitional deacons, who will soon be ordained to the priesthood, and permanent deacons, who chose the order as a permanent servant ministry. Priests are first ordained to the diaconate to remind them and the Church that they are, and that they always will be servants (see Matthew 20:25-28).

Dean

    From Latin, decanus, meaning "ten." Originally the title was given to a minor official who served in some supervisory position over ten people. The title is now used to refer to the resident clergyman of a cathedral, the chief academic officer of a college or seminary, or the head of a diocesan deanery. If the dean is ordained, the title "The Very Reverend" is appropriate; if the dean is a lay person, this title is not used. The dean of the Cathedral of St. Luke and St. Paul is the Very Rev. William Mc Kechee. The dean of Trinity Episcopal School For Ministry is the Very Rev. Dr. Paul Zahl. The dean of Charleston Deanery is the Very Rev. John B. Burwell.

Deanery

    A geographical division of a diocese, roughly equivalent to counties in a state, also sometimes known as a convocation or an archdeanery. In the Diocese of South Carolina there are six deaneries. Beginning at the lower part of the diocese, they are the Beaufort deanery, the Charleston deanery, the West Charleston deanery, the Orangeburg deanery, the Georgetown deanery, and the Florence deanery. (All of these names are also counties in South Carolina.)

Deputy

    An official church or diocesan delegate to a meeting. A deputy may be clergy or lay, but the term usually applies to the lay people chosen to attend a convention.

Diaconate

    The state of being a deacon; also, the life of deacon-like service in the church.

Diocesan Seals

    Heraldic insignia of a diocese; diocesan seals are sometimes cut into rings or dies for impressing wax on official diocesan documents.

Diocese

    A unit of church organization; the spiritual domain under a bishop. A diocese may contain many parishes and missions. When used as an adjective, the term is diocesan. The diocese is most often thought of as the primary and basic unit of the Church. There are 74 parishes and missions in the Diocese of South Carolina. The state of South Carolina has two dioceses - the Diocese of Upper South Carolina and the Diocese of South Carolina.

Diocesan Council

    A group that advises the bishop on diocesan affairs. The Diocesan Council's duties are similar to the duties that the vestry carries out at the parish level.

 DFMS, or Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society

    The corporation founded to carry out the work of the Episcopal Church. The DFMS headquarters are at 815 Second Avenue in New York City.

Easter

    The festival that commemorates the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, the third day after he was crucified. It is called Easter Day in our prayer book, but has come to be called (redundantly) Easter Sunday by the media, most laity, and some clergy, all of whom ought to know better. Easter is a movable feast, which means it does not always fall on the same day each year. Easter is always the first Sunday after the full moon following the vernal equinox (first day of Spring). By this calculation, Easter could occur anytime from March 22, to April 25. The length of Epiphany and the Season after Pentecost, as well as the dates of Ash Wednesday, Holy Week, Ascension Day, Pentecost, and Trinity Sunday are all determined by the date of Easter. Easter is also a Church season, spanning the 50 days (six Sundays) after Easter, to Ascension Day.

Elements

    The bread and wine of Holy Communion.

Epiphany

    January 6; a feast celebrating the visit of the Wise Men to the infant Jesus. Epiphany marks the end of the twelve days of Christmas (the Christmas season). Epiphany is also one of the seasons of the Church, running from the end of Christmas to Ash Wednesday.

Episcopal

The name of a form of church organization which means government by an overseer. From the Greek word episcopos, meaning overseer.
See Bishop.

Episcopal Church, The

    The official name for the American branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The Episcopal Church welcomes you!

Episcopalian

    1. A member of the Episcopal Church.  2.The noun form of the word. Proper grammarians would point out that "episcopal" is an adjective and "episcopalian" is a noun. The title to this online dictionary (Episcopalian Terminology) is grammatically incorrect, and it is intended to be so.

Epistle, The

    Usually (but not always) included in a Sunday service, the epistle is a reading from one of the New Testament books other than the Gospels. The epistle and the Old Testament lessons are typically read by a Lay reader.

Epistle Side

    The side of the building from which the Epistle lesson is read. The side depends on whether the altar is located against a wall or free standing, meaning the priest celebrates the Eucharist from behind it. If the altar is against the wall, the Epistle side is the left side of the church building when one is facing the altar. See Gospel Side.

Eucharist

    Literally means a "good gift" or "thanksgiving." The current usage in the Episcopal Church to refers to the entire Communion service. According to the current prayer book, the Eucharist is intended to be the principal service on a Sunday.

Eulogy

    A speech or homily in praise of a deceased person; brief remarks about the deceased at a funeral. Traditionally, a eulogy was simply not done in the Episcopal Church. In recent times the practice has gained favor in some circles.

Even, or Eve

    The day before a Festival (Christmas Eve, Easter Even), designed to be a preparation for the feast it precedes.

Evensong

    An evening worship service; evening prayer; and especially evening prayer service featuring a choir.

Ewer

    A pitcher most often used to water at baptisms, but can also be used in place of a cruet or a flagon at Communion.

Executive Committee

    In many parishes, the rectors, wardens and the parish treasurer form an executive committee. They meet separately from the whole vestry, between official vestry meetings.

Executive Council

    The Presiding Bishop's version of an executive committee, consisting of appointed friends and the elected president of each province.

EYC

    Originally the "Episcopal Young Churchmen," now the Episcopal Young Church-people." The EYC is the designation often used to identify the local youth group.

Extreme Unction

    The anointing with oil of those who are close to death. (See Unction)

Fair Linen

    A white linen cloth cover for the altar, used during Eucharist.

Father

    A familiar or direct way of referring to some ordained clergy. "Low Church" Episcopalians usually never use the term. The title is abbreviated as "Fr."  (e.g. Fr. Alvin Kimel)

Fast Days

    Special days set aside for abstinence. On these days, one typically eats less, or eats nothing at all. While any day may be observed as a fast day, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are officially designated as fast days.

Feast Days

    Days of celebration, as opposed to fast days. The primary feast day is Easter. All Sundays are miniature celebrations of Easter, and thus all Sundays are feast days. Other feast days include saint's days and all special days like Ascension, Epiphany, Holy Cross Day, etc.

Festival

    From Latin, joyful. Another way of describing a Feast Day.

Flagon

    A container that is larger than a cruet and is used instead of, or in addition to cruets at larger celebrations of Communion.

Folk Mass

    A 1960's term for a less formal style of Eucharist using contemporary songs as part of the worship service. In a "folk mass," guitars or other instruments are featured instead of using organ music.

Font

    A basin for water to be used in church baptisms.

Fraction

    The part of the Communion liturgy where the Communion bread is broken by the celebrant. According to the prayer book, a period of silence is to follow, and then can be said or sung, "Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us."  (prayer book pages 337 and 364)

General Convention

    The national triennial meeting of the Episcopal Church. General Convention is dividend into two governmental bodies: the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies. Each diocese sends deputies to General Convention to enact laws to govern the Episcopal Church, and to pass resolutions stating the "mind of the church" on topical issues.

Genuflection

    From the Latin words genu, meaning "knee," and flectere, meaning "to bend." A genuflection is a sort of deep curtsey where the right knee touches the ground. The appropriate times for genuflection (if you do it at all) are when passing before the Reserved Sacrament, when entering or leaving your pew when the consecrated bread and wine are on the altar, and in the Nicene Creed at the words, "who for us and our salvation."

Godparents

    Godfathers and godmothers, persons who sponsor an infant or young child at his or her baptism. Godparents make vows that they will, by their example, help the child know what it means to be a Christian, so that later in his or her life the child can confirm that fact for himself or herself at Confirmation.

GOE's

    General Ordination Examination; a set of uniform tests required of most Episcopal seminarians before their graduation from seminary.

Good Friday

    The day in Holy Week in which we remember Christ's arrest, crucifixion, and death. It is unclear where the name "Good Friday" originated. Some have said it is a corruption of "God's Friday," in the same manner that "Commandment Thursday" became "Maundy Thursday." Others insist it is called "Good" because of the great benefits given to humanity by Christ's death and resurrection.

Gospel, The

    Any reading from Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. We stand for the gospel reading in the Eucharist to show reverence for Jesus, since he is speaking to us when the gospel is read.

Gospel Side

    An older usage for designating the interior of a church. The gospel side is on the right-hand side of the priest, as determined by where he/she is facing when celebrating the Holy Communion. The Gospel side is thus dependant on whether the altar is located against the wall or free-standing. Originally, the priest celebrated communion facing the people and thus the Gospel Side was the north side of the Church building [the left side, when facing the altar]. In medieval times the altar was pushed against the west wall, and the Gospel side then became the right side, when facing the altar.
    See Epistle Side.

Gradine

    see Retable

High Church

    One of three popular designation for styles of worship in an Episcopal Church. "High Church" worship emphasizes theological or liturgical formality. Parts or all of a "high" service are often sung or chanted rather than reading or speaking them. Services often include several vested assistants, incense and sanctus bells.  See Low Church, Broad Church.

Holy Orders

    A way of referring to ordination among Roman Catholics, Episcopalians and a few others: an ordained person is spoken of as "being in holy orders"--meaning that the person has made priestly vows and has been admitted by a bishop into one of the several levels of ordination.

Holy Week

    The week preceding Easter -- the last week in Lent. Holy Week is the most important period of the church year, observed with many special services, beginning with Palm Sunday and concluding on Holy Saturday. Holy Week includes Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

Homily

    A short sermon often on a single topic of devotion or morality. The difference between a sermon and a homily is primarily the length. Some wags are known to refer to homilies as "sermonettes."

Host

    The consecrated "bread" part of the Holy Communion. In most Episcopal churches a wafer is used as the host, but an increasing number of churches are using actual baked bread. The wafer the priest breaks at the fraction is called a "priest's host."

House of Bishops

    All the bishops of the Episcopal church sitting as a legislative and judiciary body of the church, at General Convention.

House of Deputies

    The lay and presbyter delegates to a General Convention sitting as a legislative body.

Hymn

    From the Greek word, hymnos, meaning "song of praise." A hymn is a poem or other metrical composition adapted for singing in a church service. Hymns have only been allowed in the Anglican Church since 1820.

Incense

    From the Latin word, incendere, meaning "to burn," incense is the "smell" element in "smells & bells"; a fragrant powder burned in a small dish or pot; used during the service or in the processions. Some say incense is used to recall of one of the three gifts of the Wise Men to the Christ Child. Scripture commends its usage, particularly in Psalm 141, where prayers are asked to be like incense.

Inclusive Language

    The attempt to find forms of religious expression which are not seen as biased in favor of either sex. Some churches favor an inclusive lectionary which avoid male or female pronouns such as "him" or "her." Some have altered prayers and hymns so that male images and pronouns are removed: "Our God who art in heaven..." The Episcopal church's current hymnal (1982) altered most of the classic hymns in an effort to make them more "inclusive."

Installation

    A service in which a person is "installed" into his or her office. In the Episcopal Church, installation services are offered for new ministries ranging from rectors and bishops to Sunday School teachers and vestry.

Junior Warden

    See Warden, Junior

Kyrie

    From the Greek for the actual name, Kyrie Eleison, which means, "Lord have mercy." The Kyrie comes after the Ten Commandments or the summary of the law in the Rite I Eucharist, to serve as a reminder to us that we cannot, by our own effort, keep the commandments. It is a plea for grace by fallen sinners. In Rite II, where there is no recitation of the Ten Commandments or a summary of the law, the Kyrie seems out of place, and is, for that reason, often omitted.

Laity

    From the Greek word, laos, meaning "people," the laity are the non-ordained members of a church, as distinguished from "the clergy". An single member of the laity would be referred to as a "lay person."

Lavabo

    From Latin, meaning, "I will wash." The name originally referred to the ceremonial washing of the priests hands before he or she celebrated Communion, while saying the words, "I will wash my hands in innocence." (Psalm 26:6). The name lavabo also refers to the small towel used to dry the hands and the bowl into which water is poured during the washing. Thus, to call the towel a lavabo towel, or to call the bowl a lavabo bowl would be technically redundant. 

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 person

    Any non-ordained person; in the Episcopal church today, lay person is often used instead of the older (and politically incorrect) Episcopal usage "layman".

Lay Reader

    Any non-ordained person who participates in reading part of a church service. Lay readers sometimes serve as chalice-bearers at a Eucharist.

Lectern

    From the Latin, lectrum, meaning "reading desk" - A raised platform used for reading prayers or scripture; usually located at the front of the nave, opposite the pulpit, on the epistle side.

Lectionary

    The complex series of Biblical readings used in the Episcopal Church throughout the year. The Church uses a three-year cycle of lessons for Sunday readings and a two-year cycle for daily readings.

Lent

    From an Anglo-Saxon word, lencten, meaning, "spring," the time of the lengthening of the days. Lent is one of the six seasons of the church year and is the forty-day period beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending on Holy Saturday (the day before Easter). The period is actually 46 days, but since Sundays are feast days, they are never included in the count. Lent is intended to be a period of preparation and penitence marked by fasting, meditation and sobriety. Lent is widely associated with denial -- "giving something up for Lent."

Lesson

    A reading from the Bible during a worship service. Lessons are usually read by a lay person and are not taken from the Gospel or the Psalms. Lessons are usually read from the epistle side of the church building and conclude with the reader saying, "The word of the Lord" or "Here ends the reading."

Lesson and Carols

    Popular name of the Festival of Lessons and Carols held during late Advent or early Christmas at Anglican Churches throughout the world.

LEM

    An abbreviation for  "Lay Eucharistic Minister"   A LEM is an individual who has undergone special training and is authorized by the priest to take pre-consecrated Communion to a sick or shut-in member of the parish or mission.

Litany

    A solemn form of supplication for God's mercy, composed of short responsive prayers. The traditional Anglican Litany (page 54 in the 1928 BCP) is almost recognizable in the words of The Great Litany (BCP page 148) in the 1979 Prayer Book. 

Liturgical

    From "liturgy," used to describe a particular style of worship that requires active participation (standing, sitting, knelling, recitation, common prayer, etc.) from both the clergy and laity. Episcopal, Lutheran, Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches are generally considered to be liturgical churches, while most Protestant denominations are not.

Liturgy

    From a combination of two Greek words, laos (people) and ergon (work). Literally the word means "the work of the people, " and is generally used to refer to the entire, complete worship service.

Living Church, The

    A monthly magazine of the Episcopal Church often discussing current issues in the life of the Church in the classical Anglican via media way.

Low Church

    A popular designation for a church that is, on the whole, less formal. Most low churches tend to emphasize good sermons as being more important than good liturgy, and do not chant or sing their services or use incense or sanctus bells. A low church might alternate Morning Prayer with the Eucharist for their primary Sunday worship. See High Church, Broad Church.

Low Sunday

    Specifically, the term refers to the Sunday that follows the highest Sunday of the year -- Easter. Some wags will insist that the name refers to the low attendance on that Sunday following Easter.

M. Div.

    Master of Divinity; the basic American theological degree; in earlier years, the first theological degree was the B.D. [Bachelor of Divinity], but in the late 1960's many American divinity schools began to allow their earlier graduates to exchange their B.D. degrees for the newer M.Div. degree.

Maniple

    A liturgical napkin. The maniple is worn draped over the celebrant's arm.

Mass

    From the Latin word, missa, meaning "sent," or "dismissed." Mass is the Roman Catholic name for the Christian sacramental meal but sometimes used by Episcopalians to refer to communion or Eucharist. The word probably originated from the ending of the old Roman Catholic liturgy, where the celebrant proclaimed, "Ite missa est."

Maundy Thursday

    Thursday in Holy Week; the name is from a corruption of the Old English word for "commandment" in Christ's commandment given in John 13:34: "A new commandment I give you, that you love one another." The word "command" was originally spelled "commaundment" and was shortened to "Maundy" through careless enunciation. The command is closely tied to another "commaund" given by Jesus at the same time:"Do this in remembrance of me." Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday) was the day on which the first Lord's Supper, the Last Supper, was celebrated with the 12 Disciples. Maundy Thursday services often include "stripping the altar" (removing all items including hangings) and in some parishes, foot washing (see John 13:5).

Minister

    In olden days, the word was synonymous with the clergy. While the ordained do indeed have special ministries to perform, we Episcopalians recognize that every baptized Christian has ministry to do for God’s greater glory. We therefore believe that all Christians are ministers. In our Catechism we state, "The ministers of the Church are lay persons, bishops, priests and deacons." (page 855, BCP)

Ministry Of All The Baptized

    Ecclesiastical, professional and vocational ministries derived from our Baptismal Covenant. See Page 304-305 and 855-856 of our prayer book for a description of ministry.

Missal

    The altar book - The big book on the Altar or Holy Table containing the services of Holy Eucharist.

Mission

    A local Episcopal congregation that is not able to be financially self-supporting. The congregation's rector is the diocesan bishop, and the bishop appoints a priest-in-charge as his/her representative. The priest-in-charge of a mission is commonly referred to as a vicar. When a mission is able to be self-supporting, it may apply for parish status and be admitted to the diocese as a parish.

Mission Council

    The equivalent of a vestry for a mission.

Miter, or Mitre

    The tall, pointed liturgical hat worn by a bishop during formal worship. Its shape is said to be symbolic of the tongues of fire which rested on the original bishops at the first Pentecost.

Monstrance

    a special container in the shape of a cross with a circular, clear glass (or crystal) receptacle in its center. A monstrance is designed to hold a consecrated Host that is exposed for adoration. The monstrance is designed to "de-monstrate" the real presence of Christ.

Morning Prayer

    A daily morning worship service without communion; Also known as the Daily Office and found on pages 37 (Rite I) and 75 (Rite II) in the prayer book. In some churches, Morning Prayer is alternated with Eucharist as the principal Sunday service. Since Morning Prayer does not require the presence of ordained clergy, the service is sometimes used in the absence of the rector or vicar.

Moveable Feast

    Any Church festival that does not fall on a fixed calendar day, but varies from year to year. Easter is the most important movable feast since many other movable feasts are determined by when Easter occurs.

Narthex

    In Greek, the word literally means "a large fennel" (a tall herb). In church architecture, the narthex is an enclosed space at the entry end of the nave of a building; the area in the church building inside the doors and in front of the nave. The narthex is usually enclosed (primarily to provide a buffer between the outside weather and the heating/cooling inside), and is the area where the procession gathers prior to the service.

Nave

    The main part of a church building; the place where the congregation sits. Probably derived from the Latin word navis, meaning "ship." (As in Noah's ark) In medieval England the derogatory term "knave" (commoner) developed from nave, because the nave is the area of the building where the "common" people sit.

Nowell

    From the French, Noel, "Christmas". An old English name for Christmas, traditionally shouted or sung in joy, now chiefly used in The First Nowell Christmas carol.

Offertory

    Most think of the offertory as the time in the worship service where the offering is taken up. The offering of money is part of the offertory, but the offertory also includes the offering of bread and wine that is to be consecrated during the communion, and the offering of "…ourselves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy and living sacrifice." (BCP Page 336.) Or, as Rite II says, "Sanctify us also." (BCP page 363))

Oil Stock

    A special container designed to hold holy oil used in unction and at baptisms. Oil stocks are usually about as wide as a quarter, and about an inch in length. A cotton ball inside the oil stock holds the holy oil.

Ordination

    From Latin, ordo, meaning "order." Ordination is one of the five sacramental acts (or minor sacraments) of the Episcopal Church. At an ordination, an individual is commissioned and empowered for the work of ministry. Ordination is the ritual used to make someone a priest or deacon, by the laying on of hands by a bishop. Bishops, in turn, are not ordained; they are consecrated.  See Holy Orders.

Palm Sunday

    The Sunday before Easter, where Jesus' final and triumphal entry into Jerusalem is observed. In many Episcopal congregations the passion narrative read is also read. Real palm branches or crosses made from palms (or both) are usually distributed to the congregation. In some churches, Palm Sunday palms are saved and later burned to make the ashes for the next year's Ash Wednesday service.

Parish hall/house

    A gathering place for a local congregation separate from the church building. The term "parish hall" also is used to refer to a large room inside the Parish Hall/House.

Parish

    The group of people of a certain area who are organized into a local, self-supporting church. Sometimes the word is used to refer to the geographic region around a church. In the South, many of the present-day counties were once organized as parishes [as is still the case in Louisiana]
    See Mission.

Parson

    From the Latin word persona, meaning "person." From the eleventh century English, where there term was a legal one, applying to the parish priest, because in all matters he was the designated "person" to deal with. Today, the term is not used as often as it was, and often evokes rural connotations.

Paschal Candle

    From the Hebrew word Pesach, meaning Passover. A very large candle in a very tall holder and placed in a prominent display in the epistle side of the sanctuary. The candle is lighted throughout the Easter season, and during baptisms, weddings, and funerals.

Passion Narrative

The name given to the gospel reading on the Sunday of the Passion - Palm Sunday. The reading chronicles the final hours of Jesus' earthly ministry. The reading traditionally begins with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, and continues through his arrest, trial, crucifixion, and death. It is the longest lesson read in the Church year (see: seasons), and the only gospel reading with an option allowing the congregation to sit during the first part of the reading. In many parishes the narrative becomes a passion play. Specific roles (Pilate, Peter, etc.) are assigned to different persons, and the congregation plays the part of the crowd assenting to the crucifixion.

Pastor

    Another name for a clergy person. In both Latin and English the word simply means "shepherd." All Lutheran clergy are called pastors, and many Episcopal and Roman Catholic clergy are comfortable enough with the term to use it to describe them.

Paten

    From Greek, patane: a shallow vessel. The paten is the vessel used to contain the consecrated bread during a Communion.

Peace, The

    Also known as "passing the peace." A part of the ritual in the Episcopal Church in which members of the congregation, including the clergy, greet one another. The priest says, "The Peace of the Lord be always with you." The congregation responds, "And also with you." (When using Rite I, the response is "And with thy Spirit.") Immediately after these words people shake hands or speak or sometimes embrace in the church. Introduced as part of the 1979 prayer book reform and still unpopular in a few congregations among older members.

PECUSA

    The initials for the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States of America, which is the original name of what we commonly call the Episcopal Church.

 Pension Fund

    The Church Pension Fund; the retirement program for clergy and other church workers of the Episcopal Church

Pentecost

    The Festival Sunday that comes fifty days after Easter in which we commemorate the coming of the Holy Spirit on the twelve Disciples after Christ's Resurrection (Acts 2). Pentecost is traditionally seen as the birthday of the church, and is also the beginning of the longest season in the church - the season after Pentecost. The season after Pentecost runs from the day of Pentecost to the first Sunday in Advent.
    Prior to the 1979 prayer book, the day of Pentecost was known as Whitsunday.

Pews

    Long, single, and usually permanent seats in the nave of a church building. In the earliest times there were no chairs except for the clergy, and the congregation "congregated" in the nave. Later individual seating was added particularly for older members. Pews came into existence as a way for local churches to support themselves financially, by renting or selling pews to families. After the American Revolution and the disestablishment of the state-owned Anglican church, pew rental was the sole means of income for many colonial churches. In some parishes today, the family pew still exists. Today, however, the family does not actually own the pew. They only think that they do.

Piscina

    From Latin, meaning "fish pond." The piscina is the stone or porcelain basin (traditionally set in the south wall of the Sanctuary) from which a drain pipe carries to the ground the water used in the ablutions.  It is also the most convenient way for many Altar Guilds to dispose of the remaining consecrated wine after a service. The piscina is never, ever to be hooked up to the building's plumbing.

Prayer Book

    A shorter and the most common way of referring to the Book of Common Prayer.

Predella

    (Also sometimes called a footpace) The raised area or platform on which some Altars or Holy Tables stand. The word is Italian and literally means "a footstool."

Presbyter

    The actual, official name for an Episcopal priest. The word is a Celtic contradiction of the Greek word presbyteros, meaning "elder." The presbyter represents the bishop in a parish or mission, as he or she has since the earliest of Church times, when older members of a congregation were chosen to represent the bishop.

Presiding Bishop

    The elected episcopal head of the Episcopal Church in America [PECUSA]; the chief administrati