Glossary of Terms

Stir-up Sunday

The emphasis for the last Sunday before Advent is different in the 1979 BCP. Although Christ the King Sunday is not officially celebrated in the Episcopal Church, the collect for the last Sunday of the liturgical year (Proper 29) in the 1979 BCP prays that all the peoples of the earth may be brought together […]

Stokes, Olivia Egleston Phelps

(Jan. 11, 1847-Dec. 14, 1927), and Caroline Phelps Stokes (Dec. 4, 1854-Apr. 26, 1909). Benefactors to African Americans. Both sisters were born in New York City and never married. The family was Presbyterian, but the sisters in later years joined the Episcopal Church. They are primarily known for their philanthropy to charitable and religious enterprises. […]

Stole Fee

Payment to clergy for officiating at a church service, usually a baptism, a marriage, or a funeral. The term is derived from the stole typically worn by the member of the clergy person while officiating.

Stowe, Walter Herbert

(Jan. 22, 1895-Jan. 2, 1989). Historian and writer. He was born in Waterville, Minnesota. Stowe received his B.A. in 1915 from the University of Minnesota and his B.D. in 1918 from Seabury Hall Divinity School. He was ordained deacon on Dec. 16, 1917, and priest on Feb. 2, 1919. Stowe was master of Shattuck School, […]

Stowe’s Clerical Directory of the American Church

In 1916 Frederick Ebenezer John Lloyd sold his Lloyd's Clerical Directory to the Rev. Andrew David Stowe (1851-1925). It became Stowe's Clerical Directory. It was published under that title in 1917, 1920, 1924, 1926, 1929, 1932, 1935, and 1938. In 1941 it became Stowe's Clerical Directory of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States […]

Stringfellow, William

(Apr. 26, 1928-Mar. 2, 1985). Theologian, activist, and Episcopal layman. He was born in Cranston, Rhode Island. He attended Bates College and the London School of Economics. He graduated from Harvard Law School in 1956. He then began a private legal practice in Harlem, where he lived. He defended the legal rights of poor African […]

Stuck, Hudson

(Nov. 11, 1863-Oct. 10, 1920). Missionary to Alaska. He was born in Paddington, London, England. Stuck was educated at King's College, London. In 1885 he came to the United States and became an acting principal in the public schools of San Angelo, Texas. In 1889 he entered the Theological Department of the University of the […]

Suffragan Bishop

A suffragan bishop is an assisting bishop who does not automatically succeed a diocesan bishop. A suffragan bishop may be elected bishop or bishop coadjutor. In 1814 James Kemp was consecrated Suffragan Bishop of Maryland, even though the office was not authorized by the Episcopal Church's Constitution. From 1829 until 1910, different General Conventions discussed […]

Suffrages

These petitionary versicles and responses precede the collects in the Daily Offices (see, e.g., BCP pp. 97-98, 121-122). The suffrages in the BCP are based on those in the Sarum offices, although Suffrages B for Evening Prayer are from a Byzantine evening litany. They are responsive prayers of petition which are usually concluded with a […]

Sullivan, Arthur Seymour

(May 13, 1842-Nov. 22, 1900). English composer. He was born in London. Sullivan was educated as a chorister in the Chapel Royal (1854-1858), the Royal Academy of Music, and at Leipzig Conservatory. Sullivan was best known for his famous Savoy Operas, with texts by William S. Gilbert. Sullivan was also highly respected as a church […]

Summary of the Law, The

The Summary of the Law includes the two commandments that call for the love of God and the love of neighbor. These commandments appear separately in the OT (Dt 6:5; Lv 19:18). Although there is some precedent in pre-Christian Judaism for bringing these two commandments together, Jesus was apparently the first to formulate them precisely […]

Sunday Church School

The first Episcopal Sunday Church School was opened in 1790 by James Milnor and Jackson Kemper at the United Parish of Christ Church and St. Peter’s, Philadelphia. William White was rector of the United Parish at that time. The Sunday School in the Episcopal Church became a conscious instrument for religious education in 1826 with […]

Sunday Letter

One of the first seven letters of the alphabet, “A” through “g,” is assigned to each date in the calendar year (except Feb. 29) in rotation in the Prayer Book calendar (pp. 19-30). The letter “A” is assigned to Jan. 1, Jan. 8, Jan. 15, etc. The letter “b” is assigned to Jan. 2, Jan. […]

Sunday Visitant

This periodical was the second weekly publication in the Episcopal Church. It began publication on Jan. 3, 1818, at Charleston, South Carolina. Its full title was Sunday Visitant; or Weekly Repository of Christian Knowledge. It was edited by the Rev. Andrew Fowler (1760-1850), and published until Dec. 25, 1819.

Superior

The person who has been designated as the head or presider of a religious community. The superior is typically elected for a term of years by the members of the community. The superior of an abbey is an abbot or abbess. The term may be used as a title.

Supplemental Liturgical Materials (SLM)

A booklet prepared by the Standing Liturgical Commission and published by Church Hymnal Corporation in 1991 to supplement the existing Rite 2 liturgies of the BCP. It includes materials for Morning and Evening Prayer, complete eucharistic prayers, and forms for the eucharistic prayer for use with the Order for Celebrating the Holy Eucharist (BCP, pp. […]

Supplemental Liturgical Texts, Prayer Book Studies 30

See Prayer Book Studies; see Supplemental Liturgical Materials (SLM).

Suter, John Wallace

(Dec. 1, 1859-Apr. 11, 1942). Priest and liturgist. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Suter received his B.A. from Harvard University in 1881 and his B.D. from the Episcopal Theological School in 1885. He was ordained deacon on June 17, 1885, and priest on June 8, 1886. From 1885 until 1912 he was the rector […]

Suter, John Wallace, Jr.

(June 18, 1890-Nov. 27, 1977). He was born in Winchester, Massachusetts. Suter received his B.A. from Harvard University in 1912 and his B.D. from the Episcopal Theological School in 1914. He was ordained deacon on June 7, 1914, and priest on Apr. 25, 1915. Suter was assistant minister and director of Christian Education at Christ […]

SWEEP, SWEEPS

A process of congregational self-evaluation for mission and ministry. The name is an acronym for five aspects of church mission as expressed in “The Next Step in Mission”: service, worship, evangelism, education, and pastoral care. The Next Step was adopted by General Convention in 1982 at the suggestion of Presiding Bishop John M. Allin. It […]

An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church

Glossary of Terms