Glossary of Terms
Purification of Women (after childbirth)
The title given in the 1549 BCP to the rite commonly called the Churching of Women. It is derived from the Sarum rite. Its ultimate source is the Jewish rite of purification, and the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Lk 2:22-39). St. Augustine of Canterbury mentions the existence of this Christian rite. In the […]
Purification, Feast of the
See Presentation of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple, The.
Puritanism
The term has become an epithet without precise meaning. At one time it described a reform movement in the Church of England during the late sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. It sought to carry the English Reformation beyond the stage reached in the reign of Elizabeth I. In this sense the term was first applied to […]
Pusey Report
See Ministry for Tomorrow; see Board for Theological Education (BTE).
Pusey, Edward Bouverie
(Aug. 22, 1800-Sept. 16, 1882). Tractarian leader. He was born at Pusey, Berkshire, England, and received his B.A. in 1822 and his M.A. in 1825 from Christ Church College, Oxford. In 1824 he became a fellow at Oriel College, Oxford, where he became closely associated with John Henry Newman and John Keble. Pusey was ordained […]
Puseyism
” See Tracts for the Times.
Pyx (or Pix)
A small round container or box for consecrated bread that is taken to those who cannot be present for the Eucharist at church. During the first centuries of the church, Christians carried home portions of the consecrated bread from the Sunday Eucharist to communicate themselves. The carried the bread in small boxes of wood, ivory […]
Quadragesima
Archaic term for the forty days of Lent or the First Sunday in Lent. See Pre-Lent season.
Quaerite Dominum
Canticle 10 of the BCP (pp. 86-87), also known as the Second Song of Isaiah, based on Is 55:6-11. Many OT scholars identify the author of this canticle to be Deutero-Isaiah, or Second Isaiah, who lived some 150 years after Isaiah of Jerusalem during the Babylonian exile. This canticle begins, “Seek the Lord while he […]
Quicunque Vult
See Athanasian Creed.
Quincy, Diocese of
The 1877 General Convention voted to divide the Diocese of Illinois into three dioceses. The three dioceses are Quincy, Springfield, and Chicago. The Diocese of Quincy includes the following counties: Adams, Brown, Bureau, Fulton, Hancock, Henry, Knox, McDonough, Mercer, Peoria, Pike, Schuyler, Stark, Warren, and Woodford. The primary convention of the Diocese met at St. […]
Quinquagesima Sunday
See Pre-Lenten Season.
Quintard, Charles Todd
(Dec. 22, 1824-Feb. 15, 1898). Bishop and Educator. He was born in Stamford, Connecticut, and attended Trinity School in New York. In 1847 Quintard received his M.D. degree from University Medical College, New York University. For a year he worked at Bellevue Hospital. He moved to Athens, Georgia, where he practiced medicine. In 1851 he […]
Quire
See Choir.
R (r)
See Response.
Rabat
A vest or shirtfront worn by clergy. It is usually black, and often worn over a white shirt with long sleeves. The clerical collar is attached to the rabat.
Racine College, Racine, Wisconsin
The Episcopal Diocesan Council of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1851, felt the need for an Episcopal college in southeastern Wisconsin, to prepare young men for the seminary at Nashotah House, as well as to prepare others for professional and business careers. The Rev. Joseph H. Nichols, rector of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Racine, with other […]
Rainsford, William Stephen
(Oct. 30, 1850-Dec. 17, 1933). Priest and social reformer. He was born near Dublin, Ireland. Rainsford received his B.A. from St. John's College, Cambridge, in 1872. He was ordained deacon on Dec. 21, 1873, and priest on Dec. 20, 1874. He began his ministry at St. Giles's Church, Norwich, and came to the United States […]
Rakestraw, Caroline Leiding
(June 28, 1912-Oct. 29, 1993). Broadcast media pioneer for the Episcopal Church. She was a native of Atlanta, Georgia, and served as executive secretary to the Bishop of Atlanta and produced his radio talks. In 1954 she founded and became the first executive director of the Episcopal Radio-TV Foundation. She won awards for her television […]
Ramsey, Michael
(Nov. 14, 1904-Apr. 23, 1988). A significant Anglican theologian and Archbishop of Canterbury from 1961 to 1974. His work as a theologian began with The Gospel and the Catholic Church (1936), an ecumenical and biblical study which established his reputation as a major voice in Anglicanism. His later works included The Glory of God and […]
Glossary definitions provided courtesy of Church Publishing Incorporated, New York, NY,(All Rights reserved) from “An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church, A User Friendly Reference for Episcopalians,” Don S. Armentrout and Robert Boak Slocum, editors.