Glossary of Terms
Wee Bookie
” Booklets printed for Scottish nonjuring Episcopalians that contained the liturgy of the table portion of the eucharistic rite. The first (1722) reproduced that of the 1637 Scottish BCP. Its eucharistic prayer contained elements from the eucharistic prayer of the 1549 BCP that were missing in later English Prayer Books. Significant changes were made in […]
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
This observance began on St. Peter's Day, June 29, 1900, when Spencer Jones, a Church of England priest, preached a sermon on closer relations with the Church of Rome. Jones urged that sermons be preached on St. Peter's Day emphasizing Rome as the center of unity. Paul James Wattson, an Episcopal priest, suggested that the […]
Weems, Mason Locke
(Oct. 11, 1759-May 23, 1825). First person ordained by the Church of England for the Episcopal Church after the American Revolution. Weems was born near Herring Creek, Anne Arundel, Maryland. He studied medicine in London and at the University of Edinburgh but never practiced. Weems was ordained deacon on Sept. 5, 1784, and priest on […]
Wendt, William Andrew
(b. Jan. 18, 1920). Leading advocate for the ordination of women in the Episcopal Church. He was born in Mitchell, South Dakota. Wendt received his B.A. from George Washington University in 1948 and his S.T.B. from the General Theological Seminary in 1951. Wendt was ordained deacon on June 16, 1951, and priest on Dec. 21, […]
Wesley, Charles
(Dec. 18, 1708-Mar. 29, 1788). English hymn writer, priest, and missionary to colonial America. He was born in Epworth, England, the eighteenth child of Samuel and Susannah Wesley. Wesley graduated from St. Peter's College, Westminster, London, in 1721 and from Christ Church, Oxford, in 1726. At Oxford he, along with his brother John, was a […]
Wesley, John
(June 17, 1703-Mar. 2, 1791). Generally considered the founder of Methodism. He was born in Epworth, England, the fifteenth of nineteen children born to Samuel and Susannah Wesley. He entered Christ Church College, Oxford, in 1720 and was ordained deacon in 1725. After serving as a curate to his father, he was ordained priest in […]
Wesley, Samuel Sebastian
(Aug. 14, 1810-Apr. 19, 1876). English church musician and composer. He was born in London, the grandson of Charles Wesley. Wesley studied music at Oxford University and was organist at Hereford Cathedral, 1832-1835; Exeter Cathedral, 1835-1842; Leeds Parish Church, 1842-1849; Winchester Cathedral, 1849-1865; and Gloucester Cathedral, 1865-1876. He has five hymn tunes in The Hymnal […]
West Tennessee, Diocese of
The 1982 General Convention voted to divide the Diocese of Tennessee into three dioceses-Tennessee, East Tennessee, and West Tennessee. The Diocese of West Tennessee includes the following counties: Benton, Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Decatur, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Lake, Lauderdale, Madison, McNairy, Obion, Shelby, Tipton, and Weakley. The primary convention of the […]
West Texas, Diocese of
On Oct. 26, 1874, the General Convention voted to divide the Diocese of Texas and form the Missionary District of Northern Texas and the Missionary District of Western Texas. The primary convention of the Missionary District of Western Texas met at St. Mark's Church, San Antonio, on May 6-8, 1875. The primary convention of the […]
West Virginia, Diocese of
West Virginia was part of the Diocese of Virginia until 1877. The General Convention of 1877 created the Diocese of West Virginia, which held its primary convention at St. John's Church, Charleston, on Dec. 5-7, 1877. The diocese does not have a cathedral. It includes the entire state.
West, Edward Nason
(Nov. 5, 1909-Jan. 3, 1990). Leading theologian and liturgist. He was born in Boston. West received his B.S. from Boston University in 1931 and his B.D. from the General Theological Seminary in 1934. He was ordained deacon on June 13, 1934, and priest on May 31, 1935. After seven years of ministry at Trinity Church, […]
Western Colorado, Missionary District of
The 1892 General Convention voted to divide the Diocese of Colorado and establish the Missionary District of Western Colorado. The Missionary District of Western Colorado included the following counties: Archuleta, Delta, Dolores, Eagle, Garfield, Grand, Gunnison, Hinsdale, La Plata, Mesa, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, Pitkin, Rio Blanca, Routt, San Juan, San Miguel, and Summit. The primary […]
Western Episcopal Observer
See Gambier Observer.
Western Episcopalian
This journal was published from Aug. 11, 1853, until June 25, 1868. It had various changes in ownership, editorship, name, and frequency of publication. It was succeeded and continued by the Standard of the Cross. Witness, The. Monthly journal published by the Episcopal Church Publishing Company. It was founded in 1917 as an organization financially […]
Western Kansas, Diocese of
The 1901 General Convention voted to divide the Diocese of Kansas and form a Missionary District in the western part of the state. It was named the Missionary District of Salina and includes the following counties: Barber, Barton, Cheyenne, Clark, Cloud, Comanche, Decatur, Edwards, Ellis, Ellsworth, Finney, Ford, Gove, Graham, Grant, Gray, Greeley, Hamilton, Harper, […]
Western Louisiana, Diocese of
The 1979 General Convention voted to divide the Diocese of Louisiana and establish a new diocese. The primary convention of the new diocese met at St. James Church, Alexandria, on Oct. 10-11, 1979. It voted to call itself the Western Diocese of Louisiana. It includes the following civil parishes (counties): Acadia, Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Bienville, […]
Western Massachusetts, Diocese of
The 1901 General Convention voted to divide the Diocese of Massachusetts and create the Diocese of Western Massachusetts. The Diocese of Western Massachusetts includes the four counties of Berkshire, Franklin-Hampshire, Hampden, and Worcester. The primary convention of the Diocese met at Christ Church, Springfield, on Nov. 19, 1901. On Feb. 7, 1929, Christ Church, Springfield, […]
Western Mexico, Diocese of
The General Convention of 1904 established the Missionary District of Mexico. The 1972 General Convention divided the Missionary District of Mexico into the Missionary District of Central and South Mexico, the Missionary District of Western Mexico, and the Missionary District of Northern Mexico. In 1986 all three of these missionary districts became dioceses. The 1994 […]
Western Michigan, Diocese of
The 1874 General Convention voted to divide the Diocese of Michigan and establish a new diocese. The primary convention of the new diocese met at St. Mark’s Church, Grand Rapids, on Dec. 2, 1874. It chose the name the Diocese of Western Michigan. It includes the following counties: Allegan, Antrim, Barry, Benzie, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, […]
Western Nebraska, Missionary District of
The 1889 General Convention voted to divide the Diocese of Nebraska and create the Missionary District of The Platte. The name was changed to the Missionary District of Laramie in 1898 and to the Missionary District of Kearney in 1907. From Oct. 14, 1913, until Sept. 14, 1946, when the General Convention voted to retrocede […]
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.